This is what the GAA is all about.
Treks through rubbish roads from one end of the county to the other, probably stuck behind the dreaded Sunday drivers out taking it all in at their leisure only to reach the destination and maybe lose – but definitely to listen to your manager whine at you.
Don’t forget the usual hiccups: taking the wrong road, losing a signal, maps letting you down and the pitch not showing up on your phone. Getting the right part of the world is one thing, finding the pitch is another thing altogether.
“Look for the church. It’s bound to be around there.”
League football is back in Donegal and the all-day journeys are real. Is there anywhere worse for long journeys than the hills?
Killybegs v Malin (Division Two)
Killybegs are away to Malin for their senior and reserve openers and the players, coaches and anyone mad enough to go spectate in the north of Inishowen are looking at a four-hour round-trip.
@SportsJOEdotie handy enough spin for the 1st game of the club Gaa season pic.twitter.com/yaXaqchOdM
— Antoine O' Hara (@jackban1984) March 20, 2016
Seamus Coleman said that he wants to get back to his GAA playing roots with Killybegs – well he’d better get used to the Donegal roads again quickly.
It doesn’t end there. A glance at some of the upcoming fixtures over the coming weeks shows the extent that some club players have to go in Donegal for a game.
Réalt na Meara v St. Michael’s (Division One)
In Division One, they have it easy though.
Réalt na Meara players from Bundoran are only looking at the guts of a three-hour round-trip to St. Michael’s. Luxury.
Naomh Columba v Malin (Division Two)
This fixture takes you from the top of the country all the way down to Glencolumbkille. Malin, in fairness, are in isolated company. The Inishowen club are mixing it with the big boys in the upper echelons of Donegal football and they’re paying for it.
Their handiest tie would be down to Letterkenny. They’re usually travelling a good bit.
But they shouldn’t complain. They’d be back within five hours of driving for this fixture.
Aodh Ruadh v Urris (Division Three)
Ballyshannon to Ballyliffin. Some craic.
Naomh Ultan v Fanad Gaels (Division Three)
It actually takes 20 minutes longer to get from Naomh Ultan to Urris but we’re bored of that now.
Fanad Gaels v Urris (Division Three)
Look how close these two places actually are – for a bird.
Look how long it takes to get there – for a human.
Pettigo v Carndonagh (Division Four)
They could go through two counties to get there.
Thanks to Killybegs man Antoine O’Hara for his tweet. If you know any longer journeys to play a club match, get in touch with us on Facebook or Twitter or send us an email at editorial@SportsJOE.ie.
