IT COULD have been a funeral on the Rathmore platform yesterday. It was the first stop in the Kingdom for the Kerry team as fans mourning the defeat on Sunday approached with silent handshakes, consoling pats on the back, wordless nods and grasps of the arms, as the Kerry players and the management team stepped off the train to make their way to face the crowd.
A stage had been erected and a few hundred fans in the green and gold fought the wind, rain and the aching reality of Sunday’s narrow Kerry defeat in the gathering grey in the heart of Sliabh Luachra.
No foghorns this time, no Sam Maguire held tantalisingly out the window of the train.
“It’s easy to turn out when we win, but it takes special people to come out when we lose,” county chairman Jerome Conway told the Kerry supporters.
A special round of applause and cheers for “dashing back” local man Aidan O’Mahony drew smiles from the team on the platform.
The only team member to speak, O’Mahony, who has seen dark days before in Rathmore (out of nine All-Irelands in the recent past, Kerry has won five and lost four) said every year, “win or lose”, he could count on support at Rathmore.
It warmed his heart to be back – and the team would be back with Sam.
Team manager Jack O’Connor said it was not a day for speech making. “I know the lads are down. ” To have Sam almost within their grasp and have it snatched away was “extremely disappointing”.
Colm Cooper stopped to sign the shirts of Daragh O’Brien and a group of his young Kerry friends decked out in the green and gold. Then, in the driving rain, the train made off for Tralee where an open-topped bus carried them through the streets.
The mayor of Kerry Tim Buckley thanked “a great Kerry team” for their decade of dedication.
“This team has not gone away,” the mayor said.
The biggest and longest cheer was reserved for team captain Colm “Gooch” Cooper and Paul Galvin.
Kieran Donaghy, who addressed a thronged Denny Street, said: “Yesterday was a tough day, but we’re a tough team and we’ll stick together.”
A huge turnout was also expected in Killarney later.