IF LIMERICK win, lose or draw against Clare in the Munster final on Sunday the players are still guaranteed a rapturous reception.
Supporters will climb over advertising boards and rush to be in the presence of greatness. They will politely ask for selfies and hats, hurleys and jerseys to be signed by their heroes.
Surely all they want is to get into the dressing room, put a cold towel over their heads and savour a sweet victory or come to terms with a bitter defeat. But unlike a recently highlighted English premiership club, Limerick hurlers never have enough time for their fans.
The expression on the face of 20-year-old Sarah Bennis, from Corbally, with Gearoid Hegarty after the Cork match encapsulates it.
Sarah, who has Down Syndrome, is in awe as the giant half forward bends down to give her a hug. Her aunty Jean Knight said Sarah, daughter of Niall Bennis and Jane Kinnane, is mad about Gearoid.
“She knows him from St Patrick’s GAA Club. He has been very good to her down through the years. She has been going to the club with my brother Niall Bennis for years. She was over the moon to meet him. I just think it captures so much,” said Jean, of Castleconnell.
Sarah said to her favourite player, “Well done Gearoid, up Limerick! “We needed that one,” he replied. While Sarah was chatting with Gearoid, Jean’s daughter Lucy and her friend (Ava Salmon) were meeting Kyle Hayes.
“He signed their bucket hats. They were thrilled. All the team stayed ages on the pitch,” said Jean. Lucy and Ava couldn’t wait to go to Castleconnell NS to show their Tipperary principal Richie Ryan their signed Limerick hats!
Meeting Gearoid capped off a memorable few days for Sarah as four days earlier she was one of the bridesmaids at her aunty Mary’s wedding to Aaron McNeill, from Antrim.
The couple flew home from Australia to get married in the Lakeside Hotel in Ballina. “It was cancelled three years ago due to Covid. It was an amazing few days. Sarah was the most beautiful bridesmaid and gave a speech. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Mary and Aaron and three of their friends from Australia came to the Cork match. They loved it!” said Jean, who like everybody else is on the look-out for Munster final tickets to bring Sarah.
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