Another journey soaked in sadness, another All-Ireland final that might have given us some cheer. Several Mayo fans came away from headquarters shaking their heads in despair. I met and saw some of them on Jones Road. I wasn’t one of them. Of course I was sad that we lost, particularly in view of the fact that we had a glorious opportunity to win the match. But the reality is we are well used to the heartbreak that besieges our towns and villages in and around the third Sunday in September. We are now losing finals at a rate that is just not funny any more. Our resolve is being tested to the limit, but we’ve been here before and lived to tell the tale! As the saying goes ‘nobody died’ and we will get up, dust ourselves down and go at it again. Because that is what we should do.
I saw Armagh play this year and I was hugely impressed with them. They are a good team and probably were that little bit better than us last Sunday. Remember they beat a good Kerry side comprehensively in the semi-final. We went in at half time all square at four points apiece, and I felt if we could come out strong in the second half we could have seen off the steely resistance of this Armagh side. As it transpired we had several opportunities to win, and it would have been sweet if, for once, we could win a match when we weren’t the better team. The opportunity presented itself on Sunday, particularly in the second half when we lead by a point with about 10 minutes left on the clock. But we just didn’t have the guile or ability to close the deal when it was there for the taking. I felt if we could have moved two points clear at that critical juncture it might have been enough to see us home.
It’s over now. Armagh have won it and it’s disappointing for our young players, their families and supporters. The last thing we need to do is to apportion blame on any one individual, because I genuinely think this particular team gave their all in pursuit of glory. Yes we had a few half chances for goals in both halves and a couple of frees that on other occasions would have been scored. But Armagh missed opportunities too. And let’s not forget that Michael Schlingermann came to the rescue with a wonderful save at a time when Armagh were pressing in the second half. Let’s look on the positives for a minute. We should be proud of the fact that we have managed to get a minor team into the final for the second year in a row. There are lots of counties all over the country that would love to be in our position. Naturally enough we want to win every final we compete in and I do know our record is horrible in finals. But if we lose hope and throw in the towel we might as well stop playing football. My philosophy is to keep getting up there on a regular basis and eventually success will come our way. And won’t it be all the sweeter when it does?
We don’t need sympathy
The last thing we need is sympathy. I met a lot of people outside Croke Park last Sunday evening who felt sorry for Mayo. There was a common theme to the questions thrown in my direction as I mingled with friends and acquaintances later that evening: “Why can’t ye get over the line on All Ireland final day?” Sure isn’t that the great mystery that has us all perplexed down here? If we knew the simple answer sure there’d be no stopping us! I thought I had explained it reasonably well to those punters on Sunday evening when I argued that we have been beaten on most occasions, not all, by teams that were just better than us on the day. There was no getting away from it though as I was asked to participate on a radio show on Tuesday evening to discuss Mayo’s repeated failure to win All Irelands in Croke Park. It now appears that there are lots of people around the country intrigued by Mayo’s failure to win All Irelands. The host of this particular programme wanted to know if our minors’ defeat had anything to do with the many failures of our seniors. Of course it hasn’t. These young men are independent-minded and smart enough not to be burdened or consumed by the failures of the past. The reality is our minors this year gave us something to cheer about throughout the summer.
Ray Dempsey and his backroom team had moulded a team together from last January and they played some delightful football en route to the final. These players have been together for the last nine months and they have tasted the joy of winning and the despair of losing. It is often suggested that players can learn more in defeat than in victory. I believe the team has learned an awful lot en route to the final. They are all the better for the experience of having progressed as far. I would rather they got there than to be beaten in an earlier round of the competition. Let’s face it, Kerry never get over-excited about their minors winning or losing finals. Their primary concern is to produce a few players from their under age ranks that will go on and play senior football for their county. And that should be our collective goal too. We should harness what we have, keep the group together, and hopefully see them progress to play at the next level and continue to persevere. So heads up everywhere and let’s drive on from here.
Kerry train for the All Ireland, not the provincial championship
I was convinced three weeks ago that Cork would win the senior All Ireland final. On Sunday afternoon when asked to call it on radio I changed my mind and said Kerry would win. So what happened in the interim? I realised that Cork just couldn’t improve on the magnificent form they had shown all year. There was nowhere for them to go. I think they peaked as a team a month too soon. Kerry, on the other hand, had an incremental improvement throughout the season and had everyone fit and well for last Sunday’s final. The difference is that Kerry train to win the Sam Maguire, not Munster championships. They know how to win big matches. I agree they played it very close to the line this year and should have been caught on a couple of occasions through the back door. They were poor in Pearse Park, Longford, in mid summer, extremely lucky to survive the Sligo match in Killarney, but they did. Every team that wins the All Ireland rides their luck a little en route to victory and Kerry are no different. The reality is if you want to beat the Kingdom, you’ve got to catch them early in the campaign, not on the third Sunday in September. There were murmurs of discontent emanating from the camp earlier this year, but last Sunday the team looked the perfect symbol of a united family. There is a collective quality about Kerry that illuminates our showpiece day and, in a way, it was fitting that they should be the ones to lift the title.
Lots of excitement this weekend at home
I am conscious of discussing the quarter finals of the championship in any great detail because of my involvement with Crossmolina. It would be unfair of me to highlight the many qualities of the Ballaghaderreen team in particular as it is they that we play in McHale Park on Sunday afternoon. The day’s proceedings kick start with a mouth- watering contest between Knockmore and new kids on the block, Ballintubber. This is a game that could go either way. Aiden Kilcoyne is a huge loss for Knockmore, but they look to be back playing with great confidence this year. It’s hard to call this one, so I’m not going to because whoever comes out on top here plays the winners of Crossmolina / Knockmore. Castlebar Mitchels and Shrule /Glencorrib are in action Saturday evening in McHale Park. I will be at this one and I expect it too will be a close fought affair. Castlebar playing at home should be worth a point or two, but Shrule/ Glencorrib are playing with great confidence this year. Charlestown are in action against Kiltane in the last of the quarter- finals. Everyone expects Charlestown to have an easy passage through to the semi-finals. However, the boys from Kiltane have never rolled over easily for anyone so I would be wary if I were Charlestown!
