A great video for any Galway fan to watch ahead of tomorrows game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHJQCCReLKs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHJQCCReLKs
- Welcome to gaaboard.com.
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
Pages1
#2
GAA Discussion / Re: Twistin, turnin, windin roads - Galway v Mayo 14/6/15
June 08, 2015, 04:23:26 PM
Good afternoon lads, I'm the famous (or infamous) author of that article Roger put up. Felt compelled to respond but have been away for last few days so I'm only getting round to it now.
I'm happy some of you enjoyed the article and thats it stirred a debate of sorts. The initial reaction was great as many Mayo folk enjoyed the piece. My oul lad was certainly unsure when I told him I was doing the article, even more so when I told him the first line of it!
I had to be honest however, and I think thats the main reason i was asked to do it. I didn't want to hold back and I knew that some people may not take to kindly to my stance on the rivalry. I am probably in the minority too with my stance. I had to laugh at Farrandeelins first response. I was thinking I have finally found the Mayo version of me
don;t worry I didn't take it personally so no hard feelings!
Just a few things I want to clarify from reading other posts.
I don't want resent Mayo's recent success whatsoever. In pure footballing terms, I don't even resent their victory in 99. They are worthy winners in both accounts and I can accept that.
Regarding the incident in 99, and taking into account the passion/emotion of supporters and attending sporting events, to a degree I can understand their behaviour. At the same time, if any of you have children, do you think its acceptable for a child to experience something like that at a game? My father wasn't f**king pleased whatsoever. He didn't care about the result at the final whistle. Unlike those idiots, he had a brain, its not his style to assault others, he just made sure to get me out of there and away from those c***ts at the time.
And that's been passed onto me. I've been to Castlebar a number of times for Galway-Mayo games since and the only beatings I have witnessed were on the pitch. I have never once sought out retribution of the likes or behaved in a similar way to those people. The best form of revenge in my mind would be just to see Galway win, nothing else. I'll make my way home safely whatever the result. Thankfully I can allow myself to smile or even laugh after a defeat nowadays.
It must be said however that every support has idiots in their ranks, be it clowns or bandwagon folk. But whenever I have people insisting to me Mayo are the best fans in the country, personal experiences compel me to think otherwise. That may not be fair on Mayo GAA, just how I feel.
However, I did state I met many Mayo people in recent years who are a credit to their county and the GAA. Had the pleasure of working in the Connacht GAA centre for a while and I never let the rivalry get in the way of having a laugh with these people and forming friendships.
I don't fret about Mayo winning an All-Ireland. If they do it, I will not emigrate. If they are the best team in Ireland, I will be the first person to acknowledge that. In the same way I commend Corofin for their exploits on the club scene of late.
I have no sense of entitlement with regards to Galway and success. They were magical times when I was younger but that's a long time ago and there's a good reason why that's the case. I'm in a position to say I've seen the best of times and the worst of times with Galway. Its only natural I yearn for the best but we're not entitled to it. We are nowhere near that standard, Mayo are. It is full credit to them that they are and we can only blame ourselves for where we are.
Probably should have made that more clear in the article that the neutrals opinion that they deserve to win one because they have lost 7 really irks me. I'm of the opinion that only one team deserves to win an AI and that is the best team in Ireland. Doesn't always work out like that however.
Regarding perspective, don't worry I have plenty. 7 or 8 years ago I was terrible, not more so GAA but Soccer and the likes. Sadly in 2011, I lost two uncles 4 months apart to sudden heart attacks. It hit me hard. Ever since then, i've developed a very passive response to bad results of the teams I follow. And I don't even harbour a hatred for Mayo. I just want Galway to beat them. I don't want to lose!
2013 was a bad result, but it was a fair one. I got over it and Galway bounced back in some way ever since. Mayo went on to reach another AI final which in my opinion they should have won. When it ended, where in the past I might have jumped about like a lunatic, I did nothing really. Dublin won but I thought they were lucky. If Mayo performed like they had in previous rounds they would have bet them no problem. I was probably more relieved it wasn't a replay as the Connacht GAA centre was bombarded by people looking for final tickets beforehand
I was away in Donegal at the weekend and I first heard about Shane Walsh getting injured in the accident. Before I could even think what this meant for next Sunday, I was told that Mike Ward, a local man and very popular here, was killed in same accident. It shocked me. I didn't know him very well but I know two of his sons quite well and they are a credit to him. Right now, I don't particularly care if we lose next Sunday because people have lost a father, a friend, a genuine decent hard working man. Some things are more important in life.
