Today at 15.30hours Croker time one of THE great spectacles in world sport will commence.
I reckon if that magnificent stadium in Drumcondra was twice the size then there would still be thousands outside begging for tickets.
Inside the stadium there will be 82,000 unsegregated fans. There will be no trouble because there never is among the spectators, although they may get to witness a few in-depth discussions on the field of play.
The two teams comprised will be local lads from places like Achill, Castlebar, Gweedore and Letterkenny.
They don’t have agents, image rights or Maseratis.
If you are still of the age to partake in contact sports and you think you are handy enough at fitba then try a bit of Gaelic.
When I spoke with Neil Lennon in the lobby of the Hyatt hotel in Philadelphia our chat immediately focussed on the “Gah” and the pursuit of Sam.
They say stateside that if you don’t understand baseball then you don’t understand America.
If you don’t get what is happening in Dublin this afternoon them you don’t fully appreciate Celtic’s young manager.
He played for his county at minor level.
Neil Lennon bossed the Celtic midfield like a Gaelic player.
Tough, uncompromising, but fair.
Kevin Moran and Roy Keane were also handy Gaelic players.
Let’s just say it is a more physical code than modern soccer.
Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn’t like to turn out at Croker today.
GAA and the chase for the Sam Maguire cup is the heartbeat of an Irish summer.
I have felt the buzz through Donegal in the past few weeks.
For sure this place could do with a lift and I won’t grudge them the win, but my heart isn’t with them.
Sport can do that for people and in the age of the satellite TV soccer supporter the love of the parish and the county still means a lot here.
This Donegal household has subversively pumped out the Saw Doctors all week as loud as my old ears can take it.
The Green and Red of Mayo is the anthem, written by Galway lads, and they know their neighbours well.
The last time Mayo lifted the Sam a young fella from Westport thought he would impress his Glaswegian fiancé with an intimate date in the Hogan stand.
The people who would become my parents saw the men from the Wesht win the All Ireland for the second year on the bounce.
It was the golden age for Mayo football when the county contested three All Ireland finals winning two of them within a four year period.
The only time that Donegal lifted the Sam Maguire was the year I stopped being a single man.
My three Donegalies weren’t born when Dún na nGall won and I wasn’t thought of when Sam went to Mhaigh Eo.
When the victorious Mayo team toured the county with the trophy the story goes that when they went through Foxford, they didn’t stop for a funeral.
The widow of the deceased person cursed them and said that Mayo would never win Sam while any of that team was alive.
There are now only five of them left including the star fullback Paddy Prendergast.
This story was first told to me by my grandmother and she believed it.
Donegal are the form team and they clearly have the better players.
This Mayo team is growing and improving for sure, last year they got to the semi and Kerry were better on the day.
Over recent years Mayo teams have been able to play brilliantly in semi-finals and beat better teams than the one they lose to in the final.
In 2006 Mayo beat hot favourites Dublin in the semis; we were brilliant that day, unstoppable.
Kerry were waiting for us in the finals that year.
I had a ticket that day.
The Kingdom destroyed us in the first 25 minutes.
Maybe it is better that I’m not there today.
I might be the jinx…
At this stage I’m willing to buy into anyone’s theory if it tips the balance for Mayo.
If Sam is adorned in the Green and Red today I’ll just cry with happiness.
My Donegal neighbours get that, sure we all get it here.
Angie Gallagher
Phil, I was at Croke Park on Sunday and had a fabulous time. Delighted Donegal won. Brilliant atmosphere in the Ground and in and around Dublin on Sunday. Mayo fans very gacious in defeat they said they are used to it now which I think is a shame. Love your blogs and want to say Hi to my brother Thomas who reads these blogs to see if my husband or I comment on them. Jimmy’s winning matches, Jimmy’s winning games. Jimmy’s brought Sammy back to Donegal again!!
September 25, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Míceál
Well done to Donegal. better team won on the day. We’ve a young good side. Back Mayo next april.
Mr.Lennon was in the Hogan stand.
Beimid arais ! Maigh Eo abú
September 25, 2012 at 4:38 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
The two early goals finished Mayo, but the lads in Green and Red showed great heart to fight back and make a real match of it.
This Mayo team will be stronger twelves months from now.
