ALL-IRELAND FINAL COUNTDOWN
Let’s bring Sam baaaaa-ck to Mayo...
MAYO fans are going GAA-GAA ahead of Sunday’s huge clash with the Dubs at Croke Park – and believe they can take Sam Maguire across the Shannon. The supporters reckon their heroes in green and red will nail the infamous curse of 1951 and put the favourites to the sword. Battling Mayo have appeared in eight finals since 1989 – with two of the defeats coming after replays in 1996 and 2016. But there is huge optimism this week that they are destined to end the drought and bring football’s biggest prize back home for the first time in 66 years. The entire county is already a sea of green and red with houses, cars and shops bedecked in the county’s colours. And there was a frenzy of excitement at Aidan, Seamus and Conor O’shea’s former national school yesterday in Breaffy, where the Mayo stars’ mum Sheila is a teacher. Around 430 cheering children and 25 enthusiastic teachers donned the colours in support of their beloved team.
THRILLED
St John’s National School and Breaffy GAA club, just outside Castlebar, is a hotbed of footballing pedigree having also nurtured players Rob Hennelly and Matthew Ruane who attended and were brought up in the village. Teacher and GAA trainer Sean Grealis, who coached the five heroes, said: “The three O’sheas, Rob and Matthew are great role models for the lads and girls in the school and are great ambassadors for our school. “They regularly come back any time we want them to chat or present medals or offer advice to the boys or girls about how to better yourself as a footballer, as a sportsman or a sportswoman. “They were all excellent students and excellent footballers and stood out from an early age as upcoming talent. So we’re very proud of them in the school. “We’re thrilled they are past pupils and hopefully they’ll be back to the school next week with Sam Maguire and we’ll give them a big welcome home.” Pupils Tommy Heneghan, 11, Shane Heneghan, 12, Amy Golden,11, and 11-year-old Rory Deane are all very upbeat about Mayo’s chances of glory. Tommy, the only one of the four lucky to get a ticket, said: “I’m confident enough. I think they’ll win if we stick to our game plan and try our best. “I think there’s a bit more belief about them this year and they know what they’re doing.” Shane, who plays with the Breaffy under-13s, said: “I think they’ve a good chance of beating Dublin as they’re probably the only team that would
beat them and if we stick to our tactics from the other games we should be all right.” Rory added: “I think if we play like we did the last day against Kerry we’re going to win.” Regulars on a well-known Mayo GAA supporters’ bus in Westport also believe almost seven decades of hurt will be banished on Sunday. The group began travelling to matches in 1996 when current treasurer Ann Baynes organised transport for 14 people on a minibus. And 21 years on they need two vehicles to cater for 54 GAA stalwarts. Ann said: “We’ve went to every league and championship game for the past 20 years.” Fan Tony Friel quipped: “I think North, South, East and West we’ve covered all counties, including London.” His pal Michael Heraty spoke of their pride at Westport’s most famous player, 2016 Footballer of the Year Lee Keegan. He added: “He has an All Ireland club medal and he’s definitely going come back with the big one – the Sam Maguire.”