Big celebrations for Leinster Champions in Naas

NAAS, 15 August 2000: 8.30am by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. It wasn't as big as the night they're hoping for in a few weeks' time, but bringing the Leinster Championship Cup to Naas last night was a very decent rehearsal for bringing 'Sam' home to the county after the All-Ireland series finishes.

That was the clear feeling as Naas UDC hosted a Civic Reception for the Kildare team that brought them in a cheering parade from Naas GAA grounds to Market Square. They were led in by pipers as the men in white waved from an open tour bus. (Sound clip highlights from the event are here.)

Naas town clerk Declan Kirrane welcomed the team home as champions for the second time in less than three years, and looked as if he was getting used to the job.

Vice chairman of Naas UDC Willie Callaghan said there had been ‘a lot of near heart-failure’ among Kildare people on Saturday but it was 'very satisfying' to win the championship and beat the Dubs. "Some said that Mick O'Dwyer went to Lourdes for a miracle at half-time, such was the transformation," he quipped. "But it was guts and the fitness of the Kildare team that brought us out here tonight. It has been a great year for Kildare ... we've won two Grand Nationals, two Derbys, the Galway Plate, the Leinster Championship. Sam, you’re next."

Chairman of Kildare County Council Rainsford Hendy said Kildare had proved they can come from behind and win because they 'have the stamina'. "I want to be back here to welcome Sam home," he said. "Naas won't know what hits it on that particular occasion."

Ger Lanigan of Naas GAA said it had been a 'tremendous achievement' for Kildare. "It's also great for the juvenile footballers in the county," he added. "They've got some great players to look up to."

Andrew O'Sullivan, chairman of the Kildare County Board, acknowledged the tremendous support of the people of the county and thanked the local public representatives for their warm welcome. "We have the best supporters in the land and I hope you will have a lot more to celebrate in the weeks to come."

Mick O'Dwyer said the team had had a 'marvellous run' this year. "A lot of people thought we were going nowhere, but we prepared from last October and we’d set our minds on winning the championship this year," he said. "It would be a great boon to win an All-Ireland in the year 2000, and we've set a good start by taking the Leinster Championship."

He said Kildare were 'true supporters of a great team'. "We have 28 players in this panel and any one of them is capable of playing for Kildare at any time. We're looking forward to playing against one of the best teams in the country at the moment, Galway. We're prepared for them and we'll be back to celebrate an All-Ireland."

Team captain Glen Ryan said he didn't know how they could get a reception like this two days after all the euphoria should have died down. He several times had a go at what he described as 'so-called experts and analysts', saying they had been proved wrong.

He singled out coach Mick O'Dwyer saying that none of them would have been on this stage except for him. "He has made us what we are." He also praised the medical team involved. He praised members of the County Board Andrew O'Sullivan and Richie Whelan for what they had done for the team. He also thanked Naas UDC, the Order of Malta, Civil Defence, and the gardai for their work on this night.

The chairman of the Leinster Council, Naas man Seamus Aldrich, congratulated Glen and the team, saying it was a privilege as a Kildareman and club colleague of Glen’s to present him with the cup. He also bluntly criticised the remarks of RTE’s commentators during the interval at last Saturday’s match.

"It is not acceptable what happened on Saturday, that amateur players who give so much of their time were criticised the way they were. I won't say any more about it, because we shouldn't give any more ammunition to these people. They will self-destruct themselves."