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23 Sept 2025
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23 Sept 2025
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'Kerry for Sam,' says Meath teenager
After a huge upset, Tipperary are All-Ireland senior hurling champions for the first time since 2019 after a stunning comeback win over 14-man Cork in the first final meeting between the neighbours.
Who would have thought that after Tipperary's immense performance and Cork's surprise collapse, one of the main talking points from last Sunday's game would be "Kerry for Sam."
READ MORE: GAA apologises over scoreboard mix-up during recent Tipperary vs Kilkenny semi-final
As Tipperary Captain Ronan Maher lifted the Liam McCarthy Cup on Sunday evening. Eagle-eyed observers witnessed a young supporter in a Tipp jersey standing behind Maher turn his phone around to the TV cameras to reveal the words "Kerry for Sam" on the screen.
The young man who pulled the stunt at the hurling final is 17-year-old JJ McCarthy from County Meath, who is an avid Kerry supporter. JJ was attending the All-Ireland Hurling final with his Tipperary-born aunt on Sunday.
Speaking to Radio Kerry following the stunt, JJ described how he decided to make the most of being on the big screen and show his support for the Kingdom while the trophy was being lifted:
"I've seen myself on the screen, all my mates were texting me saying, oh, you're on the TV, you're on the TV."
"It just came into my head, the thought, saying, oh, should I just put it right up on my phone and put it up for the crack."
READ MORE: Local woman raises thousands for Roscrea Hospice after running the Paris marathon
The video has since gone viral, and JJ added, "everyone's seen it then, it's everywhere now."
He credits his late grandfather Jeremiah McCarthy from Sneem in County Kerry for passing on the passion for Kerry GAA to him and his father.
While Kerry fans enjoyed the ploy and the majority of Donegal fans found the humor in the stunt, the teenager firmly believes that Donegal won't leave him heartbroken for the second time in two weeks, as the Kingdom will have too much quality for Jim McGuinness’s men. "I think Kerry will win by four."
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