The Wexford hurling star looks back on three occasions that the Davin Stand in Croke Park played a part in days he will remember forever
Bord Gáis Energy ambassador and Wexford hurling star Lee Chin with five-year-old Kelsi Noonan at Croke Park for the launch of Bord Gáis Energy’s continued sponsorship of the GAA All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Growing up in Wexford, I was involved in football, hurling and soccer from an early age. I always played outfield in football and soccer but in hurling I had a short stint in goal at Faythe Harriers. I only lasted a game there at my age level but I sometimes played in goal if I was playing an age level or two up. We played a county final and I was in goal for it, but conceded about six goals. That sporting career didn’t have any longevity! I made some early strides outfield in hurling but my first chance to play at Croke Park came as somewhat of a surprise. It was a Thursday when I got a phone call asking would I go to play for Wexford Under-14s. That call was from Joe Kearns, who was part of the Wexford panel when they won the All-Ireland Final in 1996. I told him that I might need to get hold of my mam to ask could I take the day off school. He said, “I don’t think she’d have a problem with that!” Sure enough, he was right.
I remember they had a bus arranged and off we set. Mam and my grandmother followed up in the car. This was a place that I had only ever dreamed of playing in. The dressing room, walking out from the tunnel — it is all so clear, even to this day. I scored a point at the Davin Stand end that afternoon. If you asked me now, I could still point out the exact spot that I scored it from. That game impacted me so much. It made me feel I was chasing the right thing.
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