Pride and joy, and a few tears too, as Crokes rip up form book to bring the title home
Supporters greet the team as they arrived home last night
Daisy Magee has been nervous since her son left her yesterday morning.
But as Johnny emerged from the Kilmacud Crokes coach with the Andy Merrigan in his hands, the nervousness turned to relief and tears flooded down her face.
"I am just so proud of him," she said.
Johnny Magee led the south-Dublin team to victory yesterday against favourites Crossmaglen Rangers in the AIB All-Ireland Club final.
The family have been living in Stillorgan, south Dublin, for the last 30 years but Mrs magee declared last night that they would be returning to her native Wexford, along with the cup.
Hysteria
There was near hysteria outside the clubhouse of Kilmacud Crokes last night as the victorious team were met with the adulation of hundreds of supporters.
A crowd of almost 33,000 people filed into Croke Park on a beautiful St Patrick's Day to watch Kilmacud's victory.
Crokes have long boasted that 1995 was their proudest moment when they took home the All-Ireland club prize after a victory against Ballaghy of Derry. That pride will now return to the club.
"It will really bring the club on, they have won it for the club," said Paul Walsh, a member of the 1995 winning team.
Families gathered during the day to watch the game at the Stillorgan Clubhouse and joined with those returning from Croke Park to welcome home the players last night.
The game ended in 1-09 to 0-07 to Crokes who maintained their lead throughout the match. The win will be a boost to GAA in south Dublin, an area not normally associated with a strong football tradition.
"There is a real community spirit. You never get that win in south Dublin, you never get that association," said Fiona Kinneen, a local resident.
Celebrations continued right into the night with the special dinner laid on.The cup will remain in Dublin after Marino-based St Vincent's took home the honour last year.
Glory day for the clubs See Sport
- Shane Hickey
