Rain fails to dampen fans’ spirits

BRAVING THE ELEMENTS  Spectators look on as Ryan O’Donoghue prepares to take a free during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Mayo and Donegal at Markievicz Park in Sligo on Sunday. Pic: Piaras Ó Midheach/Sportsfile

Mayo GAA supporters flock to Sligo for return of live action

ALTHOUGH the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in the main on January 22, things have been slow enough to return to normal as we make our way back to living many aspects of our lives as we did pre-pandemic.
However, over the weekend just passed the certainly was a feel-good atmosphere in there air at two big sporting events. The Mayo public certainly missed attending live sporting occasions during the pandemic. It was no surprise then that despite horrendous weather conditions, Markievicz Park in Sligo was packed to the rafters on Sunday to see Mayo take on Donegal in the National Football League.
The game was pedestrian enough in the main, but a stirring last quarter from James Horan’s team saw Robbie Hennelly kick a last-minute equaliser to send the Mayo crowd home with big smiles on their faces, happy to be back for the 2022 season ahead.
There was also a fantastic atmosphere in Pearse Park in Longford on Saturday afternoon, where the Kilmeena junior footballers easily accounted for their Offaly opponents, Clonbullogue, to set-up a trip to GAA headquarters this Sunday.
The whole parish of Kilmeena has certainly embraced this adventure that will play out in Croke Park this weekend, and there was a sea of black and white in Longford to support this fearless young team.
Indeed, there were supporters from clubs across the county backed the west Mayo men, and many will also undoubtedly make the journey east on Sunday.
It is unfortunate that the game has to clash with the Mayo senior team’s trip to Monaghan, but club will certainly come first for all Kilmeena people as their team bids to make history.

Record of heartbreak
It is quite remarkable that only three Mayo clubs have ever managed to win an All-Ireland title. Crossmolina and Ballina memorably won senior titles in 2001 and 2005 respectively, and more recently, Westport became the first Mayo team to win the Intermediate title back in 2017.
We are all too familiar of the feeling of defeat for our senior county side in Croke Park, but it has been a similar feeling for our junior club sides in All-Ireland finals too.
The competition first began in 2002, when Belmullet were beaten in the final, and Kilmeena themselves lost to Nobber of Meath in 2003. The following year, the decision was taken to play the club finals in Croke Park from then on, and two Mayo teams have experienced heartache in the headquarters, with Kiltimagh losing in 2010 and Ardnaree Sarsfields defeated in 2016.
Both teams lost to Kerry opposition, and Kilmeena know they will have to bring their A game if they are to defeat more Kerry opposition in the shape of Gneeveguilla on Sunday.
This is the 20th year of the junior football championship. Kerry have ominously won ten of those titles, so Kilmeena will go in as underdogs. But manager John Reilly and his backroom team won’t mind that one little bit.
It would be a great lift for all of the county if the west Mayo men were to claim victory on Sunday. We wish them the very best of luck, as we do the Castlebar ladies’ GAA side, who travel to Ballinasloe to take on St Sylvester’s of Dublin in the All-Ireland intermediate club final. A busy weekend beckons.