Every Monday morning, the ritual was the same for Liam Kearns and John Ryan. Meet in Chill the Beans in Caherdavin in the suburbs of Limerick city at 11.30. Drink coffee. Shoot the breeze. Chat football. Always football.
Monday was always a fixture on the calendar but Ryan and his best friend used to meet at least twice a week. When they spent 90 minutes in Ryan’s coffee shop in the Hunt Café on the second Thursday in March, they firmed up their plans for the following Wednesday.
The Thursday of Cheltenham usually followed the same routine. Back a few horses. Drink a few pints. Chat more football. Offaly were training on the Thursday so they planned it for the Wednesday instead. Meet at 1pm.
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