INTERVIEW: A lifetime waiting for one sweet day

The enormity of Garrymore’s semi-final win didn't go unnoticed even for the most unobservant eye-witness. When the Belmullet goalkeeper Shane Nallen kicked that final free wide in James Stephens Park, the players from the southern kingdom danced on the pitch. They mingled with family and friends and basked in the knowledge that forty-four years of wait and heartbreak were over. Garrymore had just about survived by the skin of their teeth to reach their first final since 1982.

Shane Nally has been part of a long journey. He's been soldiering for Garrymore for 20 years at this stage. The former Mayo player had fought in five county semi-finals, including one replay, but the next step always eluded him. Until now.

“It's absolutely huge,” Nally told The Mayo News: “You're thinking about getting to a day like this for a long time, not even when you're on a senior panel, you're thinking about it even at underage.”

Nally stresses he is happy to be around, at 36 years of age, to finally get to a final late on in his career, was undoubtedly the best moment of the championship for him. The fact that he will be able to tog out with his older brother Trevor in MacHale Park for the final is an added bonus.

“He kind of pulled it out of the bag for us in the Belmullet game. He's been so good for us for a long time. He got the point to force extra time and then I think he got a two-pointer in extra-time as well. He had a good impact when he came on. We've been up and down together for I don't even know how long. It's nice to have a little connection there as well to have your brother involved makes it a bit more extra special.”

The Nallys have tradition behind them. Their dad John and uncles Brian and Paddy were on the last Garrymore team that won the senior county championship.

“They have a lot to talk about. In fairness, it's been great listening to the memories of their day. We've listened to them, growing up and listened to the victories they had and the journey they went on. But it's great to be able to add our own little bit to it. Hopefully we can get over the line and we'll be able to have our own little bragging rights,” Nally says, adding: “And they can put their story to bed for a while.”

MOMENTUM IS KEY

Garrymore have looked like a team on a mission this year, from the first throw-in more than two months ago. They more or less ambushed the reigning champions Ballina Stephenites in the first round, followed it up with wins over Balla and Castlebar Mitchels. Then, they edged a much fancied Crossmolina team in the quarter-final in Garrymore’s packed home field, before wrestling down Belmullet.

“The top eight teams in Mayo, I think they're all very even. So whoever gets a little bit of momentum and whoever avoids injuries normally prevails,” says co-manager Fintan Forde. It also helped getting the two All-Ireland winners Enda Hession and Eoin McGreal back into the squad after their celebrations with the Mayo team.

“The two lads definitely added 15-20% to the sessions,” Forde admits: “Lads who were training, upped their tempo as well. The standards that were set by the management and by the players that were there were high, but when Enda and Eoin came back, they brought it to a new level. They really pushed on the team and management. Any ball that fell to the ground or anything that was a little bit sloppy had to be tidied up. We spent a few nights just tidying up things and getting to a level where everyone was relatively happy.”

It was noticeable from day-one of the championship that Garrymore were a real team and a well-drilled machine. They played with solid structure and composure - seeing out the game against Crossmolina for example, or working a score when they desperately needed it against Belmullet, were signs of a matured team. A unit that moves in unison. Every player exactly knows his role. Brian Lynskey in goal is usually Mr Reliable.

In the backs, Jamie Oates marshalls the troops, while Liam Óg Horkan or Eoin McGreal provide energy and drive from the half-backs. Gary Golden and Aaron Hughes muscle the middle. Andy Glennon, originally from Roscommon, has been very effective as centre half-forward. And then up front, Darren Quinn has been the most consistent scorer for the team.

But if Garrymore have one trump card in the upcoming decider, it's their defence. In their five championship matches, the South Mayo men have only conceded 68 points in total, which is the lowest number in the entire championship: 13.6 points conceded per game, and only two goals so far in five games.

“It comes down to hard work and not giving away soft frees. There's no great secret to it. If you work hard and eliminate your mistakes, you won't be far away and you just win your own individual battles,” Forde explains.

For him, who was born only four kilometres from the pitch and lives his life in Garrymore. Forde spent his football career chasing the dream. If the men in red pull it off on Sunday, it will be the perfect synthesis of hard work and bravery. “All the players, we encourage them to go out and play football. We encourage them to attack if it's on. If it's a corner-back or a corner-forward that's scored, we don't care. As long as the lads are working hard for each other out there, that's the biggest thing we want.”

The whole of Garrymore will be out there in full force when they take on Castlebar, the team with the second best defensive record in this year's championship. It seems the final will come down to who makes the least mistakes and the proud people of Garrymore will be hoping to welcome Paddy Moclair to their proud land on Sunday night.