No matter how much you say it isn’t so, the weight of history in sport gets heavier the closer it gets to being made.
Yesterday at Croke park was all about the celebration of Cork’s victory over Limerick. As the Frank and Walters replaced the Cranberries on the Stadium PA though the Limerick team remained on the pitch, applauding their own friends and family and reflecting no doubt on the brilliance of the past four in a row but also on the ‘what-ifs’ of losing the elusive five.
It was a brilliant game, with Cork matching their rivals physicality and intensity, and just having the edge on accuracy to seal a place in the All Ireland Final against Clare on Sunday, July 21st.
Cork are hurling royalty but they have never won five in a row. Stopping Limerick will have been as important as winning, somewhere deep in their DNA, even if they would never admit it publicly.
Games come and go, the moment deserves to be celebrated with passion and excitement but it is the longer term recognition of greatness that longer stands the test of time.
Winning four in a row puts this Limerick team and management as one of the greatest of all time. Though that will be scant consolation for the coming days and weeks.
They stood with pride towards the Davin Stand end of the ground as the Rebel celebrations took flight beside them. They have had many such days in the past and will doubtless have more in the future.
For now the attention switches to Cork and Clare, both underdogs coming into the weekend but both of whom emerged with their own dreams intact and now zeroing in on one more game, another 70 minutes of making every ball the most important of their career.
I was privileged to be at Croke park yesterday as the guest of Cork GAA sponsors Sports Direct. Team Ireland had brought Team Britain over to show just what sponsorship in the GAA was all about. They could not have picked a better example and now the jerseys will be flying off the shelves and the demands for ‘any spare’ tickets will surge.
There has been much talk of the shortened season and the merits of Finals in July or September but in the moment all of that passes. Cork fans celebrated with as much energy yesterday as if the game had been played at any time of the year. It is the moment, not the month that matters most and once that holds true for players, family, coaches, friends and viewers, that is the important thing.
So lock in the memories, hail the winners, acknowledge the losers and move on to the next moment of this glorious sporting circus.
Sport for Business will host a special Breakfast in Galway on July 25th looking at the realm of Fan Engagement. This is one of many events planned for the remainder of 2024.
Register your interest to attend a Sport for Business event here.
The GAA and Cork GAA are among the 300 organisations, which include all the leading sports and sponsors, as well as commercial and state agencies, that are members of the Sport for Business community.
Find out more about joining us today.
Check out our upcoming events to discover ways of connecting in person with our membership.
