An Spailpín Fánach is flattered once more to be allowed the pages of the Mayo News to give his two cents on the end of another bitterly disappointing Championship campaign for the county Mayo. The problem of losing All-Irelands no longer seems as bad when you can't get to them any more.
The speculation about John O'Mahony leaving is depressing. The biggest mistake that O'Mahony made in dropping Ciarán McDonald was in not having any better to replace him - who now would take over from Johnno? Poor John Maughan doesn't seem half the ogre now. Remember the great days in Tuam in July and Croke Park in August? And there was a hot barrel of tar in every town in the county Mayo waiting for him by the time Mayo lost to Kerry in 2005. Eaten bread is soon forgotten.
William Shakespeare, whose contribution to Gaelic games scholarship is all too often overlooked, writes in his twenty-third sonnet of
"... some fierce thing replete with too much rage,
Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart."
Remind you of anyone? The constant quest for Sam, and having been so near so often so recently, has maddened minds in the County Mayo, and desire has overcome perspective. Mayo people have trouble living in the now; unlike the man on Broadway in the old song, we don't take the day for what it's worth and do the best we can.
But now we have nothing but now as the Dream of Sam dies for another year. We shall make the most of our own Championship, cheer for whomever in the All-Ireland and emerge once more in early spring with the iris and the snowdrop. Muigh Eo abú go deo.
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