All Ireland Hurling Final - An Occasion Like No Other!

In the eyes and hearts of the Irish nation there is no sporting occasion quite like the All Ireland final. We may reach the Grand Slam decider in the Six Nations, we may qualify for the Euro Championship or we may have an athlete competing in the Olympics. All major events in the Irish sporting calendar that fill us with an overwhelming sense of pride and national identity. But nothing gets the heart racing, the butterflies stirring quite like the All Ireland final.

Why is this? I think its due to the fact that the GAA is woven into out history, our culture. It is part of who we are as an Irish people. This is our national game. A game many of us have played and loved since we could walk. And when it comes to the final we know we will be treated to the best this country has to offer. The greatest skill, the quickest pace, the fiercest intensity.

Lets face it, even if you're not that interested in sport you'll still be fully aware of the magnitude of this weekends clash. It has dominated the sports headlines over the past week. Be honest, you might even take a sneaky glimpse at Up For The Match this Saturday night! We can't help it, its in our blood!

For those 83,000 patrons lucky enough to have a golden ticket to Croke Park this weekend, I bet the pulse is already racing. I've been lucky enough to attend one All Ireland and nothing can compare to it. From the train journey into Drumcondra to that epic first clash of hurls, the atmosphere is mind-blowing! The usual exchange of insults between opposing fans (purely banter of course!) outside Quinns, the walk down Jones Road in a mass of colour and sound. Those dedicated fans who have made the trip to Dublin who thrall the streets in search of any sniff of a ticket. The sellers on the street with an array of overpriced merchandise! And that's all before you even get to the stadium! Its all so familiar yet the feeling it ignites, never gets old.

Croke Park. In my opinion, one of the greatest stadiums in the world. And a icon of all that is great about Irish traditions, the Irish culture and the Irish people. And on All Ireland final day, this breathtaking structure is nothing less than sensational. The crowd, the noise, the buzz, its overwhelming. From the hair-raising roars as the teams emerge from the tunnel to that split-second of deafening silence before the band strike up 'Amhrán Na bhFiann'. And following on from that.. the nerves. And eventually the ball is thrown in and thus begins a legendary battle.

  On Sunday we will we treated to another chapter in what must be one of the greatest sporting rivalries of the modern era. Kilkenny versus Tipperary. It will, no doubt, be a titanic encounter. I think its fair to say that the physicality, the intensity and the hunger will be of the highest standard achievable. These are two of the biggest contributors to our beloved game. They will give this game nothing but the utmost respect. Not to mention the fact that these counties are neighbours! Don't underestimate the importance of bragging rights! 

Despite which teams are actually vying it out for the Liam McCarthy,
the majority of the country will be tuning into The Sunday Game (or Sky Sports to avoid conflict) to here what the lads have to say about these two incredible teams, their fierce rivalry and the occasion as a whole. 

We may play a variety of sports in Ireland. The pool is widening every year. But as regards a sense of national identity and pride, nothing can beat this age-old, wonderful game that we love and cherish so dearly. So ignore Mary or Joe down the road who say they haven't the slightest bit of interest in the match on Sunday because you can bet they'll be the one's on the edge of their seat, in front of the telly, roaring on one team or another, because lets face it, we can't stay neutral even if we say we don't care who wins!

Its the All Ireland Final. And nothing, nothing can compare to it.