Mayo GAA club championship column: 'It isn't over yet'

Apologies in advance to any members of the junior and intermediate teams who might stumble upon this column, but I need to thank you for giving us one more weekend. I know, I know. This was meant to be time to let your hair down, be it to bask in victory or find solace after a loss. Time to blow off some steam in each other’s company and look forward to some rest, in the case of the beaten finalists. But instead, it’s back to the training pitch tonight and with tired bodies, you need to go and do it all again on Saturday. I’m sorry. But how lucky are those of us in the stands?

Renewing my Mayo GAA season ticket last year was one of my better decisions. I didn’t do so out of optimism, but because everyone else had theirs and I didn’t want to be the only one scrounging for a ticket in the admitted unlikely event of Mayo reaching a final i gave in to grown-up peer pressure. 

I might have begrudged Croke Park every cent of the county contribution, but the club pass paid for itself multiple times. Determined to get the most out of it and put in a bit of effort for a change, my pal Tony and I hit the road on a mission to attend as many games (in full) as we could. Starved of football, we met the challenge with enthusiasm, managing about 28 in total, travelling nearly 700km in the process. It would have been more if I hadn’t been sidelined with a chest infection on semi-final weekend, relegated to the couch for the intermediate games. It happens to the fittest of us, which, admittedly, I am not.

WONDERFUL WANDERING

On our little championship odyssey, we two North Mayo wanderers ventured out of our safe zone along a road lined with perils and perks. We got sunburned in Ballyhaunis, saturated in Breaffy (if you remember Bekan in 2014, you’ll know), fed and watered for free in Ballaghaderreen, given the grand tour in Charlestown (my favourite ground in Mayo, with the best coffee), marvelled at the bounce in the turf on Ardagh’s new pitch, contemplated the drainage beside the golf course in Balla, were parked up with excellent efficiency in Garrymore, and got a tantalising taste of the atmosphere in The Saucer. We listened to countless podcasts, played the club lotto in nine different clubs (won nothing), drank countless cups of tea and indulged in far too many KitKats. Some of the overheard conversations in the stands could never be repeated in print, but made the season and the WhatsApp group even more entertaining. 

Hats off to the Mayo GAA team for their thoughtful scheduling, which ensured people could hop between games. On every occasion, at every game, we were reminded of the incredible voluntary effort that goes into the GAA at club level, and the pride each and every club has in their facilities, and the warmth and respect with which they welcome opposition and visitors alike. And to top it all off, it was a cracking championship, across all three competitions. So, needless to say, we were looking forward to the finals.

POOR ATMOSPHERE

There’s something special about club championships taking place in club grounds. However, as teams advance, the cavernous expanse of HQ inevitably comes into play, at the expense of atmosphere, as demonstrated on Saturday night. After dodging several election canvassers outside, we settled in, but the energy and intensity you’d expect from a double-header final crowd simply wasn’t there. I have certainly seen funeral processions generating more atmosphere than the senior pre-match parade, which barely raised a cheer. As supporters in this era, we clearly consume these occasions more than we contribute to them, which is a shame. The one exception was the small group of “ultras” behind the goals. For those unfamiliar (like I was), “ultras” are hardcore soccer fans known for their enthusiastic, sometimes extreme support. This phenomenon has clearly crossed codes, and nobody could fault their effort, with air horns, flares, and strategic efforts to distract point-takers. The tribute to county winners from 25 years ago was a touching gesture, though marked by the absence of some familiar faces. It was a poignant reminder that GAA is, at its heart, a family.

READ: Jordan Flynn: The footballer who almost never was

Perhaps the crowd sensed ahead of time that the North Mayo face-off we’d been anticipating in the senior final wasn’t going to materialise. Knockmore will be disappointed, but Ballina won’t care, after delivering a display of ruthless precision in what was undoubtedly their best performance this year. The post-match interview joy on the Feeney brothers' faces summed it up perfectly—this team’s credentials are now beyond question. As they now turn their attention to Connacht, they’ll be looking to give a better account of themselves than last year, and with their current form, who would bet against them?

BACK FROM THE DEAD

In the junior decider Bonniconlon and Cill Chomáin served up the classic game of two halves. Magician Justin Healy dragged Cill Chomáin out of the grave to within touching distance of the cup, but a thrilling finish from Bonniconlon wrestled victory out of their grasp, meaning the teams will meet again next weekend for the fourth time this year. “Who left it behind?” was the question on everyone’s lips, though opinions varied. The main controversy centred around timekeeping, with the referee apparently disregarding the announced additional time in both halves, which made for frustration in the stands.

The jewel of the weekend’s action, both on the pitch and in the stands, was the intermediate final. What should have been a scrappy, dour affair, given the conditions, turned out to be a sensational clash between Crossmolina and Moy Davitts, who delivered as many highlights (if fewer goals) as in their August encounter. No neutral fan wanted to see this game end, and it featured a few displays for the ages along with plenty of bite and grit. With any luck, the advantage rule will be properly applied next weekend to ensure the game lives up to its potential.

So the curtain has not yet fallen on Championship 2024, but in Mayo, it’s been one to remember. Roll on this weekend, for a very welcome surprise second helping.