Amidst the hugs and backslaps from friends, family and well wishers on the muddied field of battle in Carrick-on-Shannon, the Ardnaree players were enjoying the spoils of their greatest victory to date, but they were firmly looking forward to what lies in wait in two weeks time and one last push on the field, that all things going well will see them go from local hero’s to local legends on the most famous field of them all.
Corner forward Ronan Doherty was the lucky number 13 for the north Mayo men, kicking four points on the day, but he had to watch the last 20 minutes unfold on the sideline after being shown a black-card. After the game he was caught for words, but knew there was someone else on their side today, not just the players on the field. “I can’t put it into words what it means. But all year the plan was Connacht final, then we got past that and we trained all Christmas and one of the lads mothers is up in Beamount and she’s not well and we said we’d do it for her today, I lost my granny there over Christmas and I know she was looking down on me today” said the ace attacker.
He went on to add that “It’s a dream, I can barely talk, I can’t put it into words what it means, blood, tears, sweat since January last year. We’d a meeting then and said, county, then Connacht and after that it’s a bouns and now hopefully, hopefully. We’ll prepare, get plenty of rest and enjoy it and we’ll give it everything.”
His final thoughts on the game neatly summed up the emotions running through all Ardnaree folk on Sunday afternoon after the game, “But it just means everything, Up the Ree, on the Ree boys.”
Wing back Shane Timlin was another Ardnaree hero on the day, scoring a great point in the run of points that won the game for Ardnaree in the middle third of the contest was equally as ecstatic after the full time whistle saying, “It’s “Mighty, it’s a bit of a dream come, the journey continues - thank God! “It’s a bit surreal, the last two games we had cup and there was an ending to it. But now the fact is we’re going to Dublin in two weeks and it’s a massive feeling, it will take a till tomorrow to settle in. But it’s two weeks we’re looking forward to.”
This victory will be fondly talked about on the Ardnaree side of the Moy for many years to come, but one thing for sure is that the players know there’s one more challenge to get over and they’ll do everything they can to be ready for it and they’ll leave nothing to chance over the next two weeks as they look to become a part of history.
