THE IMAGE never grows stale. Players falling to their knees in the moment of triumph, while from the sideline, substitutes and mentors pour on to the field, like men who had reached the shore after a lengthy ordeal at sea.
For Kilmacud Crokes this was the image that reflects not just the triumph over Crossmaglen but also the 14 years since they captured their inaugural All-Ireland title. The Stillorgan club had a lot to celebrate and the manner of their victory was only part of it.
Manager Paddy Carr and his selectors Mark Duncan and Gerry Walsh had to come up with something special if they were to beat the four-time All-Ireland champions but in the end it came down to old-fashioned belief and spirit.
“Games are not always going to go your way,” says Carr, “but we stuck at it. And I’m just so delighted. In any big victory like this, there are always hundreds of personal victories along the way. That was huge. Like to see Ray Cosgrove coming on there at the end, kicking a point . . .
“We knew we had the pace and the power, but our tackling as well. But getting the goal early on as well was crucial. Crossmaglen needed something to happen for them after that, but on the day it didn’t happen.
“But all year we’ve been putting emphasis on getting into the game early. We really worked hard on that here, kicked the ball a lot more, and that released forwards a little more.
“The word you use is ruthless. We missed chances as well, but kept plugging away. The game was hanging for quite a while, but I think as the game went on our lads grew and grew.”
The Magee brothers, Jonny and Darren, share their thoughts on the triumph and with that came the very essence of Kilmacud – Jonny, carrying the Andy Merrigan Cup, and Darren the man-of-the-match award, brothers in arms.
“Having this cup here just shows how much we wanted to do it,” says Jonny. “For the supporters. The backroom team. Everyone.”
And with that Darren drops the cup – “I’m sure it won’t be the last time it’s dropped tonight,” he laughs. “But all it just means now is I can relax, enjoy it, and not think about any more football. It’s just a huge relief, really. The chapter has ended, and the book is closed. And so another one will begin in another couple of months.”
Jonny starts up again, and clearly this is a moment he won’t easily forget: “The whole year that we’ve had, it’s been some journey. From the Dublin campaign, all those close games, to where we are now. Words can’t describe that, going out there and winning with the lads you grew up with.
“We knew they’d always come back at us. But I think in defence we stood up very well, and also attacked the ball from the front. Our full-back line was outstanding. Ross and Rory (O’Carroll), two young lads. And Kevin Nolan in the corner. All I can say is they were absolutely massive today, for their first All-Ireland final. Those lads have bright futures.
“And David Nestor did very well also. There are 33 players involved in this team, and everyone has to buy in . . . That’s crucial, for any team, to have the bond we have. When you believe in one another the way we do, that’s very hard to stop. We knew if we got to an All-Ireland final we’d go out and win it. Everyone rows in behind you. And to share this, especially with my little brother. That’s what the GAA is all about. Family, and friends. At 30 years of age and to say this is my dream come true, that’s special.”
