GALWAY HURLING captain Fergal Moore admitted that he was taken aback by the numbers who turned out to support his team when more than 6,000 people turned up at Pearse Stadium in Salthill to welcome home the defeated All-Ireland hurling finalists last night.
The team bus arrived more than 90 minutes behind schedule to a rapturous reception from a crowd that had waited patiently for Moore and his colleagues to arrive home from Dublin.
It would have been unthinkable to imagine the scenes if the Tribesmen had ended their 24-year wait for the Liam MacCarthy Cup on Sunday, given the warmth of the welcome from the crowd.
“From a players’ point of view, we are taken aback by the warm welcome we have received here tonight,” said Moore.
“To see the level of interest in Galway hurling again and the positive vibe around the place.
We have to thank the fans who supported us in such huge numbers at Croke Park all summer.”
Moore said he was particularly struck by the number of young children who had turned out to support the beaten finalists.
“We will win an All-Ireland for Galway,” said team manager Anthony Cunningham. “Thank you so much for your support this year.”
A couple of unscheduled stops along the way, including one at Cappataggle, home of injured goalkeeper James Skehill, ensured darkness had long since descended by the time the team bus made its way across the city.