Now we’ll see who wants to win a championship.
Tuesday 13 January, that will be the reference point for so many clubs up and down the country come the hard grass of the summer.
How many times will someone somewhere roar and shout in the changing room about the night you crawled through the mud and snow. “This is what we did it for!”
The arctic weather has been wreaking havoc with some parts of the country but, last night, the Longford hurlers stood up to the elements and got on with training in a stunning show of dedication.
The snow hasn’t let up though and, this evening, intercounty games have been postponed for… well, Michael Cullen will tell you why.
Tyrone v Antrim McKenna cup match off due to no grass. #gaa pic.twitter.com/BcYaSwh2dK
— MC (@mcullenpics) January 14, 2015
But the Longford hurlers weren’t the only hearty bucks who braved the thankless conditions on Tuesday night. In fact, plenty of more GAA teams joined them in a sheer test of mental toughness.
Some evening for training! pic.twitter.com/GhB3ymZoqg
— BallinagoreGAA (@Ballinagore_GAA) January 13, 2015
Hardy Boys. . @Bodengaa under 15 footballers training this evening #sneachta #gaa pic.twitter.com/gwCma2hCXV
— Alan Kinsella (@electionlit) January 13, 2015
A lovely night to start back training @OfficialCorkGAA #youdhavetoloveit pic.twitter.com/R30ua7soH2
— CloyneGaa (@CloyneGaa) January 13, 2015
“@CorkGAACoaching: u14 hurlers shrug off the snow! pic.twitter.com/kTJjqv9qxg” #GAA meeting in @DublinHouse 1/14 6pm @Belmarmayormatt @nj_sports
— Jersey Shore GAA (@JerseyShoreGAA) January 13, 2015
Cant beat training in the snow #allezlesbleus pic.twitter.com/uRFHlU9q0e
— St Finbarrs NHF Club (@the_Barrs) January 13, 2015
Tough training session in the snow @Ballinagore_GAA last night pic.twitter.com/9C9Iw2tuUZ
— Michael Gannon (@naka25mikey) January 14, 2015
Absolutely cat evening for training last night #frozen #coldballs #snow #gaa #freshers #toocoldforthiscraic pic.twitter.com/B0L6g7lCXk
— Frozen Movie (@FrozenMOVlE) January 14, 2015
Moyle View Park looking well in the snow.. #milford #donegal #gaa #yellowoneillsneeded #playable?! @CLGBnaG pic.twitter.com/YwF8M5MvhY
— Donna Martin (@DonnaMartin03) January 13, 2015
First session of pre season and the pitch is covered in snow!! #GAA pic.twitter.com/skw3qKp9wb
— Cormac O’ Keeffe (@Cormac86) January 13, 2015
Sunrise over the hurling field in UL this morning #UL #GAA #snow pic.twitter.com/oRkUkrDyaB
— Lauren Guilfoyle (@GuilfoyleLauren) January 14, 2015
And it wasn’t just the GAA folk who put up with it as soccer, rugby and even hockey teams got out and faced the blizzard to do the Irish proud.
A couple of photos from the firsts training in the snow last night! pic.twitter.com/lDeRm3ABnN
— castlebarrfc (@RFCCastlebar) January 14, 2015
Training in the snow. Men’s firsts braving the sub zero tempatures pic.twitter.com/0O0i8nMQ8y
— Banbridge HC (@banbridgehc) January 13, 2015
Love the training pics in the snow. This one is @Collig_Afc. #corksnow pic.twitter.com/iDV96eiGs4
— Éamonn Murphy (@EamonnMurphy19) January 13, 2015
Another picture from the Seniors baltic training camp in Moneygourney. #snow #cork pic: @jmcoughlan pic.twitter.com/MIrdrNRAfQ
— Douglas Hall AFC (@DouglasHallAFC) January 13, 2015
The players are back and ready to brave conditions for the start of pre-season. #bitored pic.twitter.com/gOK4vJ5Y7Y
— Sligo Rovers (@sligorovers) January 14, 2015
