Final fantasy Limerick superfan Pa Buckley will 'die happy' if county wins All-Ireland

GAA superfan Pa Buckley lives and breathes Limerick hurling - and even sleeps in his green and white kit.

The 68-year-old, who has a house covered in memorabilia, credits the Treaty County's team's incredible three-year run of success with helping him to bounce back from four strokes he suffered in 2017.

"It's better than any medicine," says the county's most famous fan.

"I just can't wait for Sunday. People think of winning the lottery, I wouldn't give two damns for the lottery, it's a Limerick win on Sunday.

"If they win it and if God took me on Sunday night or Monday morning I wouldn't care.

"I already made my peace with him three years ago. I have asthma for a long time and I didn't think I would come out after four strokes in 2017.

"But the last couple of years has just been better than any medication that the doctors or hospitals can give you. I haven't felt as good in a long time."

The popular supporter - who is a familiar sight at county matches - wears the Limerick colours religiously every single day of the year.

"I'm after getting three more new tops", he says.

"I even have three tops and three bottoms for bed, if anyone saw me they would say I was mad. I have it on seven days a week, including my keyring."

Pa's house in the heart of the city is wreathed with wall-to-wall white and green and he has bunting strewn across the ceiling in preparation for the Sunday match.

Inside his hurling-themed home in Ballinacurra, in Limerick, there is an extraordinary collection of memorabilia gathered from his countless attendances at almost every county game.

It includes a rare glass hurley, a dog-eared programme from Limerick's last All-Ireland win in 1973 and a pair of green and white striped boots.

"I've flags and bunting everywhere. I had a lovely Limerick duvet set made and pillow slips but they were taken off the line."

He has earned the nickname, 'The Western Warrior', as he paints up his face in green and white for all the matches,

The 68-year-old watched the Treaty County churn out their famous victory in the lashing rain from the stands in Croke Park in 1973 and was in Croke Park in 2018, which Pa says "was the cream on the cake.

Support

"It was the second All-Ireland in my lifetime and it looks like the third one is now on the way. It's great to see the outcome of the public support for the lads.

"These lads just seem to just pull out more stops, they seem to get stronger.

"If you ever met Gearoid Hegarty in town or Seamus Flanagan, he's like a steel wall, he's just awesome. I love every one of them. It's fabulous."

Pa was at Limerick train station on the morning of the semi-final to wave off the players who are on first-name terms with their most famous supporter.

"I was the only supporter there waving my flag as they went off."

Pa says the excitement has been steadily rising in the city over the past week.

"I was just putting up bunting on the ceiling in my bedroom.

"There is a new Limerick song out, it's just fantastic. These lads are going to do it. Limerick Abú."

Yesterday Irish rugby international Niamh Briggs added her voice to the supporters cheering on the Waterford hurlers from afar.

"I want to wish you the very best of luck this Sunday.

"You given us some unbelievable moments over the past few weeks and I have no doubt you'll endeavour, you'll do the same this weekend," she said in a video posted on a Club Deise.

"I hope you enjoy every second of the build-up and cherish every moment of the game. Some of the greatest sporting memories I have have been following Waterford hurling all over the country.

"While we can't be there in person this Sunday, know that we'll be there in spirit and we are all behind you," she added.

• Waterford v Limerick, throw-in @3.30pm, RTE 2

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