Green and red army still on the march

Green and red army still on the march


Michael Commins was among the Mayo masses who converged on Croke Park

TRIBUTARIES of supporters converged on Croke Park on Sunday until it looked like a river of red and green in full flood shortly before the start of the minor game. Along the quays and city centre, it was clear the Mayo folk were in town. Young people with their ever optimistic approach mingled happily with older ones who had been veterans of many previous ‘wars’. No doubt at all about who had the biggest army on this occasion!
The ‘Ryevale Lawns Astoria’ in Leixlip (!), otherwise the welcoming home of Gerry and Margaret Heneghan (Irishtown and Inishturk), was where I lay my head late on Saturday night. The hospitality was top class and we set off on the short journey to Croke Park well fortified for the day ahead.
The minors set the scene for what was a special day for all Mayo people. Long before the final whistle sounded, we knew one of our teams would be back in Croke Park in September.
Between matches, I wandered out to the back of the Upper Cusack Stand. The views down to the old Sugar Loaf away to the south in Wicklow hinted as good as any weather forecast from Evelyn Cusack or Gerald Fleming that a fine afternoon laid in store.

Rousing version
As my good friend Annmarie O’Riordan from Cork delivered a rousing version of the National Anthem, thoughts of some great Mayo supporters no longer with us drifted across my mind. Days like this were heaven on earth for them.
Around 30 minutes into the big game, the outlook was far from sunny for Mayo. Tyrone dominated the opening half hour and Mayo supporters around me, buoyant early on, slipped gradually into worried mode. Chris Barrett and Lee Keegan landed the scores before the interval that restored hope and, despite Alan Freeman’s disallowed goal, we were lucky to be just a point adrift at that stage.
From once Freeman slammed the penalty kick to the Tyrone net early in the second half, expectation levels soared again. Back in the driving seat, they never let go of the reins until they were safely across the line.
Some pretty little girls from Omagh, and a few chaps were more than gracious in their goodwill towards Mayo. The Tyrone supporters did their county, team and manager Mickey Harte proud on Sunday and, when the final whistle sounded, their hospitality and warmth, along with the Monaghan people who were there for the minor game, was something to behold and cherish.
Cars painted red and green, flags and buntings, honking of horns, happy faces, coaches heading west, all conveying the story of a remarkable double for Mayo. The essential listening to RTE Radio One and the Take Your View programme at 6pm on the way home was on the menu again.

Well wishers
The text messages coming in to my phone from various counties wishing us well are now all part of these big days in Dublin. Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Fermanagh, Donegal, Galway, Roscommon, Laois, Derry, Clare …..even one from Portugal ….looks like we will have massive support and goodwill on the fourth Sunday of September!
My late show on Mid West Radio was flooded with messages from all over with support coming from the UK, Canada, USA, and all around the country.
International boxing champion Henry Coyle from Geesala phoned in from Chicago conveying the pride of those living abroad in the exploits of those sporting the Mayo jerseys in Croke Park earlier.
It truly was another day to remember and whet the appetite for September 22.