Raw, savage hunger.
If there is ever a film made of the Kilkenny hurlers’ incredible success, then Michael Fassbender is a shoo-in to play Jackie Tyrrell.
The corner-back missed Sunday’s All-Ireland final win over Galway as he was an unused substitute, but even when not playing he still had a massive influence on the game.
The James Stephens man, who picked up his ninth All-Ireland medal on Sunday, gave the half-time team-talk to his team-mates after Brian Cody decided that he would leave it in the hands of his players to figure out how they would get back into the game when trailing by three points at the short whistle.
Colin Fennelly revealed that Tyrrell gave an inspirational speech to the players in his post-match interview, and this morning the legendary defender shed more light on what he said to his team-mates on RTÉ radio:
“We came into the dressing room and sat down. Brian had said a few words and went off with the management team. They do that, go off for a little huddle and have a little bit of a chat. He very much leaves it up to the players and it’s up to the players to drive it on then. I just felt it needed something to drive it home to the lads. I tried to be real and speak from the heart with passion.
“I didn’t plan on talking but Brian said if you have something to contribute to the team, contribute, and I just felt things were a little bit dead.
“We were very relaxed and we were almost accepting what was going on. I just spoke from the heart. What an opportunity the lads had. We were two points down and we had not really hurled. I just started talking and luck enough the lads reacted. It is one thing talking. It’s another thing going out to do it. In fairness to the lads and the two Powers that came on, they all responded.”
https://twitter.com/MolloyJoe/status/640566838724796416
Galway had taken the initiative early on the game with Kilkenny players seemingly coming off second best in a number of the close exchanges.
Tyrrell admitted that he urged his team-mates to increase their physicality to reel in their opponents:
“They upped their games 10-15 per cent and you could see the difference in the second half with the work-rate and scores created. The whole demeanour and body language was completely different. That is testament to the guys. I just had a few words and the lads went out and did it.”
8 each for myself and @arroz84.absolutely what it's about pic.twitter.com/4Xqi1ynWcr
— Eoin Larkin (@11larky) September 6, 2015
Eoin Larkin picked up yet another All-Ireland as well on Sunday as he contributed two points to the 1-22 to 1-18 win.
However, the soldier will miss many of the Kilkenny celebrations this winter as he is due to head off on a peacekeeping mission with the Irish Army.
“It is something that I have to do, it’s part of my job.
“We’ll go out do it this year and see how it goes. Obviously I’m very apprehensive and nervous and things like that and my family are nervous after seeing things on the news and things like that. Hopefully things will go okay and I’ll come back in one piece.”
It has also emerged this morning that Carlow referee Paud O’Dwyer took charge of the All-Ireland minor final just hours after the death of his mother Bridget on Saturday evening.
Hurling and reality 2 Referee Paud O'Dwyer took charge of the minor hurling final,after the death of his mother Bridget on Saturday RIP #GAA
— Cathal Mac Coille (@CathalMacCoille) September 7, 2015
https://twitter.com/OdwyerPaud/status/640692995361239040
