IN THE LONG and storied history of the GAA, the Liam MacCarthy and Sam Maguire cups have never resided West of the Shannon in the same winter.
It’s almost been done before but perhaps this is the year when Connacht counties claim the biggest prizes in Gaelic Football and hurling in the one year.
Back in 1925, the footballers of Galway won the All-Ireland senior football crown, but their hurlers lost against Tipperary in the September final.
In 1980, Galway won the hurling but Roscommon lost to Kerry in the football final.
And in 2001, Galway were runners-up in the hurling decider final against Tipperary, before their footballers won the Sam Maguire under the guidance of John O’Mahony.
With Galway recently crowned senior hurling champions, Mayo have the chance to make it a unique Connacht double, when they tackle Dublin at Croke Park next Sunday.
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