In his weekly Irish Times column, Gordon D'Arcy disclosed that he had never been in Croke Park until Ireland met England in the 2007 Six Nations.
Not even on that day eleven years before when Wexford took home the big one did he get to see Croker from the inside. The very man responsible for Wexford's presence in the final that day was also responsible for Gordon's absence.
That (England game in 2007) was my first major visit to Croke Park as I missed the 1996 All-Ireland hurling final because of Liam Griffin. The Wexford hurling manager was my employer back then. I was on duty in the Ferrycarrig hotel when the delirious celebrations spilled over. I was on clean up.
Someone had to keep the Wexford economy going while the rest of its inhabitants were dancing at the crossroads. His sorry state of sobriety did at least allow him get his hands on the precious cargo that was wheeled into Ferrycarrig that evening. He was the only person whom Martin Storey could trust to keep it safe and in one piece.
The hurlers arrived in the next day – I was back on after a few hours kip – following the reception in Redmond’s Square. At about 2am Martin Storey noticed the 15-year-old porter was the only sober person left in the county so he gave me a slightly bashed Liam McCarthy and told me to lock it away. I complied.
We owe this delightful tangent to Munster's hiring of Andy Farrell. On his first visit to Croker, Darcy and Farrell were both wearing the number 12 shirt.
Read the column here.
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