Green TDs Brian Leddin and Marc O Cathasaigh will go from being best of pals to best of rivals as Limerick face Waterford at Croke Park.
The pair, who were both elected for the first time in February, shared a flat during the intense government negotiations of the spring, and both have since been appointed to top positions in their party – Mr Leddin as chair and Mr O Cathasaigh as Green party whip and assistant government whip.
But come tomorrow afternoon, there will be no love loss as Mr Leddin cheers on Limerick in the hope they make it two Liam MacCarthy cups in three years, while Waterford TD Mr O Cathasaigh hopes the Deise end what he describes as “one of the GAA’s great famines”.
Mr Leddin, who is not yet sure where he will watch the decider, said the game is “seriously important” for Limerick.
He told the Limerick Leader: “In a year which has been so difficult for everybody, to round it off with an All-Ireland final and an opportunity to win the Liam MacCarthy cup will mean we can end it on a good note.
“Hopefully, we can go all the way and win on Sunday.”
Mr Leddin said there has been a fair bit of back-and-forth banter between the pair ahead of tomorrow.
He added: “We get on very well always, and work closely together. But this week, there is some understandable tension. I don’t think in terms of our support, we will leave anything behind. It’s fantastic that two great hurling teams have got to the final. Two teams not perennially there are in it.”
Limerick bridged a 45-year gap to win the All-Ireland title in 2018 – and arguably were the pick of everyone outside of Galway in 2018.
This year, Waterford, it’s felt by many, are the neutral’s favourite, having not won an All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship title since 1959.
Mr O Cathasaigh added: “It was long before my memory unfortunately. It’s one of the great GAA famines: Waterford hurling and Mayo football probably.”
Limerick edged out Waterford to win the Munster title this year but then the Deise beat a team who Mr O Cathasaigh described as “our perennial stumbling block”, Kilkenny, producing a stirring second-half fightback to secure their final berth.
