Stephen Donnelly’s only previous appearance at Croke Park was at half-time in the 2012 All-Ireland SHC final between Kilkenny and Galway.
Twelve years ago, Donnelly was one of the lucky kids chosen to play in an exhibition game between the senior games. But this Saturday he will return to GAA headquarters as captain of the Thomastown team competing in the first-ever All-Ireland club hurling intermediate final.
“It’s my first time playing properly there,” said the 23-year-old forward. “In 2012, it was at half-time on the other side of the pitch, so I don’t think it was played properly.
“It has been a dream of mine since I was young to play for Croke Park and aim to win an All-Ireland with the club and we are honored to have the opportunity to do it now.
“Not a lot of people get the chance, but we’re lucky enough to be a part of it, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Standing in the way of Thomastown in Saturday’s AIB All-Ireland Club IHC final (7pm) will be Cork and Munster champions Castle Lions.
“We’ve heard a lot of stories about them,” Donnelly says. “I had one eye on them after they left Kilkenny because I had a feeling they could go all the way.
“I haven’t personally watched a lot of them, but I’ve heard a little bit about them as management and the coaching staff are doing their research.”
Thomas Town defeated Mooncoin 1-29 to 0-17 in the Kilkenny IHC final last October, a devastating loss for a club that had lost three finals in four years in 2019, 2020 and 2022. It ended after a few years. They also lost in the semifinals. The loss to Lysdowney in 2020 came in penalties, and the loss to Danesfort in 2022 came in extra time.
“The last time we won an interim title was back in 1983,” added Donnelly, who went 1-8 in the county final. “There have been many close calls over the last five years, so it was great to finally get over the line.
“Of course, you’re going to be thinking, ‘Hey, when are we going to cross the line?'” But you just have to keep going back and trying. Just keep trying and it will happen eventually.
“I think I took a week off after the last county celebration, but then I went right back to work.
“Our first aim was to get into the Leinster final and we achieved that. “Then we thought we had a good chance so we buckled down and said we would keep going and thankfully we did. We did that and we are here now.”
Only one hurdle remains.
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