by Vincent | Sep 15, 2017 | General Interest
I was at an All-Ireland Semi-Final once. It was in 1975 and Sligo played Kerry. I was twelve years of age. I’d forgotten that Sligo had to play Mayo twice (another year of replays!) and eventually became Connaught Champions by a 1 point victory. It was plenty 🙂
I remember going to Dublin with my parents and at least one brother, if not the two. We had Black and White Flags, ribbons and hats. It was mighty. Yes Kerry was Kerry but dreams were real. Alas, Sligo was badly beaten. I hadn’t remembered the score but just checked and see it was 3:13 – 0:5
A long journey home!
There’s no denying the excitement of these days for Mayo people at home and away. I imagine the twelve year old me draped, not in Black and White but, in Green and Red – heading to Dublin. Walking to Croke Park in his father and mother’s shadow, finding a voice to roar and with a heart to hope. Total commitment to the team and total belief too. Crucial.
These words will be a faded memory, the ups and downs of this week likewise, when people still discuss the All-Ireland Final of 2017. The kicks, the misses, the cards, the decisions, the most minute detail of the seventy plus minutes will be told and re-told for years to come. Analysists all. The admiration though has to be for the men on the field who have given so, so much – sacrificed literally – to play the biggest game of their lives on the biggest platform imaginable – Croke Park, on the third Sunday of September.
Truly the majority of Ireland is rooting for Mayo. Chances are, even in “Dublin’s Fair City”, there are some who would not begrudge the taillights of a coach or train heading Westwards with Sam Maguire among the passengers. There are people who have followed, supported, wished and dreamt a lifetime’s following, supporting, wishing and dreaming. There are too, twelve year olds, five year olds, twenty year olds …. waiting.
Ah, to win just once!
by Vincent | Sep 18, 2016 | General Interest, Reflections
It’s All-Ireland Sunday. I’m just in from Mass with a heavily depleted congregation. I wasn’t surprised of course. Many of the locals have begun the journey to Croke Park in the hope of being there “on the day Mayo won the Sam Maguire” for the first time since 1951. A lifetime (literally for many) has passed in the hope of this day being realised. As a Sligo man living in Mayo, I hope – truly hope – this is their day.
I borrowed a Mayo Jersey with the firm intention of wearing it to Mass today and, at the end of Mass, removing my vestments to reveal my support for the county. I even thought of having a sweeping brush at hand and saying that Rochford wanted me as a “sweeper” (I know …..) I believe people should smile everyday and, in particular, on a day when there’s an expectation of something special in the air. My hope was that people would go home smiling and that the smile would evoke a memory and the memory would include Church and that “church” would be a reminder of faith and that faith would do the rest ……
I looked at the the Mayo Jersey this morning and I couldn’t put it on. It’s not that I haven’t respect for the Jersey or the Green and Red of Mayo but they’re not my colours. I grew up with the Black and White of Sligo and though we haven’t had much success, the roots are there and the hope remains that someday it might, just might, happen! I left the Mayo Jersey where it was. In truth the colours belong to the county and its people and, much and all as I support and wish the team well today, they didn’t seem to be at home with me.
It’s incredible this loyalty to the county. There’s none of the rivalry that has potential for fights or tension but there remains nonetheless a healthy rivalry. When the Championship started and Sligo was in the mix, my absolute hope was that they’d get to and win the Connaught Title.
That didn’t happen. When Galway beat Mayo in that final, I can’t pretend that I was smothered in grief for I thought the change was no bad thing. When Mayo made it back through the qualifiers I was glad for the team and am 100% behind them today. The roots are there though – in the “Land of Heart’s Desire”.
It will be quite a spectacle later with more than 80,000 people in Croke Park and millions watching at home and around the world. There will be handshakes and photographs, jostling and heaving, pushing and shoving all in the name of sport and in the pursuit of a dream. The dream of an All-Ireland Medal and the glorious satisfaction that comes with knowing you’ve made it to the top of your game. I’ve never played football, well never in anything resembling a serious game, but I admire those who give so much of their time, talents, energy and commitment to a sport that enthralls so many.
