IT’S SAM TURN OUT FOR THE LADS
Thousands hit streets to welcome Dub heroes
A CROWD of overjoyed Dublin supporters welcomed Sam Maguire home for the third year in a row yesterday evening.
The formidable Dublin squad, who defeated Mayo by just one point in Sunday’s nail-biting showdown at Croke Park, were paraded through the streets of the capital’s city centre on an open-top bus with the coveted Sam Maguire yesterday.
The official homecoming took place in Smithfield and was attended by thousands of supporters.
Star substitute Kevin McManamon treated the cheering crowd to a sing-song on stage at the packed homecoming.
But before greeting their adoring fans, the team paid a visit to Temple Street and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin to visit some of their youngest supporters with Sam Maguire in tow.
Members of the heroic squad, including Philly McMahon, James McCarthy and Dublin manager Jim Gavin, shared the win with pint-sized Mayo supporter, Our Lady’s Hospital patient, Cathal Downey, aged four.
On Sunday evening, the team celebrated with their significant others at a swanky reception in the Gibson Hotel.
The Boys in Blue shed their match attire and were suited and booted for the winners’ banquet in the upmarket Dublin hotel.
The Taoiseach, Dublin native Leo Varadkar, and TD Maria Bailey were among the attendants at the bash.
Sunday’s All-Ireland Senior Football final is the mostwatched television event of the year so far, according to RTÉ who recorded a viewership of more than 1million during the live match on RTÉ2. Some 80.65% of all those watching TV at the time were tuned in to The Sunday Game Live on RTÉ2. The game drew a further 107,451 viewers on the RTÉ Player.