What a difference a year makes.
Twelve months on from a heartbreaking one point to defeat to Galway in the All-Ireland Final, the Cork camogie team returned to a heroine’s welcome on Leeside with the O’Duffy Cup after they defeated the Tribeswomen by an equally tight margin.
The crowds had been gathering from around 5pm on the Grand Parade in Cork city centre with Ken Perrott from Cork’s 96FM Street Fleet keeping the spirits up, blasting out some of Cork’s anthems including Kingfishr’s Killeagh and the Franka and Walters’ After All.
By the time the team bus arrived at 6.45pm to the sound of Tina Turner’s Simply the Best, and team captain Méabh Cahalane led her team-mates on to the stage near the National Monument, the crowd ranging from small children to pensioners could hardly contain its excitement.
The Cork camogie team celebrate with the O’Duffy Cup during their homecoming in the city centre on Monday night. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho 
Cork supporters celebrate during the homecoming event. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho 
Young Cork supporters celebrate during the homecoming event. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
Cork 96FM’s GAA reporter and MC for the night Finbarr McCarthy said he had seen some amazing welcomes for Cork camogie teams in the past, but he had never seen such a fantastic turnout.
Lord Mayor of Cork Damian Boylan said he had gone to Croke Park on Sunday “believing these ladies would deliver, and by God, did they deliver” as he went on to pay tribute to the team for “their sacrifice and resilience”, as they saw off Galway to win by 2-14 to 0-19.
Mayor of Cork County Bernard Moynihan said it was a great honour to be in Croke Park to see them win Cork’s 31st All-Ireland senior camogie title, noting that while people can “buy cars and houses, you can’t buy an All-Ireland medal”.
[ Cork edge out Galway in gripping camogie final on history-making dayOpens in new window ]
Taoiseach Michéal Martin also congratulated the team, speaking first as Gaeilge, praising the team for their determination, energy and power as he proceeded to tell the players how proud the people of Cork were of them after winning such a fine game of camogie with no little skill.
“It’s a tremendous pleasure to be here to welcome home a great Cork camogie team … we thank the players in particularly for all they have done and we pay tribute to your captain Maeve Cahalane for the leadership she has shown on and off the field … Corcaigh abú le fada an lae.”
And then it was the turn of Cahalane to come to the microphone, as looking out at a forest of red flags, she introduced the entire 36 strong panel of players to the crowd, who cheered their heroines to the skies before Cahalane thanked the thousands of fans in red jerseys.
Cork’s Laura Hayes and Saoirse McCarthy (centre) lead the celebrations during the homecoming. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho 
Cork’s Libby Coppinger lifts the O’Duffy Cup. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho
“It’s great to see so much red and white in the city – ye travelled in your numbers to Croke Park and we could hear ye get behind us yesterday when we needed it down the home straight – it made a difference so I just want to thank ye from the bottom of my heart – thanks a million.”
Then it was into Queen’s We are the Champion before Cork’s best known GAA fan, Cyril Kavanagh – the man with the sombrero – led the crowd in a stirring rendition of the old Cork anthem The Banks of My Own Lovely Lee to bring the proceedings to a close.