So I’m “up for the match” and hope it will be a great day for Mayo and the West. I don’t think I’ll wear the jersey but I have the “Green and Red” plaited cord a child handed me in school the other day. I’ll keep that in the car:)
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PS: Let it be very clear, I have nothing against Dublin. It’s certain the present team is out on its own but I think a loss today wouldn’t set it back “light years”!!!
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Just decided to give it a go!! This is how I’d have looked. Do I manage the Mayo Look??
by Vincent | Sep 20, 2013 | General Interest, Reflections, Religion
Where will you be this week Sam??
On Sunday the cameras will focus on you several times before and during the All-Ireland Final. We’ll see you shined and polished, ready for the road and draped in the colours of Dublin and Mayo. You’ll just sit there, the prize waiting to be claimed – the destination point of a country – but focus will shift from you to the teams and officials on the pitch. There will be commentary and analysis, statistics and facts and at game’s end, you will be handed to either the captain of Dublin or Mayo – he (Andy!!!) will hold you high to a cheering crowd and give thanks for your presence, thanks to all who have supported the team through “thick and thin”, good days and bad and, in a special way, to the generations who have kept the faith and held strongly to the belief that this day would come. Come it has. The hour is here.
You’ll not force yourself on anyone Sam but remain there, centre stage, for the hands that have been proved worthy of lifting you on high. You are happy in the colours of any county and willing to go where invited so that a people may feel upbeat and renewed. You’ll stay as long as you’re welcome, go wherever you’re brought and be there for anyone that approaches you. You will be a prized possession, a certain friend and a reminder that all is possible.
In ways Sam, you could remind us of Jesus. He is our goal, our prize and our intended focus. Sometimes we allow our focus drift from him to the game on the pitch but even if we do, we know that it’s only when he’s taken in hand, lifted on high and invited to join us on our journey that he’s fully alive in our hearts and forever treasured.
![Destination …….]()
by Vincent | Sep 23, 2012 | General Interest, Reflections, Religion
Awaiting the lifting hands …
It’s All-Ireland Sunday and we’re nearly at throw-in. Best wishes to all involved but, even as a Sligo man, my hopes lie with Mayo. I really would love to see them take the prize and have their moment. It’s certainly a lifetime for many since SAM came to stay in Mayo or indeed most of its neighbouring counties. Admittedly John O’Mahony gave it B&B a few times in Ballagh 🙂
The gospel this weekend speaks about an argument on the road between the disciples about which of them “was the greatest” and Jesus took a small child, stood the child before them and said “it’s to one like this the Kingdom belongs” – he was telling them they had to have the openness of a child’s mind to fully get the depths of the Gospel message. An active imagination was central. He was telling them to become childlike not childish. In other words, see your dreams and go after them.
Strikes me this could well be the mindset of our teams today as well. If anyone strives for personal greatness, there’s a fierce risk of lateral damage. Yes, there will be an award for the “man of the match” but he mightn’t even be aware of how well he’s doing since he’s rooted in “team play” and setting up, passing, making possible and maybe even putting an odd ball over the bar or, better again, in the net. This happens, says one who never really played a game of football with anything resembling talent or knowledge, when the team is put first. It’s not about being the greatest.
I think that’s what Jesus is saying to his “team” this week. Don’t focus on personal greatness. Focus rather on the team – the goal and the rest will follow.
Destination Donegal is a lovely song but not the destination many have in mind (and heart) today. As Mattie Towey used to say – about Mayo – “All the way”!!
Sligo’s day is at hand …………
[youtube=http://youtu.be/tfbECCadKfQ]
ALAS!! It’s for Donegal this year. That said, they too have waited a while so hopefully they’ll enjoy. Well done to Mayo and sorry it wasn’t to be this year ….
