Ciaran Kilkenny: Dublin’s win means absolutely everything

Four points from a successive All-Ireland title plus play – it wasn’t a terrible day in the office for Ciaran Kilkenny.
The Castleknock club guy saved his screen of 2019 for the moment, and then he could barely contain himself.
“It means absolutely all,” he beamed, talking to Sky Sports. “That which we put into the past few weeks, in terms of preparation, retrieval, becoming around every other. Our households needing to put up with us. It means a lot to people. Everyone is so psychological out there around the field.
“Fair play to Kerry, they’re such a wonderful team. Getting the line over means so much to people. I’ve never felt anything. Everybody running around to each other following the match, it’s an incredible feeling.
“That’s what football is for, that’s what the GAA is all about, and we are absolutely thrilled.”
And as the three-time All-Star looks back to the year that has been, he understands sacrifices were left by others.
“I’m so lucky – my Dad packs my own bag ahead of the matches and polishes my eyeglasses,” he continued. “They do all for me. My Mam has to put up with me cranky round the house.
“My loved ones, my intimate network of friends, they’ve been so supportive throughout the year and we’re just delighted we have done it.”
The elation was evident throughout the Dublin group, and it had been a feeling of relief as much as anything else later stress was piled .
“The elephant in the room was the five in a row,” noted Brian Howard. “But we did not pay much attention into it. There’s a good deal of young hungry lads on that team.
“That is my third most – I really don’t need to stop here.”
The Sky Blues have won an unprecedented fifth All-Ireland name in succession, and it’s going to take a group that was serious to stop them in the next few years.
Howard added:”We are still as hungry as ever, even though it’s close following the last whistle, we do not want to stop here, although it’s really close following the final whistle because it’s a massive achievement.”
Sky Sports’ Gaelic matches policy continues on Monday evening, the All-Ireland girls soccer final on Sky Sports Arena at 7pm!
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