Blian seo chugainn ;0)
September 25, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Donncha O Baoill
I did forewarn you Phil! London was Green & Gold last night!
September 24, 2012 at 7:35 am
Logical Optimist
Evening All,
Firstly, as a proud Dub may I be the first to congratulate Donegal on their All Ireland victory today. Sam Maguire will have a great year !!
Sympathies to Mayo but the first 11 mins were huge. Secondly , love the celtic jersey with discreet sponsorship. Deffo a purchase.
Thirdly, great to see Lenny interviewed on RTE 1 before the All Ireland. Great questions and great answers. No agenda. Just pure decency. Then again he was talking ‘gah’.
Hail hail
Logical.
September 23, 2012 at 7:39 pm
john mckee
Viva Ireland and good luck to both sides hope they show the world how sport should be played
September 23, 2012 at 7:01 pm
John Paul
Donegal struck the cruical blows early on. Mayo fought gamely but never looked like winning.
September 23, 2012 at 6:44 pm
Ger
Great to see Enda’s day ruined. I always find the comparisons between top soccer players such as Ronaldo and GAA players harsh, the behind a physical and mental toughness there is an particular culture bred into GAA people which the likes of Ronaldo never experience and therefore could never be expected to perform in the way our heroes do up and down the country. Today again we saw that we are a great little with the GAA at the heart of matters. Hopefully Mayo will win one soon and Enda’s time will pass…
September 23, 2012 at 6:26 pm
Dhougal
BrillPhil ,a jinx eh ? Any chance o gon over to Ibrokes wearing a The Rangers scarf ,singin sectarian bile while draggin your knuckles along the grun ? ………… ……………………didny think so !!……………but heh i dont think you need to . Never been to Ireland (or anywhere for that matter) but sounds fantastic !! .That’s another to add to the ”Things to do before i die” .keep up the good work sir
September 23, 2012 at 6:03 pm
Jim Gallagher
Well done Donegal. Isn’t it great to see a sporting occasion without bigotry and hatred
September 23, 2012 at 5:47 pm
pat mcglynn
The best team did win.Wish I was I Donegai today.So different from Scotland.Everyone will be enjoying the occassion.
September 23, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Jerry Desmond
You mentioned Neil Lennon, Kevin Moran and Roy Keane playing the “gah” Niall Quinn was also a good player who represented his county. Xabi Alonso has also played Gaelic Football when he was an exchange student in Ireland. So an ex GAA player with 1 world cup, 2 European Championships, a Champions League and a La Liga amongst others. I wonder if he or his peers thought he would achieve that kind of success when he has when visited Ireland at that time. Congrads to Donegal, worthy champions.
September 23, 2012 at 5:14 pm
Jim
Have to take an opposing view from you today, Phil…
Granny was from Killybegs…
Go Donegal….
September 23, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Kenny McCaffrey
Love the game Phil, great when the final occasionally gets on tv here (London) – love the banners etc.
I understand the passion too. My only witnessing of a proper game was a few years ago next to Dublin airport watching the Ballymun Kickhams take on the Gards – brutal, but what a game! The sounds of bones clattering could be heard above the roar of the planes, along with the cries of ‘take yer points’. All back to the Sportsman bar in north Dublin for copious pints of the black stuff afterwards. Lovely. One of my best-ever sporting experiences. Oh, and the Kickhams won!
September 23, 2012 at 3:10 pm
tallybhoy
Ah, Phil! The Saw Doctors! Legends so they are! ‘The green and red of Mayo’ – a classic!
Saw(!) them many a time at the Barras – mad mental nights!
Can’t say I know a lot about gaelic football – but I do know how popular it is all over Ireland.
Forgive me – but I hope the best team wins today! Enjoy!
‘Downfall’ arrived Friday – almost finished it and will read it again! It’s a superb read – congratulations!
HH!!
September 23, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Ipswich Bhoy
Football has lost the innocence which GAA still retains. The arrogance of many players, the simulators of injury and the obscene wages are all alien to the GAA lads who dish it out and take it back without complaint. The Barracks games could learn a bit from those boys. Good luck to both teams, a great day for the fans and an echo of what sport once was over the water.
September 23, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Padraig K
A nice piece my friend.
It should be a fantastic spectacle as always. May the best team win.
Up Donegal!!!
September 23, 2012 at 2:07 pm