GAA president pays incredible tribute to Bloody Sunday heroes at All-Ireland trophy lift speech

Jarlath Burns’ trophy-lift speeches are always considered, evocative and emotional, and Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC final was no different.

Tipperary, considered the home of hurling, shocked everyone by pulling off a stunning victory over Cork with a second-half fightback for the ages.

They trailed by six points at half-time, but ran out 3-27 to 1-18 winners at Croke Park as Ronan Maher lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

And before Maher got his hands on the trophy, GAA president Burns produced his own speech for the history books, referencing Tipperary’s hurling history, Maher’s day job as a Hurley maker, and the likes of Michael Hogan and Seán Treacy, who were killed during Bloody Sunday in 1920.

He also had words of consolation for Cork, who are now without an All-Ireland win since 2005.

Burns said: “To Cork, I know it’s going to be hard to explain what happened today, however you know you will be back, you are Allianz League champions, you are Munster champions, and your day as All-Ireland champions will come. And when it comes, it will be all the sweeter.

“However, on a year where this stand is 100 years after being named after Michael Hogan, and man who died playing on this very field, it is fitting that the Liam MacCarthy Cup is going to Thiobraid Árann.

“To Tipperary. You have put in a display of hurling in the second half of this match, that would do justice to Hogan, Seán Treacy, and all of the greats who have worn the blue and yellow of this wonderful county where it all began.

“It gives me great pleasure to present this to your captain, Ronan Maher, by day a hurley maker, but on this day a history maker, from the town Thurles, where it all began.”