The All Ireland hurling final is a sporting occasion unlike any other. It takes narratives of Irish history, folklore and culture and plays them out in Croke Park in front of the world. It’s a day when the people of Ireland come together regardless of county colours, where the shared occasion becomes as important as the result itself.
In All Ireland Day: The Hurling Final, Loosehorse’s cameras go behind the scenes on match day to offer a unique perspective on the biggest day in the sporting year. The programme follows the key protagonists as they prepare for and experience the dramatic end of a historic hurling season.
A former All Ireland winning minor with Tipperary, Fergal Horgan is made for refereeing on the big stage. Fergal, a postman by day, is tasked with delivering a huge performance as Galway go toe-to-toe with Waterford and our cameras are granted access into his inner sanctum.
The familiar voice of experienced broadcaster Marty Morrissey guides viewers through the game’s twists and turns. Yet this is not just another game for Marty; this is the first time he will hold the mic for an All Ireland final as RTÉ’s television commentator. We visit Marty and his mother Peggy in Clare as he prepares for the final.
Elaine Casey is one of the most important people in the stadium on any match day. As Croker’s recently appointed event controller, Elaine is tasked with ensuring the day occurs without incident from the control room beside Hill 16. Her unique view of the action is an occupational perk but, for her and her team, the result comes second to crowd safety.
For Joshua Ryan, a 12 year old boy from Galway, the All Ireland final gives him a chance of a lifetime, as he walks out on the hallowed turf with one of his heroes. But this is a worn path for the Ryan family. Joshua’s father Eanna won two All Irelands for Galway alongside his boyhood friend, the late
Tony Keady. It’s a day of high emotion for the Ryans and everyone in Galway.
Meanwhile, we visited one of the most important GAA men in Waterford, Frank Murphy. The Murphy family are steeped in the history of hurley making. Their home is a shrine to the greats of Waterford hurling, past and present. Frank is hoping to add new All Ireland winning hurls to a collection that includes the hurls used by Tom Cheasty and Larry Guinan in Waterford’s 1959 All Ireland win.
The life of a sports photographer can be nomadic but there’s always a sense
of home when James Crombie steps inside GAA Headquarters. James
has viewed the biggest sports events across the world through his lens but
the hurling final is one day he always cherishes.
Our cameras also follow Kieran O’Connor as he covers the match for local radio in Waterford and his brother Michael, a survivor of last Waterford team to win an All Ireland. While Barry Nolan is the real hawk-eye at Croke Park on match days as his birds of prey protect the field of play from rogue pigeons.