“It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.”
The celebrations in Mayo are continuing following their Under 21 footballers’ All-Ireland final triumph over Cork in Ennis on Saturday night.
After a pulsating 60 minutes in Cusack Park, the U21 football championship came to a close with one of the best finals of the modern era.
Mayo secured their first crown in 10 years with a 5-7 to 1-14 win, in a game that Cork fans could hardly believe they had lost.
Mayo were fully deserving of their win, but after the game, Cork supporters honed in on their goalkeeper Anthony Casey as the man to blame for the loss.
Cork’s short kick-out strategy malfunctioned on several occasions in the first half, while the netminder was also deceived by a punched finish from Liam Irwin that swung the game ultimately in Mayo’s favour after the break.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=rAycXzp1nRw
Thanks to social media, it was all too easy for abuse and insults to be aimed at the 20-year-old student.
https://twitter.com/rochey91/status/726478674669801473
https://twitter.com/S_McGinley/status/726476424597622785
Cork keeper can't kick the ball or save it. One of the worst individual performances I've ever seen
— Finny Des (@finnydes) April 30, 2016
If a goalkeeper makes a mistake, it gets magnified.
Think of Paul Durcan in 2014, or Rob Hennelly in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final as Mayo lost to Dublin.
The abuse goalkeepers receive for their mistakes is never equal to anything that any other 14 players out the field will receive for their errors.
Hurling and football may be team games, but when it comes to abuse, goalkeepers stand alone.
Casey walked off the pitch close to tears on Saturday night, and his emotional turmoil and his distressed state, was remarked on by many.
https://twitter.com/kenohall/status/726478304954449920
Including his U21 teammate Michael Hurley.
Get to know someone before you criticise them. Anthony Casey was always the first person on the training ground! Respect the sacrifices!
— Michael Hurley (@michaelhurley9) May 1, 2016
And even Mayo ‘keeper Rob Hennelly had some words of comfort.
https://twitter.com/RobHennelly/status/726541101822300160
Just a few hours after the U21 loss, Casey was back in action, looking to atone for his mistake.
Delighted to hear that Cork's Anthony Casey was back in action, staring for his club today. Onto the next challenge for him. 👏🏻
— Aaron Kernan (@AaronKernan) May 2, 2016
CIT 1-10 Newcestown 0-7 (44). Carthach Keane would have goaled for Ntown but Anthony Casey pushed his shot onto post
— Denis Hurley (@Denis_Hurley) May 2, 2016
CIT went on to win the game by 1-11 to 0-12 with Casey giving an inspired performance in the Cork club championship.
After the game, he addressed the abuse he has received since last Saturday with an emotional tweet that all GAA fans would do well to take note of.
Made a mistake! Im human! I go to college, work and do everything that every amateur footballer does! Thanks for the support! #alwaysarebel
— Anthony Casey (@AnthonyCasey3) May 2, 2016
@AnthonyCasey3 my man 🔴⚪️🔴⚪️
— Sean Powter (@SeanPowter) May 2, 2016
@AnthonyCasey3 Good man Anthony. You'll have better days ahead I'm certain. pic.twitter.com/lsTwaZLDom
— Trevor Naughton (@trevornaughton) May 3, 2016
And you know it’s good when even Kerry folk are admiring your determination.
https://twitter.com/BreenyJE/status/727453139398463489
We hope Casey comes back even stronger from the loss and devastation of Saturday night.
Judging by his display on Monday afternoon, he is already on the way to doing just that.
