MICHAEL D. MCANDREW and Martin Carney were in the Midwest Radio commentary box for the closing minutes of yesterday’s All-Ireland senior football final.
And you’d have a heart of stone if you didn’t feel for the duo as they described Dean Rock’s late free which sealed victory for Dublin, before counting down the seconds to another final loss for Mayo.
“I’ve seen heartbreak in my time but this absolutely surpasses any of the heartache I’ve seen. It is so, so, so, so, so awful,” said former Mayo player Carney, after David Clarke’s resultant kick-out drifted over the sideline.
“It’s cruel. It’s like getting an awful injection and it’s not stopping. It just keeps on going,” McAndrew groaned.
“Groundhog day is there was ever,” Carney added.
“This is going to be another all Ireland defeat for Mayo, the wait goes on. Why? Why can’t we just open that door?” McAndrew asked.
“This is just so cruel – a Mayo team that’s given absolutely everything on the day. They’re chasing shadows at the moment, trying to get the ball back.
This is beyond cruelty, this is sadism at its worst. A team that’s played the way Mayo has today and ultimately may end up on the losing side.”
“Surely he’s going to blow it – and Dublin are on the attack. And that’s it, it’s all over” says McAndrew, as referee Joe McQuillan blows for full-time.
“It is just not meant to be. We’ve suffered another All-Ireland defeat. It’s cruel, it’s very cruel.”
Carney, voice crackling with emotion, tried to sum it all up.
“I haven’t seen as cruel a defeat in all my time watching football.
“It is beyond belief that a team that has given as much as these fellas are on the wrong side of the result.
They’ve been an absolute credit to themselves, to their families, to the county, to every corner of the proud county. I’m watching men out there at the moment – they’re beyond distraught, they did not deserve to lose that game.
“Mother of God, they didn’t come out on the right side of the result. It is heartbreaking.”
Have a listen, if you can bring yourself to do so:
Daniel Kelly / SoundCloud
Subscribe to The42 podcasts here:
