Excitement for Gort’s big day

THERE is an edge of giddy excitement around the town of Gort this week as the players, management and supporters prepare for this Saturday’s All-Ireland Club Senior Hurling semi-final.
The green and gold is becoming more prevalent as the week continues and although people are trying not to put pressure on players, the match is the topic of conversation on everyone’s lips.
“Everyone in Gort RFC wishes the hurling team and management the very best in this weekend’s game. The club will be out in full force to support. The buzz and excitement that that the hurlers have brought to the town does nothing but give a superb positivity to all other sporting teams in the area,” commented Austin McInerney, PRO of Gort Rugby Club.
Another local sports club, the South Galway Athletics Club, is hoping the team’s outing on Saturday is a successful one.
“Even getting to the semi-final itself is bound to have an impact on everyone in the town. As well as giving a lift to supporters, seeing the hurlers do so well encourages people to get active,” said Michelle Fitzmaurice, PRO with SGAC.
Local councillor and avid hurling fan, Gerry Finnerty believes the success of the hurlers couldn’t come at a better time.
“With the recession and the economy and the downturn at the moment, a lot of the future will hinge on GAA clubs. It is so important that you have a strong club because it is the distinction of the parish anymore. Here in South Galway, we are lucky in that most of the clubs have managed at senior and intermediate level to hold their own so far. A lot of clubs are looking at things very positively at the moment, with Ardrahan looking at doing a big development and St Thomas’ is just after winning an U-21A championship,” he noted.
“Certainly in the town of Gort on Tuesday, there were people putting up flags, banners, windows being painted, supporters buses being arranged to the match and then you have the foot soldiers like Jerry Sheehan and Martin Kerins on the ground working with people and arranging the various things and engaging with the supporters here in the town,” he added.
Councillor Finnerty is also the PRO of the Gort Chamber of Commerce. He believes the club’s success can only be a positive thing for businesses in the area.
“The whole emphasis in business nowadays is on marketing and people are very cautious about the cost of marketing but now with the semi-final, the word ‘Gort’ is on everyone lips and that is very positive for businesses. There is also a brilliant atmosphere here and since the county final, there has been a noticeable lift in the town. There is also a great recognition now as to just how important the GAA is within the town. If the team wins on Saturday, it will be very positive in the month of March here. There will be various fundraisers and great excitement and Paddy’s Day falls at the weekend so that will really add to it. Everyone is behind the team,” he asserted.
Garrett Piggott has a charter bus company in the town. As well as running buses to the match in Limerick on Saturday, he is very much looking forward to watching the game himself.
“The buzz is building, I’m mostly involved in the rugby but I have to say I am looking forward to Saturday’s match. The feeling is different now compared to the county final because people are nervous about putting pressure on the players so no one really knows if they should be wishing the lads luck or not but everyone wants them to win,” he concluded.