Kilkenny Homecoming celebrates a team with 'attitude, fight, spirit and determination'

The homecoming for the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Team, Junior Football Team and U-20 Hurling Team took place in Kilkenny 0n Monday July 18, in sweltering temperatures that echoed the heat the players had endured in Croke Park during an epic All Ireland Final against Limerick on Sunday. Excited if overheated crowds revelled in the glorious evening to throng the flag festooned streets to give all three teams a warm and vocal welcome back to their ever loyal hometown.

As the teams made their way via open-top bus from Kilkenny Castle via John Street in slow procession to Nowlan Park, crowds of loyal local supporters cheered them home to thank them for their unflagging courage and resilience giving their all for Kilkenny, in pursuit of the Liam McCarthy Cup. Victory might not have been theirs on this occasion, but their city and county acknowledged the absolute grit displayed in putting up a fight that had done Kilkenny proud.

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Their support clearly conveyed to the team that there is no shame in defeat when you have fought to the bitter end in pursuit of your dream.

Everywhere families and small children milled around, enjoying the carnival atmosphere, clapping and cheering loudly as the team waved good naturedly from their open-top transport. Hurls were waved, cheers were given and smiles shone out from the footpaths as onlookers raised their phones to record for posterity the homecoming of a team that had displayed what Kilkenny manager, Bran Cody later described as 'attitude, fight, spirit and determination'.

As the parade wound its way up Rose Inn Street, over scenic John's Bridge and up John St, the crowds in Kilkenny colours grew more vocal and cheered even more passionately. Shouts of 'Up Kilkenny' rang out, music pumped loudly and the excitement escalated. In the windows of various shops on John St, black and white photos of legendary Kilkenny teams of yore watched on silently. They seemed to say: “Patience lads, you will do it again very soon. The Liam McCarthy Cup will return to these historic Kilkenny streets again.”

After traversing the Hebron Road and O'Loughlin Road, the teams finally arrived to Nowlan Park where the awaiting supporters shouted even louder than those on the streets had moments earlier. It seemed that almost everyone was in a Kilkenny jersey: black and amber the only visible dress code for all generations, from tots who hadn't even reached their first year, to fans of a more mature vintage who had witnessed multiple historic Kilkenny victories under the stewardship of Brian Cody

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Pictures by Sam Barnes/Ramsey Cardy (Sportsfile)

Brother and sister Jack and Kerlin Healy from Gowran were ecstatic to see their heroes in the flesh. Of the final Kerlin said: “It was really good match. I really enjoyed it.”

Jack observed: “It was a a 50/50 game - I didn't know who was going to win.”

 On the sidelines, Nowlan Park stewards. Eamon Doyle of Windgap was also full of praise for the homecoming heroes: “They were great to keep going. We never thought they would get as far, early in the year."

He was also optimistic for future championships: “ They'll be there next year – they're a young team.”

MC for the evening Brendan Hennessy then welcomed the Chairman of the Kilkenny County Board Jimmy Walsh to the stage. Jimmy delivered a heartfelt tribute to the teams: the players, backroom teams, management teams and medical teams who had all worked so diligently in preparation for the championship season.

When he welcomed the Senior Hurling team onstage, the atmosphere was electric and the volume cacophonous.

Finally, the main man Brian Cody made his appearance . He was effusive in his praise of his team and of the welcome given to them by their supporters, stating: “The great thing about the Kilkenny supporters, you always come out, win or lose you always arrive.

“We come back here after losing the All Ireland Final with a sense of 'people will be very disappointed' but as ever support and the welcome back is top class.”

He continued: “All I can say as the manager of the team that I have never ever, been prouder of the team in Croke park as I was yesterday.”

He concluded: “ I am certain that those players will bring back what we all want back again to Nowlan Park again in the very near future.”

Later that evening on the Parade, young hurling fans Eddie Murphy 12 and Paddy Larkin 10, of The Village also reflected on the Kilkenny teams prospects for next year stating confidently: “They'll be back again.”

That's not just the optimism of youth, in Kilkenny, the anticipation for next year is already building.