May he Rest In Peace
I'm happy some of you enjoyed the article and thats it stirred a debate of sorts. The initial reaction was great as many Mayo folk enjoyed the piece. My oul lad was certainly unsure when I told him I was doing the article, even more so when I told him the first line of it!
I had to be honest however, and I think thats the main reason i was asked to do it. I didn't want to hold back and I knew that some people may not take to kindly to my stance on the rivalry. I am probably in the minority too with my stance. I had to laugh at Farrandeelins first response. I was thinking I have finally found the Mayo version of me
don;t worry I didn't take it personally so no hard feelings!Just a few things I want to clarify from reading other posts.
I don't want resent Mayo's recent success whatsoever. In pure footballing terms, I don't even resent their victory in 99. They are worthy winners in both accounts and I can accept that.
Regarding the incident in 99, and taking into account the passion/emotion of supporters and attending sporting events, to a degree I can understand their behaviour. At the same time, if any of you have children, do you think its acceptable for a child to experience something like that at a game? My father wasn't f**king pleased whatsoever. He didn't care about the result at the final whistle. Unlike those idiots, he had a brain, its not his style to assault others, he just made sure to get me out of there and away from those c***ts at the time.
And that's been passed onto me. I've been to Castlebar a number of times for Galway-Mayo games since and the only beatings I have witnessed were on the pitch. I have never once sought out retribution of the likes or behaved in a similar way to those people. The best form of revenge in my mind would be just to see Galway win, nothing else. I'll make my way home safely whatever the result. Thankfully I can allow myself to smile or even laugh after a defeat nowadays.
It must be said however that every support has idiots in their ranks, be it clowns or bandwagon folk. But whenever I have people insisting to me Mayo are the best fans in the country, personal experiences compel me to think otherwise. That may not be fair on Mayo GAA, just how I feel.
However, I did state I met many Mayo people in recent years who are a credit to their county and the GAA. Had the pleasure of working in the Connacht GAA centre for a while and I never let the rivalry get in the way of having a laugh with these people and forming friendships.
I don't fret about Mayo winning an All-Ireland. If they do it, I will not emigrate. If they are the best team in Ireland, I will be the first person to acknowledge that. In the same way I commend Corofin for their exploits on the club scene of late.
I have no sense of entitlement with regards to Galway and success. They were magical times when I was younger but that's a long time ago and there's a good reason why that's the case. I'm in a position to say I've seen the best of times and the worst of times with Galway. Its only natural I yearn for the best but we're not entitled to it. We are nowhere near that standard, Mayo are. It is full credit to them that they are and we can only blame ourselves for where we are.
Probably should have made that more clear in the article that the neutrals opinion that they deserve to win one because they have lost 7 really irks me. I'm of the opinion that only one team deserves to win an AI and that is the best team in Ireland. Doesn't always work out like that however.
Regarding perspective, don't worry I have plenty. 7 or 8 years ago I was terrible, not more so GAA but Soccer and the likes. Sadly in 2011, I lost two uncles 4 months apart to sudden heart attacks. It hit me hard. Ever since then, i've developed a very passive response to bad results of the teams I follow. And I don't even harbour a hatred for Mayo. I just want Galway to beat them. I don't want to lose!
2013 was a bad result, but it was a fair one. I got over it and Galway bounced back in some way ever since. Mayo went on to reach another AI final which in my opinion they should have won. When it ended, where in the past I might have jumped about like a lunatic, I did nothing really. Dublin won but I thought they were lucky. If Mayo performed like they had in previous rounds they would have bet them no problem. I was probably more relieved it wasn't a replay as the Connacht GAA centre was bombarded by people looking for final tickets beforehand
I was away in Donegal at the weekend and I first heard about Shane Walsh getting injured in the accident. Before I could even think what this meant for next Sunday, I was told that Mike Ward, a local man and very popular here, was killed in same accident. It shocked me. I didn't know him very well but I know two of his sons quite well and they are a credit to him. Right now, I don't particularly care if we lose next Sunday because people have lost a father, a friend, a genuine decent hard working man. Some things are more important in life.
May he Rest In Peace
Pages1