Marvellous Dubs can make it a three-in-a-row

Fri, Sep 15, 2017

Between the years 1947 and 1955 Rocky Marciano entered the squared circle 49 times and remained undefeated against all challengers. The reasons are many, including his relentless fighting style, punching power, stamina, and iron chin. However, at the end of his career, 49 pros had thrown everything they had at him, and he always found a way to survive. And win. Retiring with a perfect record 49-0 and an 88 per cent knockout rate, he stands as one of the undisputed greatest boxers of all time. Dublin footballers now stand on the cusp of such immortality with a possible three in a row of titles on the horizon.

The view from the stands and what drives on the green and red faithful

Fri, Sep 15, 2017

Did you ever consider how many miles it would be to fly from Castlebar to Boston? It is very doubtful that sort of random thought came into your head. Do you follow Mayo around the country religiously to every senior game home and away? Well if you’re from Castlebar and take MacHale Park as your starting point for each of those journeys this season, then you will probably have travelled about 120 more miles than it is by air from Castlebar to Boston, by the time you get home from Sunday’s All Ireland final. Crazy as it seems, these are the lengths Mayo fans go to.

Mayo stand on the edge of greatness

Fri, Sep 15, 2017

Come 5pm on Sunday evening, Mayo's 10 game odyssey through the All Ireland championship will have come to an end (but don't discount a replay - the way this year has gone). Hopefully green and red ribbons will be hanging off the handles of Sam Maguire, and Cillian O'Connor getting ready to lift the old trophy high in the air in the hands of a Mayo man for the first time in 66 years.

Take time to recall the Mayo stars of the past

Fri, Sep 15, 2017

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in! I could apply that quote to the Mayo Advertiser asking me to return for a one-off All-Ireland final article or to Mayo football itself. Either way, I am delighted to be in this position in mid-September. As ardent football fans we have been deservedly rewarded in this county. Supporters have fed off our team’s energy and vice versa. That relationship is an essential component for a successful season so do what you can to make it to Dublin this weekend and bring the colour, bring the noise. When the 66-year drought ends this Sunday and the pent-up euphoria is unleashed with little hope of abating, my one concern is that the names of the men who built a football-loving county and laid the foundations for thousands of fanatics and players may be lost in the many celebratory renditions of The Green and Red of Mayo.

Making the small improvements to get over the line

Fri, Sep 15, 2017

He's only 22 years old and already has a final personal collection of honours in the game; All Ireland winners' medals at minor and u21 level, two national young player of the year awards and a collection of club medals in his back pocket. But the one that drives him and other players on is still there to be won. Hopefully, by Sunday evening that collection will be complete for Diarmuid O'Connor.

Making sure the body is right for the battles ahead

Fri, Sep 15, 2017

Last year saw Brendan Harrison rewarded for his displays for Mayo in his breakthrough year with an All Star award for his defensive displays. While it was a nice personal recognition, it doesn't mean that the Aghamore man was able to rest on his laurels this year. "It was lovely to get one, but the ultimate goal is to get a Celtic Cross. It was still a lovely prize to get and get recognised, but once we went into 2017, you were battling for your jersey again, no-one was going to say that's Brendan Harrison's jersey — you had to go out and prove yourself again for it. You're doing that through each game, it's a new squad or panel, there are young lads coming into it and lads who have moved on; it's different set up and different unit with new people."

Being back in the big time suits Parsons

Fri, Sep 15, 2017

Not many players involved with Mayo have had quite the chequered history with the Green and Red jersey as Charlestown Sarsfields midfielder Tom Parsons.

Learning and leading are what Coen does best

Fri, Sep 15, 2017

The life of a student playing Gaelic Football at the very highest level is one that many people would no doubt enjoy.

Hard work pays off for Browne’s ladies’

Sun, Sep 03, 2017

A year on from the heartbreak of watching Dublin edging them out in a thriller in Breffini Park, Mayo were on the right side of the result in the All Ireland semi-final in the Ulster venue. This time it was the Cork machine that stood in their way, but the pain of last years defeat and the hard work they put in on the training field paid off for Mayo in the end.

Magic Mayo quash the 'Rebels

Sat, Sep 02, 2017

Mayo made their way back into the All Ireland final for the first time in ten years with a performance that was forged in self-belief, heart, brilliant skill and a determination to not suffer the same fate as befell them last year when they were pipped at the post by Dublin in the same venue.

Mayo make the Kingdom bend the knee

Sat, Aug 26, 2017

This win wasn’t lucky, it wasn’t by chance, it came about through sheer hard-work, believe in themselves and by playing some breathtaking football. It has taken Mayo 21-years to beat Kerry again in the football championship, but the jubilant Mayo faithful - who roared on their hero’s from the first minute to last, know that there is still a big job to do in three weeks time. But that doesn’t mean that this game is not to be savoured.

There will be no money left for Christmas in Mayo

Fri, Aug 25, 2017

Dear me, not again. The winners of this year’s Sam Maguire will have their name etched on the famous trophy but there is absolutely no doubt Mayo’s 2017 championship campaign will command the most paragraphs in the championship 2017 yearbook. Bizarre does not even go close to explaining it. Mayo supporters again travelled in their tens of thousands clogging the N5 and N4 all the way to the capital from early morning. It is very obvious that football is more important than Christmas for the supporters of the green and red who now have to contend with a ninth championship game in 2017 after another heart stopping semifinal clash with Kerry in Croke Park. They will not have a cent left for the festive period.

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.