A SPECIAL patrol vehicle, registration SAM 96, heralded the arrival of All Ireland football champions, Meath, at a ring of towns on their return home after Sunday's victory over Mayo in the final replay.
Thousands of celebrating Meath supporters welcomed the coaches bringing the new champions into Navan for a civic reception in the Ardboyne Hotel organised by Meath County Council. First stop en route to Navan was a reception for players and officials at the factory of sponsors Kepak Ltd, near Clonee.
In Meath manager Sean Boylan's home town of Dunboyne, fans turned out in force to welcome the champions, although another famous local man, the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, could not make it as he was in Japan for summit talks as part of Ireland's EU Presidency. The town reserved a special welcome for local hero Brendan Reilly, scorer of the vital last point, which clinched victory for Meath on Sunday.
Huge crowds of Royal Meath fans awaited the team in Dunshaughlin and at Ross Cross, the home patch of Meath player Trevor Giles. At Garlow Cross, supporters lit bonfires to welcome the Sam Maguire Cup back to Meath after an eight year absence. It was then on to Trim and Dunderry, home of Meath captain, Tommy Dowd, who joked that they were roasting pigs and even a few dinosaurs to celebrate the victory, before the team went on to Navan late in the night.
. Hundreds of children decked out in blue and gold were among a crowd of several thousand who turned out in Thurles last evening to welcome home the Tipperary Minor Hurling team which on Sunday won the All Ireland title for the county for the first time Since 1982. Led by the Sean Treacy pipe band, members of the team paraded from Thurles railway station to the steps of the cathedral, where they were greeted by Archbishop Dermot Clifford, patron of the GAA.
Congratulating the gathering, the Archbishop said he believed Tipperary hurling was on the move again.
The team and officials later went to Ballingarry, home of team captain Willie Maher, where they were greeted with bonfires and another tumultuous reception.