This is what it’s all about.
It actually couldn’t be more perfectly poised. Two clubs who’ve never been here before. Two clubs off the back of novel provincial championship wins.
East versus west. Leinster versus Munster. Dublin versus Clare. And at stake, it’s only a bloody AIB GAA All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
Friday 17 March
Cuala (Dublin) v Ballyea (Clare)
Croke Park, 3pm
You could sell any game as long as you did it the right way but, sometimes, battles sell themselves.
When you have two of the most fearsome threats leading the way for both clubs, you don’t have to look too far for a pitching point.
Neither player’s form has been a particular secret coming into the St. Patrick’s Day match-up.
In the All-Ireland series alone, Con O’Callaghan has been ripping the place apart.
O’Callaghan’s All-Ireland record
Leinster quarter-final: 4-3
Leinster semi-final: 1-3
Leinster final: 1-4
All-Ireland semi-final: 1-3
Total: 7-13
Kelly’s All-Ireland record
Munster semi-final: 1-10
Munster final: 0-5
All-Ireland semi-final: 0-3
Total: 1-18
Decent enough returns alright. 7-13 (seven, thirteen) for the Dubliner in four bloody games whilst Kelly has blitzed opponents from midfield.
The shame for Dublin hurlers is that O’Callaghan is a special talent with the size five too. He might be producing fireworks with his hurl but he’s also a former minor winning captain with his county and he’s committed to Jim Gavin’s side when the club season is over.
The shame for Clare and hurling in general is that there’s only one Tony Kelly.
On The GAA Hour after Ballyea’s historic Munster win, Tony Kelly spoke of what it’s like to represent his club.
“One thing in Ballyea, we don’t really have a big massive plan. It’s just kind of left down to us on the field and we just kind of have to get it together ourselves.
“When things aren’t going well, we have leaders on every line of the field to pick things up. It’s a collective effort.
“That’s the thing with the club, you’re trusting lads who you’ve grown up your whole life playing with. They know exactly how you play and you know exactly how they play and we know how to compliment one another.”
When it comes down to it next Friday, it won’t matter a jot that it’s Croke Park, that it’s east versus west or even that this is a final. All that will count is that it’s two group of lads who have grown up together, hurled together, won and lost together their whole lives.
And they’ll do it one more time on All-Ireland final day. Ultimately, it’ll be up to themselves to stick together and get it right in a hour of destiny.
Both can rest easy in the knowledge that they have two of the best attackers in the country running riot though. But there can be only one winner. That’s what makes these kind of days. That’s where heroes are born.
