Mayo aren’t the only ones: great sporting droughts

MAYO ARE HOPING to end their infamous 62-year All-Ireland drought on Sunday at Croke Park, but they’re not the only sports team to have faced such an extended wait for glory.

With some of their successful 1951 team still alive, Mayo’s appears to be a particularly cursed wait. However, as we’ll see there are several other contenders for the worst drought in sporting history.

1. Man City and the Premier League in 2012

City lived long in the overbearing shadow of their nieghbours and their most recent title success had been in 1968, when a dramatic 4-3 win over Newcastle on the final day of the season handed them the title.

Having bounced between the divisions, even going as low as the old Second Division in the late ’90s, City were well overdue another league success by the time Roberto Mancini had them competing in the 2011/12 season.

It all came down to the last day, and City wrapped up the title in even thrilling circumstances. Needing a win at home to QPR, Mancini’s men were trailing 2-1 at half time. Worse still, Man United went into the lead at Sunderland and it appeared City fans would have to continue their horrific wait.

However, with the game in stoppage time, City scored quickfire goals through Edin Dzeko and Sergio Agüero to seal a thrilling 3-2 win and a first title in 44 years.

YouTube credit: KippaXicity

2. The Irish rugby team against the All Blacks

Most sporting droughts involve a team winning something and then having to wait a long time to do so again. But in this case, Ireland have never actually beaten New Zealand. In 27 attempts since 1905, we are still waiting to beat the mighty All Blacks.

There have been several narrow misses, with a 10-10 draw in 1973 at Lansdowne Road as well as a last-gasp 22-19 loss in Christchurch in 2012. Still, the record remains; New Zealand are the only major rugby nation Ireland haven’t beaten.

Joe Schmidt will have a chance to break the ongoing 108-year drought in November, as the All Blacks visit the Aviva for the autumn internationals.

3. Boston Red Sox and the World Series in 2004

Having won five championships between the year of their founding in 1901 and 1918, the Red Sox slipped into a cruel 86-year drought while their great rivals, the New York Yankees won no less than 26 titles.

The Red Sox never became an insignificant team and their continued World Series failure was hard to understand, with some commentators suggesting that ‘the curse of the bambino’ was affecting the franchise.

But all curses are there to be broken, and the Red Sox finally ended the years of hurt when they swept the best-of-seven final against St. Louis. Relief pitcher Keith Foulke was the man to make the historic final out, launching wild scenes of celebration at Busch Stadium.

YouTube credit: MLBClassics

4. England and the Cricket World Cup

Since the tournament began in 1975, England have been the host nation on four occasions. Despite that home advantage, and having reached three finals, they have yet to lift the trophy.

The most painful of those unsuccessful finals was in 1979, when the West Indies won in London. England’s most recent final came in Australia in 1992, with Pakistan emerging as the victors.

It’s an ongoing 38-year drought for English cricket, and perhaps a surprising one for a country so synonymous with the game.

5. Goran Ivanisevic and Wimbledon in 2001

Sometimes the most painful waits come over shorter periods, and Ivanisevic is a perfect example of that condensed torment. The Croatian had once been the second seed in world tennis and had 21 titles to his name as he entered his 30s.

But interspersed among those successes were three failed Wimbledon finals in 1992, 1994 and 1998. By 2001, Ivanisevic had dropped out of the world’s top 100 players and was struggling with a shoulder injury. It appeared his chance was gone.

However, the tournament’s organisers decided to award the enigmatic left-hander an apt ‘wildcard’ entry. With a booming serve blasting opponents out of the way, Ivanisevic captured the imagination of tennis fans everywhere and beat the likes of Marat Safin, Tim Henman and finally Pat Rafter to end his Wimbledon wait.

YouTube credit: Marko M

6. India and the Olympics track and field

India achieved track and field success in their first-ever Olympics way back in 1900, but haven’t managed to repeat it. Norman Pritchard won two silvers at that first outing 113 years ago, but any other medals they’ve been awarded since have been for events like shooting, wrestling and boxing.

London 2012 saw India win its highest tally of medals, with two silver and four bronze. However, they will have to wait until Brazil in 2016 to have another crack at track and field success.

7. Clare and the Liam McCarthy

Mayo’s troubles seem less significant when weighed up against the 81-year drought in the All-Ireland hurling championship. Having lifted the trophy in 1914, the Clare team were another of those who apparently befell a curse which prevented further titles.

With Ger Loughnane at the helm, Clare finally managed to break the spell in 1995, when they dispatched Offaly with a Seánie McMahon man-of-the-match performance. Two years later, the Banner County lifted Liam again to well and truly put their drought behind them.

YouTube credit: hurlingtime

8. Chicago Cubs and the World Series

While the Red Sox endured baseball’s most famous drought, the Chicago Cubs are still suffering an even longer one of their own. By the time the World Series rolls around this October, the Cubs will be without a trophy for 105 years.

Such is their history of failure that the Cubs have become known as the ‘lovable losers’. This particular drought is perhaps the best example of the mental block created by a continuous lack of success. The more a team loses, the less is believes it can win. Multiply that effect over 105 years and you can see the predicament the Cubs find themselves in.

9. French cyclists and the Tour de France

Again, home advantage makes this drought a curious one. It’s been 28 years since a Frenchman has won the Tour de France, when Bernard Hinault came home ahead of the rest of the field in 1985 (Stephen Roche was third, with Sean Kelly fourth).

That marked the end of a five-year spell of dominance for Hinault and compatriot Laurent Fignon, and France has failed to recover since. Instead, Spain has been the most successful country in the Tour over the last three decades.

France still has more tour wins than any other country with 36, but they will be desperate to end the wait as soon as possible.