Search Results for 'the Hogan Stand'

Dublin 2-14

After Mayo were beaten by Donegal in this year's All-Ireland football final, many Galwegians were able and quick to point out that it was Mayo's sixth All-Ireland final defeat since 1989. Six finals, (and one draw), and yet no victory.

Belief is everything in sport and long before the GAA was heavily populated with sports psychologists, this current Donegal side always looked like their name was on the trophy irrespective of who they were playing in the All-Ireland final last Sunday. I do not think the intervention of any amount of psychology would have stopped them winning their second All- Ireland. For a combination of reasons they had acquired a belief that they would win this year’s title, unless maybe an exceptional team stood in their way. Mayo are a very good team but, unfortunately, just did not have a sufficient number of big powerful men in key positions throughout the field to deny this Donegal side. One line in particular could have done with a big strong ball winner. If we had a Michael Murphy at 14, then I believe Mayo would have walked the steps on Sunday evening as champions. That is how close it was. But we do not appear to have that extra jewel at the moment. The fact that the aforementioned Michael Murphy is half a Mayo man does not make it any easier to accept!

When Kilkenny got on a run in the third quarter the last day, they were driven on by the brilliance of Brian Hogan and Tommy Walsh. Hogan plucked two or three in a row out of the air and you almost feel the intake of breath and anxiety in the Galway crowd in the Hogan Stand.

Coming out of Dublin last Sunday evening on the motorway was a surreal experience. The motorway at 7.30pm was like some kind of mobile car park for Galway supporters as they trekked West after seeing their team play their part in one of the best hurling finals in years.

Mayo 0-19

Meath: 2-10

Mayo 3-18

Our Mayo side was once again placed under the whitest of lights in Croke Park and we all once again waited for coronations. Then the seemingly inevitable uncorked the vitriol. It started in the stands with several around me shaking their heads and leaving long before the final whistle. It is not a nice thing, from a player’s point of view, to see ‘your’ supporters walking out before the game has finished. It is their (the supporters) signal to the players that, for them at least, the show is over.

Cork 2-10