Fresh from their demolition of Waterford in Sunday's All-Ireland final, Kilkenny's hurlers took time out today to visit patients at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. Later, an estimated crowd of 20,000 lined the streets of Kilkenny city to welcome home the men who had departed as great players and returned as legends.
As a number of players and manager Brian Cody, accompanied by a Garda escort, arrived at the hospital, they were greeted by Fionn McLoughlin (9), from Boyle, Roscommon, who was decked out in his adopted county's colours and holding a hurley overhead in greeting.
Commenting on Kilkenny's three-in-a-row victory, Fionn said: "They're all great players . . . just too good, too skilful for Waterford." According to his mother, Geraldine, it was a double day of celebration for the family as her son had just been given the all-clear following treatment for a brain tumour. "It's great when the kids get visits in the hospital, it gives them all such a lift," she said.
Looking very much the cats who got the cream and none the worse for it being the morning after the night before, the players - including Henry Shefflin, James "Cha" Fitzpatrick, and Eddie Brennan - delighted patients and staff as they posed for photographs with the Liam McCarthy and Minor trophies and signed an array of hurling paraphernalia.
Speaking in the hospital, Fitzpatrick said the team had come through a "tough day" yesterday thanks to a "great performance from all the lads", adding he was delighted to be able to spend some time visiting the hospital.
Cody paid tribute to the "phenomenal" work being done by the professional and dedicated hospital staff, noting: "In lots of ways, it is big a pleasure to be here today as it was to have the opportunity to perform at Croke Park yesterday."
Eleven-month-old Dylan O'Sullivan got the photograph of the morning, cradled in the arms of Cody - where Liam may yet nestle for a few more years. Dylan, who has had open-heart surgery, was unperturbed by the fuss surrounding him as proud mum Marie - "living in Cork but originally from Kilkenny" - looked on.
Caoimhe Phelan (11), from Ballyraggert, Kilkenny, had her room festooned in black and amber and toenails painted in the same colour scheme in honour of her visiting heroes.
After getting a kiss from Shefflin, her favourite player, she noted: "He's taller than he looks on telly" - a sentiment probably shared by Shefflin's marker yesterday.
After that, the team headed for Heuston station and the train home.
They arrived at McDonagh Station in Kilkenny city to a rapturous reception at around 6pm and boarded an open-top bus to parade the Liam McCarthy Cup to the thousands of fans and well wishers lining the streets bedecked in black and gold.
Part of the focus of the celebration was the county's minors who, ominously, won their All-Ireland final against Galway. With the Intermediate title already in the bag and the Under-21 final to come, the Cats are set for a clean sweep.
Eventually the heroes found their way to Langton's hotel for a victory banquet. The first of many occasions, no doubt, that these three-in-a-row legends will eat out on the All Ireland Final of 2008.