The year was 2010 and Tipperary were facing off with against a colossus Kilkenny side in the All-Ireland Hurling Final. Few would have expected that the game would become one of the most memorable matches in GAA lore, but Episode 7 of the 'Cult of...' series with Bulmers looks back on how Tipp stopped Kilkenny's drive for five.
Cast your mind back. The Cats were heavy favourites and were flirting with immortality, while Tipp arrived in Croke Park that rainy September Sunday on the back of an indifferent campaign that featured a dismaying defeat to Cork in the first round of the Munster championship. And then, of course, was the bitter defeat that Tipp had endured to their old rivals in the 2009 All-Ireland final.
Few thought anyone, let alone that Tipp team, was capable of derailing Kilkenny. On the latest episode of 'The Cult of ...' podcast, GAA broadcaster (and proud Tipp man) Damian Lawlor, explains exactly how Tipp pulled off one of the memorable victories in hurling history.
According to Lawlor, Tipp had the perfect mentality for confronting the Kilkenny maelstrom.
"Everybody stood up and had a go, and from what I heard Peter Merchant the doctor set the tone and he got up and just gave it straight," Lawlor told Damien Donohoe.
The headlines in the lead up to the game were dominated by the cruciate of a certain Ballyhale man, and Kilkenny's bid to win a 5th All Ireland in as many years over the side they had bested them the year previous. Tipp people definitely felt they owed Kilkenny one after they pushed Kilkenny to the edge the previous September.
"People felt that they should have won in 09, but there's no divine right. Kilkenny were 21 games unbeaten and they were about to go for an unprecedented 5 in a row."
Once the game kicked off, there was a sense of urgency in the Tipp team that was absent the previous games. They bagged themselves an early goal after 10 mins, and they were then given the added bonus of seeing Kilkenny's talisman limp off soon after with injury.
However this Kilkenny team was not that easily beaten and despite being outplayed in the first half, and being down by 6 points at one stage, they went into the break with a just a 1 point deficit to make up.
Lawlor recalls sitting in the press box and thinking that Kilkenny had the match won at halftime.
The 2 teams went toe to toe at the start of the 2nd half up until an astonishing rally from the Tipperary team to scored 2 goals within 2 minutes of each other in the 42nd and 44th minutes respectively. They then scored their final goal in injury time to add some gloss to the performance.
"I think for hurling it was a crucial win too you know, it gave others hope. The likes of Galway I think."
Tipperary epitomised what a team can do when they work for each other. Their togetherness, drive and determination were the difference in derailing the Kilkenny train. Six days later, Tipp would win the U-21 hurling title in Thurles and the future of hurling looked blue and yellow.
And yet...Kilkenny would beat Tipp in 2011, and then would bring home the All-Ireland in 2012, 2014 and 2015. It was a false dawn for Tipp but regardless, they won one of the most famous GAA matches of all time, and for that reason, that Tipp team will be immortal.
You can listen to the full episode of The Cult Of... podcast series with Balls and Bulmers above, as we delve into some of the most fascinating cult sporting moments. Whether it's Maurice Fitzgerald's majestic sideline point or the Clare team that came from nowhere in 1995, it's always 100% Irish.
Please drink Bulmers responsibly.
