James Hayden with Maeve Morris at the All-Ireland Final

An Unforgettable Day: the All-Ireland Final through supporters eyes

By James Hayden

The 20th of July 2025, etched forever in Tipperary hearts, was a day of seismic emotion—from nervous hope to dizzying euphoria.

Since 2010 the famous walk up Jones’ Road on All-Ireland final has been as a working sports journalist for the biggest day in the hurling calendar. On this occasion it was a Premier County fan - this is how Liam MacCarthy’s triumphant return to Tipperary felt.

The day began early with the decision to take the more circuitous M4 route via Borrisokane, Birr and Tullamore in order to avoid the expected heavy traffic on the M7 route as fans from the Rebel and Premier counties merged to create a cavalcade of colour on the approach to the capital.

For many, the first appointment of the day was to source a location for breakfast but with the forecasted morning rain forcing early arrivers inside for cover from the elements and clogging restaurants from Dorset Street to Drumcondra it was slim pickings indeed.

Walking through Dublin, the disparity was stark. Cork’s red outnumbered Tipperary supporters by at least two to one.

The first person to meet had just arrived from Chicago, an old school pal with ties to Nenagh Éire Óg and Shannon Rovers, Oisin Walsh, a proud Tipperary man that had put his money where his mouth was earlier this year when in a charity auction in the ‘Windy City’ for two All-Ireland final hurling tickets, he had stumped up over and above odds to secure the tickets despite the derisory slights and jibes from Limerick, Cork, Kilkenny, and Clare natives.

“Sure, what do you want them for; Tipp won’t be within an asses roar of Croke Park this year” was the jibe. “How wrong they were,” he called as he headed off on his merry way towards Croker.

As the search for a suitable source of sustenance became less and less likely with queues of Tipp and Cork supporters forming outside hostelries in the intermittent rain. "Tipp fans exchanged wry smile.” "We’re so far back, I don’t know what’s forward anymore," one Cork wag joked outside Kavanagh’s pub.

The day began solemnly for others, with hundreds gathering on Talbot Street for the Seán Treacy memorial as GAA President, Jarlath Burns proudly remembered the Tipperary and Irish patriot.

In a poignant moment, blue-and-gold-clad supporters honoured their revolutionary past, drawing strength from history before the battle ahead before a rousing rendition of the famous Tipperary anthem ‘Slievenamon’ echoed through the bowels of the now bustling capital.

Eventually sustenance was secured and the wait for Croke Park to open began. Crowds and long queues outside the Croke Park Hotel, Tipp and Cork fans intermingling, and suddenly the RTE cameras and Marty Morrissey roll into view. Banter, craic, and stories unfurled, the atmosphere was building and the excitement growing.

Pre-match though of many rumours of changes, the Cork threat in attack – conversations bouncing from one topic to another all in anticipation of a game for the ages. The tension was palpable, a crackling of electricity in the air as the turnstiles began to turn and the crowds streamed into the edifice that is Croke Park stadium.

Seats located, programmes procured and with a suitable source of libation in hand the attention turned to proceedings on the pitch. The roar from all 82,300 in attendance as both teams took the field was seismic. In a flash the formalities were over, and it was down to the real business in hand.

At half-time, trailing 1-16 to 0-13 after Cork’s Shane Barrett goal, despair loomed. Tipp’s nine wides felt like self-inflicted wounds. In the stands, we braced for heartbreak.

Then, the impossible unfolded. Liam Cahill’s sweeper system, Bryan O’Mara floating defensively, strangled Cork’s attack. The Rebels scored just two points in the second 35 minutes. Anyone predicting such a fate for the Rebels at the interval would have been declared ‘unfit of mind and body’.

Darragh McCarthy’s redemption was underway and in the next 39 odd minutes the 20-year-old Toome’ man became a legend. His ice-cool penalty into the top corner, followed by a roar to all the doubters, ignited Croke Park as the blue and gold tide surged higher and higher washing over the ‘Red Tide’ as Rebel fans stared on in disbelief at the on-field collapse of their team.

John McGrath’s two goals, a rebound pounce on a predatory flick sealed Cork’s fate. His 22nd Championship goal was a dagger, and it went straight through the Rebel hearts.

Then came Rhys Shelly’s penalty save before a poetic moment of fairytale qualities saw Darragh McCarthy’s cross-field ball find who other than Noel McGrath on his own on Cork’s 65’ yard line and fittingly it was the Loughmore/Castleiney clubman who arrowed over Tipp’s final point to secure his fourth Celtic Cross at 34 years of age and Tipp’s 29th All-Ireland hurling title of all time.

The joy, the elation, the roar that burst forth from the hordes of blue and gold fans at Liam Gordon’s final whistle was bunker busting. Cork fans were bitterly disappointed but genuinely gracious in defeat, tears in young fans eyes, words of consolation from Tipperary fans, all these micro moments just embodied the dearth of mutual respect between the two counties.

When Ronan Maher raised the cup, dedicating it to the late Dillon Quirke "You were in our hearts", grown men wept. Liam Cahill, manager who had guided the Premier County through the post Covid desert, hoisted by players mid-interview, beamed: "I always believed in these lads”.

After six years without Liam MacCarthy, and a 2024 campaign with no championship wins, this was redemption. Cork had beaten Tipp twice in 2025 both in the league final and the Munster championship. To dominate them 3-27 to 1-18 was a statement, a statement that many hope will unleash a new hurling dynasty in the Premier County.

McCarthy (19), O’Farrell (20), and Stakelum (26) heralded Tipperary’s future—a blend of youth and wisdom.

Amid Tipperary’s joy of joys, we saw Cork fans "pale, sick, crying". One’s lament—"This has broken me. I can’t go again reminded us all of the harsh fact: hurling’s glory is carved from others’ grief. In victory, we felt their 20-year ache, but Sunday was our day. Sunday was blue and gold!

As fans flooded Jones’ Road once more on a warm July evening, chants of ‘Tipp Tipp Tipp’ echoing in streets, we knew this was not just a win.

It was a resurrection—for a team, a county, and every fan who never stopped believing.

Ar aghaidh le Tiobraid Árann!