OPINION: Limerick hurling heroes ignite the flames of ambition in the hearts of our youth
AN INSTAGRAM story posted by a mother at around 9am on Monday captured the essence of Sunday’s All-Ireland victory in the most succinct and yet compelling manner.
It was a photo of twin brothers, aged six, dressed in Limerick jerseys standing on a luscious green lawn.
Each had a hurley in hand. The bespectacled of the two was about to slide the toe of his hurley in under the sliothar to scoop it up into his hand, while his brother, slightly out of the shot, was positioning himself to do just the same.
The author of the post was Claire Cronin, nee Mulcahy, a Limerick legend in her own right having played camogie with Limerick and her club, Ahane.
Her husband, Finn and Cillian’s father, is former Leinster and Ireland hooker Sean Cronin. Splashed across the photo read the text ‘7am’ accompanied by, what else, but three monkey face emojis!
The still image spoke volumes about what our senior hurlers had done just 15 hours earlier.
While they had triumphed on the national - and indeed international stage - amid electrifying and heart-stirring scenes, the real fruits of their endeavours were demonstrated by two six-year old boys in short trousers having a puck around in the county Limerick countryside to the sound of Monday’s dawn chorus.
Beyond the immediate celebrations that played out in Croke Park, at the big screens in both the city and Newcastle West, at the homecoming party in Pery Square as well as in the watering holes and living rooms across every town and village on the map of Limerick, Sunday’s victory serves, most importantly of all, as an inspiration to our younger generation.
As they watched their heroes' accomplishments on the sacred sod of Croke Park, Finn, Cillian and all the other Children of Limerick could begin to believe that they too can achieve their dreams with the same dedication and perseverance of their senior hurlers.
Unlike the Messis, Ronaldos and Mbappés of this world, these sporting icons can be seen not just on the TV screens but also in the flesh.
When Finn and Cillian pop into Daybreak at Daly’s Cross for their Monster Munches this summer, they might just find one of the Morrissey brothers standing right behind them in the queue.
And it's that accessibility that makes these giants of men even more admired and loved, as they marry their greatness with everyday life.
Our untouchable legends with a common touch.