WHETHER OR not there will be such a thing as a Green Party after the next General Election, a surety is that there will be one hell of a Green Hurling Party after the November 7 county senior final.
As sure as Eamon Ryan and his team of veggie-munching friends will struggle to keep their places on the greater Dáil Éireann political team, a local club flying green flags will hoist the St Canice’s Credit Union Cup after a battle of giants.
For, both finalists, Ballyhale Shamrocks and O’Loughlin Gaels are proud wearers of the green with a splash of white and one of them will bring home the bacon.
Don’t ask us which one, as we have to admit to being quite green on that score.
We do know that the final is a repeat of the 2016 decider and that the city Gaels stormed to victory on that occasion.
Whether or not that gives them the edge as the countdown to our 2021 final nears is a matter of opinion.
FOR THE LOVE OF HURLERS
But what could have a bearing is that TJ Reid’s South Kilkenny braves are aiming to add their fourth back-to-back crown to their impressive curriculum vitae.
In the ‘semis’, O’Loughlins, proudly sponsored by generous local publican, Pat Carroll, overcame a gallant Tullaroan by
1-18 to 0-18 while the Shamrocks had a 2-20 to 1-17 victory over impressive James Stephens.
The summary of the afternoon of hurling before a good attendance was that the first game, Gaels v Tullaroan, was real value for money while the second was a bit start, stop, with many fine individual performances.
There was huge admiration for the performance of TJ Reid who once more was the excellent conductor of an in-tune Shamrocks hurling orchestra.
And the huge round of applause and appreciation that Tullaroan’s Tommy Walsh received as he went off injured summed up the wonderful esteem in which another great player is cherished.
Should you decide to go along to the big match, you won’t go too far wrong if you are wearing green and white.
