Croke Park was being readied on Friday afternoon for the weekend’s Leinster SHC and McDonagh Cup finals. Nothing new in that for June, certainly, but there was a noticeably different atmosphere around the stadium. The focus of attention was Level 5 of the Hogan Stand and specifically on the Hogan Suite, the ground’s biggest room – the one stormed by anti-Allianz protesters during GAA Congress in January. By 2pm it was packed with media, influencers and curious Croker staff for what was described in the invite as a “major press conference”. Everyone knew what was coming. Moments later, the key figures in a long-running sporting saga took their places at the top table. For a time, it seemed this story might never reach its desired conclusion. Even Katie Taylor had given up. Four years of trying to will a Croke Park homecoming into existence hadn’t been enough, not even for the woman who persuaded the IOC to include women’s boxing at the Olympic Games. “Three, four months ago, we sat in a restaurant and Katie Taylor told me she’s done, that’s the end of her career,” said her promoter, Eddie Hearn. “A month later she phoned her manager Brian Peters and said, ‘I can’t go until this happens. Please make it happen.’”Suddenly, here she was, back at another top table and discussing her next fight as her mother, Bridget, and other family members watched on. Taylor was in the right place at the right time, with the chance to become a three-time undisputed champion. “I’ve had plenty of doubts over the last few months,” Taylor confided after the globally streamed press conference had ended. “I doubted whether this fight was going to happen and if I was ever going to step into the ring again. “But here we are. I have goosebumps. It can’t get any better than this. “I’m going to be 40 this year. I can’t box forever but I have had an amazing career. I have achieved my dreams. I’ve lived beyond my dreams.”Taylor will face undefeated but little-known French fighter Flora Pili at Croke Park on September 5th in the first boxing extravaganza in Croker since Muhammad Ali defeated Al “Blue” Lewis here in 1972. There’s talk of a big singing act too. Maybe Ed Sheeran? “I haven’t heard,” laughed Taylor. “I know there’s rumours of Westlife, but I don’t know if that’s the reality, either.”“It will be an event, more than a boxing card,” said Peters. “I don’t know what you will compare it to – some of you guys are too young to remember the pope coming to Ireland ...” Katie Taylor at Croke Park on Friday for the announcement of her Undisputed clash at Croke Park. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times