Sitting on the Hill 16 end of the Cusack Stand, in the sweltering summer sun, we looked enviously at those in shaded comfort of the Hogan Stand.
Kildare had just seen off Meath in the junior final and Dublin were up next, against Laois.
Most eyes were on the Dublin warm-ups and on the notable lack of Stephen Cluxton. A main-stay of the Dublin team since 2002, Cluxton had been named in the starting 15, and his name was there in the official match programme, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Big games at Croke Park will always have late-comers so even up until the 15-minute mark, with Laois giving the reigning Leinster champions a right go, supporters from both sides were shuffling in, taking their seats and asking, “Where’s Cluxton?!”
Evan Comerford had his championship chance and he handled the game, and occasion, well. He gave away an early free after failing to put a kick-out beyond the 10-metre line but dealt well with the high balls and invariably found men in space with his kicks.
In the main, though, Croke Park was abuzz whenever Laois goalkeeper Graham Brody set off on a give-and-go kick-out or dashed up the left flank to spark an attack. Those who have kept an eye on Laois, of late, were aware of Brody’s rambling ways but many around me gasped and pointed as the Portlaoise stopper pelted off the pitch and left his goal unguarded.
Graham Brody an outstanding keeper. Fenton, Kilkenny, McCarthy, and Geaney, are the 4 best players in the country at the moment. McCaffrey on for second half ! Is there any better sub to bring on !!
— Marc Ó Sé (@osemarc2) June 24, 2018
Brody’s forays were one of the highlights of the first half – he would jog back to his goal afterwards and guzzle some water – but his shot-stopping was more extraordinary. During his 58 minutes on the field, Brody stopped four Dublin one-on-ones and a couple more on-target efforts.
He did not make it to the final whistle, twisting his ankle and leaving the fray with the help of the Laois physio. The applause that rang out around Croke Park was the biggest for any substitution – Dublin or Laois – all afternoon and it emanated from every quarter. Looking to my right, hundreds of fans on Hill 16 clapped the 24-year-old off the pitch; appreciative of the rival goalkeeper’s best efforts in a losing cause.
Colm Parkinson, Cian Ward and Conán Doherty spoke about Brody’s performance in the Leinster final on The GAA Hour [from 1:07:00 below].
Kerry forward Paul Geaney filled his boots in the Munster final, against Cork, and topped the Paddy Power/SportsJOE poll for Player of the Weekend. Parkinson was not having that, however, and Brody claimed the accolade.
“I’m back playing at Portlaoise… I love, at the start of training, lining up and trying to score goals. I’m not very good at it but Kevin Fitzpatrick and a few of the lads are. We always stand at the 21 and take pot-shots at the goalie, out of our hands. It’s a bit of joy, before the bloody whistle comes and we have to start training…
“You can’t score on Brody. You CAN NOT score on Graham Brody. I need to repeat this! He is an unbelievable goalkeeper. He’s so big and so fast off the ground.
“I used to do it at Parnells with Stephen Cluxton, where you’d be one-on-one with him, and he’s very good in those situations. He would save the majority of them as he’s very good, but he’s nowhere near the level of Graham Brody in a one-on-one. He’s nowhere near Brody in the level of taking the ball out into the field.”
Parkinson conceded that Cluxton’s kick-outs are superior but then noted that Brody is better in the air.
The Laois goalkeeper has definitely added a new dimension to his side’s play and John Sugrue will need him back if they are to have a fighting chance of making the Super 8s.
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