This is what it's all about. While the lower divisions of the hurling championship are overlooked by many people, they mean a hell of a lot to those involved.
The Lory Meagher, Nicky Rackard, and Christy Ring Cup finals are taking place in Croke Park this afternoon, and it is an incredible celebration of hurling. It is the grassroots of the sport, and is in a sense what the GAA is all about.
Leitrim defeated Lancashire after extra time in a cracking Lory Meagher Cup final, the lowest tier of the hurling championship. Looking the celebrations after the final whistle, you could tell what it meant to the players.
Leitrim captain Declan Molloy took to the steps of the Hogan to lift the Lory Meagher Cup, and he would go on to deliver one of the greatest speeches ever to grace Croke Park. Sit back and enjoy this one.
(The video will begin just as he lifts the cup.)
Am I dreaming, or am I awake? Finally we've got up the steps of the Hogan, it's absolutely unbelievable for Leitrim hurling...
We're going to take our time, it's taken us a long time to get here so we're going to relax for a second now. We have an unbelievable panel of players. For the first time in Leitrim hurling this year, we heard the words 'cutting a panel'.
We said, with respect, that we are cutting no panel. Every single man on that panel is as important as the goalie, or the corner forward, or the free-taker. Every single one of those guys down there have sacrificed family occasions, social occasions.
They never miss training, they have put as much into every single Leitrim training session to get here, to represent Leitrim, because they're absolute legends...
We had a new addition to the coaching team this year. When we were here the last time, his father cried below the Hogan, not because we were beat, but because he was so proud to see Leitrim taking to the field in Croke Park.
He's not here today. He knew at the time how sick he was, but none of us did. He came to every single training session, and he is represented today unbelievably by an amazing, organised and structured secretary in Hillary Phelan...
That would bring a tear to a glass eye. The magic of the championship.
