On our way to the pub: Dad, Dolores, Breda and me.
Last Sunday (26th July 26) It was a great day of sportmanship.
A great day for all of us who are from Mayo or we have Mayo connections - especially for me, having married a girl from Killala only a month ago.
We watched the match in a pub in a Ballina.
Before, the match, I was (probably the only one in whole Mayo!) optimistic. I had in mind the Euro 2004 where Greece got the title defining odds and Gods of soccer! So, why not Mayo? Why not TODAY? It's 70 minutes and anything can happen in a match. Anything!
At 1st half, when we were 6 (or 7?) points behind, I thought that that's it. But the Mayo lads found the guts (or maybe by ignoring danger and fear!) and the determination to start reducing the deficit. And when at the second half, when Mayo got the lead for the first time in the match, I though (quite correctly as the final score proved) - we got a good chance to beat Kerry.
At the end, when Mayo were the All Ireland Gaelic Football Champions, after 75 years of pain, blood and tears, we all had tears of Joy! Not bitter ones, anymore. HON MAYO!
After the final whistle : the champions of Ireland!
P.S.
Here, you can read a great analysis of the match.
