MAYO GAA - Why The Vatican may celebrate if Ardagh win the Pete McDonell Cup

POPE Innocent III wasn't very well known in the rugged badlands of North Mayo. However, back in 1198, he took time out of his day to write about how impressed he was by Ardagh and its environs. These days, I'm not sure anyone in The Vatican has been following the progress of Ardagh's football team, but when the men in black, gold and green run out on Sunday afternoon they'll be making their own mark in history.

It's well documented that Sunday's clash with Eastern Gaels will be the club's first county final at adult level and that neither team has ever won the Pete McDonnell Cup. However, that won't make the slightest bit of difference on the scoreboard – as there's no place in cold, hard sport for sentiment.

That suits Ardagh just fine. They are most definitely no flash in the pan. The journey from home soil to MacHale Park has been a long and winding one and they're unaccustomed to fairytales. Their place in the county final has been hewn from years of effort, decades of dedication and the far-sighted approach that investing in youth would eventually pay dividends.

Ardagh might be a tiny parish surrounded by GAA heavweights, Ballina Stephenites, Crossmolina Deel Rovers and Knockmore, but they've worked tirelessly to develop and grow at their own pace. Many rural clubs are happy to operate in the lower ranks of underage football so they can gain confidence and develop there, but that's not the way Ardagh operate. Their young players, whether it has been with Ardmoy (Ardagh/Moygownagh) or more recently with Árdleathmaigh (Ardagh/Moygownagh/Lahardane MacHales) have consistently and very successfully competed at A and B levels in North Mayo and across the county.

This has borne fruit as the young players coming through to the adult team are accustomed to playing high-level football against the top clubs. The confidence this gives them is an added bonus.

This might be Ardagh's first final, but they've been knocking on the door for years, and have regularly only been eliminated by the eventual winners. That experience was evident in their semi-final victory over Shrule Glencorrib two weeks ago when they remained composed in the face of a ferocious comeback.

Indeed, they showed impressive resolve to dig out one-point wins over Ballycroy and Achill in the group stages before repeating the trick against Kilmovee in the quarter-final. That ability to win tight championship games is a learned experience that stands them in good stead.

Of course, games are won and lost by the men in the jerseys and Ardagh have fine players throughout their side. The power of their full-forward line is well known. James Carr has oodles of inter-county experience, Lee Traynor has been one of the best club forwards in Mayo for a number of years while teenager Tony Carey has been shooting the lights out all season.

However, Ardagh's chances aren't rested on the talented trio. Brendan Carr is a man who would have played for years for the Mayo junior team at midfield, if it still existed. He's the fuel which drives the side forward. Defenders Joe Carr and Fionn Barrett were excellent in the semi-final while teenage centre-half-back Adam Foody is arguably one of the best players in the competition. He has produced exceptional displays at the fulcrum of the back division.

On the line, guiding the fortunes of the men from the ancient parish which captured Rome's attention back in the day, is Seán Carey. The Kiltane native is one of the best in the business and brings a library of knowledge and experience to the role. He's known far and wide for his ability to work with players and get the best out of them. He has worked with the Mayo seniors and the stream of successful teams emanating from St Joseph's Secondary School in Foxford, and will have his team humming for this one.

He's joined on the line by Declan Kelly and Brendan Murphy with Joe Snee and Conor Carney working hard with the goalkeepers and logistics.

Ardagh is a small, tight-knit community and the GAA club reflects this. All shoulders are put to the wheel, everyone has a part to play and if they get over the line on Sunday the news might even echo around the walls of the Vatican. Stranger things have happened.