WITH a sea of maroon and white already engulfing Cushendall ahead of tomorrow's All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling final, even pets and teddy bears are being given the Ruairí Óg treatment.
Proud supporters of the Cushendall team are dressing their dogs and stuffed bears in the club colours as they prepare to travel to Dublin for the clash against Na Piarsaigh.
The club will walk out onto the Croke Park turf tomorrow to face the Limerick side, with both teams hoping to lift the Tommy Moore Cup for the very first time.
Ruairí Óg, Cushendall have been posting photos on their Facebook page of fans showing their colours ahead of tomorrow's match
Nine times before, Cushendall have fallen at the last hurdle, but this year there is much excitement and hope that the team can achieve hurling success like never before.
With a great feeling of excitement throughout the Co Antrim village, more than a dozen buses and countless more cars are due to depart from early tomorrow morning to travel to the match.
With hopes high of a win, Ruairí Óg, Cushendall supporters will celebrate in style with a night of entertainment arranged in the village as the team arrives back after match.
Organisers said that "win, lose or draw - we want to ensure we welcome our team home".
Mill Street and Bridge Street will be closed to all traffic from 7pm as the festivities begin.
The homecoming celebrations will also be streamed live online for Ruairí Óg supporters around the world to watch.
A link for the live feed will be placed on the @RuairiOgCdall Twitter page tomorrow evening.
Liam Neeson does his best to get a last-minute place on the team:
He hurled for St Patrick's in Ballymena but now he's a Ruairí Óg supporter!
— Ruairí Óg Cushendall (@RuairiOgCdall) March 15, 2016
Only two more sleeps! pic.twitter.com/qZJdJ2bO49
