The domino effect of sporting success is front and centre in the village of Clarinbridge in Co Galway this week.
As the county’s senior hurlers get ready to contest Sunday’s All Ireland final, the intergenerational nature of the GAA and the way it can envelop a community is plain to see at the local pitch.
Hundreds of children are out for the annual Cúl Camp, and organisers could not have got a better week for the training event, had they written away and asked for it.
In glorious sunshine, children from five to 15 are honing their skills, learning new tricks and dreaming of glory.
Local children taking part in a Cúl Camp show off their skills
Clarinbridge won their first senior county title in 2001, following it up with an All-Ireland club title in 2011.
There are six players from the village on the Galway panel, with Manager Micheál Donoghue and backroom team member Derek Forde also hailing from this corner of the county.
Chris Callinan is on the Galway under-20 panel this year and remembers how past successes influenced him.
“You can see the mood down here is unreal, the whole village is just maroon and white.
“It’s great to have the six lads, and everyone here sees what they put into it, then Micheál and Derek involved too, it’s mighty.
“I think it’s just the fact that there are so many from Clarinbridge involved.
“I remember back in 2017, you dream of those days, and now all these children are going to be dreaming again on Sunday”.
The gates of Clarinbridge GAA club has a banner wishing local players good luck for Sunday
His teammate Dylan Dunne agrees.
“From under-12s up to minor, that age group is so important for development at under-20 and senior, so it’s great to see the pipeline of enthusiasm and talent that’s coming through. Sunday will feed that even more,” he said.
Club chairman Donal Walsh says the involvement of the likes of Gavin Lee, Joshua Ryan and the Niland brothers in the Galway set up has tangible benefits.
Donal Walsh said the involvement of club players will bring the club on
“When they last won the All Ireland in 2017, there was great excitement when Micheál brought the cup home. It was such an emotional moment. But if he were to arrive with the cup and the six guys that are involved from here next week, it would be so, so special.
“That success feeds into everything. We’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of our first county senior title this year. That brought the club on, this involvement will bring the club on too”.
Nobody is doubting the scale of the challenge facing both teams on Sunday, but there is a feeling in Clarinbridge that Galway will have enough to edge proceedings.
“I give them a great chance,” said Mark Kerins, former senior inter-county player.
“Obviously Galway are going in as underdogs because of Limerick’s history in All-Ireland finals and their abilities to win tight games, but I think if we are with them coming down the home straight, I’d be hopeful we can get over the line,” he said.