Warm welcome in London pub from Roscommon legend and Mayo wife

MAYO supporters will travel to London in droves for Saturday's opening round of the Connacht Championship.

Those who land on English soil and take the Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale in the city will be only steps away from a pub run by a man with four Connacht Championship medals in his back pocket.

Former Roscommon star Mick Finneran and his wife, Rose, from Ballycroy, who run Mannion's Prince Arthur are preparing for an influx of Mayo fans at the weekend and the man who once kicked points for fun will be in his element.

“The Connacht Championship is always special. I have some great memories of those games and even better memories of the lads I met along the way.

"I'm looking forward to bumping into a few of them over the weekend when they come over for the Mayo match,” the Western Gaels clubman tells The Mayo News.

Finneran won four Connacht titles in succession between 1977 and 1980.

He still regrets that the Rossies didn't win at least one All-Ireland medal in that period, but semi-final losses to Armagh (after a replay) in '77, Kerry the following year and Dublin by a point in '79 preceded the All-Ireland final of 1980 when the men in primrose and blue never caught fire and lost by three to Kerry.

That was the end of the road for one of the finest group of footballers ever to emerge from Roscommon and they wouldn't win another provincial title for ten seasons.

However, Finneran's love for the Connacht Championship has never waned. 

“There's something special about it. We're all from the west of Ireland – all trying to win it, but once the game is over it's over. I had great times when I was playing.

"There was a great bond between the Mayo and Roscommon lads. It would be hot and heavy on the field, but when it was over we'd often meet up for a pint.

"There was even times we'd still be in Mick Byrne's on the Monday after a game in Castlebar the day before.”

Finneran might be domiciled in London now, but it doesn't take long for him to dive back into the cut and thrust of Connacht football and the adventures it brings.

"Interestingly, he himself has a special place in Connacht Championship lore.

On Sunday, May 22 1977, Finneran ran out for a Connacht Minor Championship game against Mayo in MacHale Park. He played a starring role for the guests, but Mayo were three points ahead in injury time, thanks to a goal from Brian Moran.

"However, Finneran was fouled in the square in the dying moments and picked himself up to take the penalty, which would give his side another day out.

"He hit his shot hard and true but it clipped off the post and went wide. He was gravely disappointed but hadn't long to dwell on it as he was rushed off the pitch and handed a senior jersey for the final against Galway which was about to get underway.

Finneran was brought on in the second half of that senior clash and made an immediate impression, helping Roscommon to a famous one-point win.

He had made history by becoming the first Roscommon player ever to play minor, U-21 and senior in the same season.

The legendary Bill Carlos had played minor and senior in 1941, but Finneran carved his own niche in Connacht Championship history in Castlebar on that Mayo day in 1977.

“That was a memorable day surely,” he recalls. “I had been playing three years with the minors at that stage so missing the penalty was tough, but winning a senior medal an hour later was special.”

Finneran also had club success that summer, winning the Roscommon Junior Championship with Western Gaels when they defeated Roscommon Gaels in the decider.

Finneran lined out at midfield alongside his friend Noel Creighton and they faced two men with solid Mayo inter-county experience behind them, John Morley and Sean O'Grady. 

“We were eight points down at half-time but got a few lucky goals in the second half and won 4-6 to 1-8 in the end. They were good days.”

Finneran was accustomed to coming up against Mayo men all through his club and inter-county career and made some great friends along the way.

“Willie Joe (Padden) and myself had great battles in the minor days, Mick Webb was a great friend over the years, Henry Gavin and Ger Feeney were great lads too – and so many more.

"There was great camaraderie between us all and I hope a few of them will pop in to see us over the weekend if they're over for the game. 

“Rose will have all the Ballycroy supporters calling in to the pub, so it should be lively enough on Friday and Saturday and a good spot for people to meet up.

"The Connacht Championship is always special and we're all looking forward to a good game in Ruislip and to see how Andy (Moran) is getting on in his new job.”