Some deflated families left before full time, knowing that Cork’s fate was sealed, and opting to beat any waiting traffic. But most stayed on at the Rebels’ Fanzone until the damp, bitter end.
“We’re gutted,” Sarah Hallissey said after Cork’s loss. “But Tipperary’s win was well deserved in the second half.”
She had driven up from Tralee to the fanzone screening at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh with her husband John Hallissey. “We don’t regret the drive up. But it will be a quiet car on the way home,” the couple admitted.
Undeterred by Sunday’s loss, little boys colonised the pitch after disappointed supporters streamed off, taking out their hurleys and hitting sliotars, not wasting an opportunity to play on the famous grass.
And little Aoibheann Leogue, who plays camogie with Douglas under-8s, will keep the Cork flags up at home for the Cork women’s team next week in their semi-final against Waterford.
She has high hopes that Cork will take home that other senior trophy, the O’Duffy Cup.
Eleanor Mooney, described by her family as Cork’s biggest hurling supporter, said she goes to all the games with her brother and sister-in-law, Donal and Mary O’Callaghan.
“We thought we’d bring it home this year,” Donal O’Callaghan said.
“But Tipperary were outstanding in the second half. The better team won on the day.
“You can’t win games only getting two points in the second half.
Elaine Mooney added: “Win of lose, we’ll always support them.”
The game had started with high hopes, and Cork dominated in the first half.
“Up the rebels!” a girl in a red tank top screamed as she skipped into the All-Ireland hurling final screening.
Street vendors had set up stalls draped in Cork flags selling red and white merchandise as people in their county colours streamed towards the Rebels’ Fanzone at the stadium to watch the big game.
The green pitch was turned red with supporters, glued to the game broadcast over a giant screen. Friends shared jackets and plastic ponchos, huddling on them together to stay dry on the wet grass.
Alan McCarthy came to the city from Newmarket.
“I didn’t get tickets for Croke Park. But I actually think this is better, to have all the Cork supporters in one place,” he said. “There’s a brilliant atmosphere. I’d actually choose here over Croke Park.
“Cork is up four which is a great start. But it’s a close game, it could go either way.”
Stephen Dowling held little Zachary Dowling in his arms: “It’s his first big game,” Mr Dowling said. They had travelled from Fermoy, enticed by the family-friendly nature of the event.
“I’m a fair-weather fan. But it’s great to have something to go to that’s family-friendly and not a pub,” Mr Dowling said.
“The whole complex here is great. And we were down in the Marina Market first. So you couldn’t do better, certainly not in Tipperary anyway!”
Fiona Leahy from Midleton travelled down from Dublin, where she was visiting family, to watch the game in her home county.
“I wasn’t able to get a ticket to Croke Park. But the atmosphere here is incredible.”
A football player, Ms Leahy said that she likes the high-energy nature of hurling.
“It’s nice to support Ireland’s national sport,” she said.
Edel Fleming was watching the game with a group of friends. “The sea of red is always magical to see,” Ms Fleming said.
“It’s a close game — it’s anyone’s game at this point,” she said at half time.
The sunny start to the match was suddenly, rudely interrupted by a characteristic Irish downpour as fans rushed up steps to the cover of the surrounding stands.
Little boys lashed sliotars against walls with their hurleys as they waited in the dry for the downpour to pass.
Expertly fake-tanned limbs, perfectly blow-dried hair, red Cork jerseys, and white shorts were worn by legions of teenage supporters as they huddled from the rain.
Others draped large Cork flags over their shoulders.
Many others came weather-ready, their translucent ponchos blocking the rain without obscuring proud county colours.
And, when the rain did quickly pass, people poured back down the steps and out onto the pitch.
Although all of the free tickets for the 20,000-capacity event were taken, not everyone seemed to have used them, with the place lively and awash in red jerseys but with no need to jostle too aggressively for seats.
Some children, bored with the game, entertained themselves with handstands, cartwheels, and chase at the side of the pitch.
The stadium erupted in screams — and then sighs — when Cork almost scored but hit the post.
“Cork’s been unlucky,” a commentator on the big screen said, eliciting a few heartfelt nods of agreement across Pairc Uí Chaoimh.
