Mayo people are a unique people.
Fewer counties can claim to have the same unity and bond when it comes to a love for the green and red.
Obsession isn’t a strong enough word. Passion doesn’t even come close. The way Mayo fans vehemently get behind their team year on year in the face of adversity and heartbreak is inspiring. You’d get goosebumps thinking of their struggle even with no connection whatsoever to the county.
They’re a proud bunch – proud of their football, proud of their beautiful west coast, and sure of their identity.
Only a Mayo fan would look to square up to WWE wrestler Roman Reigns, pint in hand, sunglasses on head, crest over the heart like a badge of fearless honour.
The PDC World Cup of Darts concluded on Sunday night with the deadly pairing of Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen of course triumphing in the competition – how could anybody compete with that?
It was a feel-good story, especially after Barney, one of sport’s good guys, went down on new year’s day to his compatriot despite breaking records and playing phenomenal darts. His interview afterwards broke hearts all over the world.
This is heartbreaking to hear Raymond van Barneveld talk like this.
Especially after how he's just played. pic.twitter.com/1ryt3jXpMP— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) January 1, 2017
The two joined forces to beat Wales in Sunday’s final though – business as usual, the bookies would tell you, but it was even more business-like in the crowd where fever of Galway-Mayo has obviously reached Frankfurt.
During Saturday’s quarter-final clash between Australia and Russia, the customary ‘Mayo 4 Sam’ appeared in the German crowd.
Amidst the chaos, the celebrations and the boozing, someone is always still serving Mayo.
It wasn’t even the first time the darts crowd got caught up in the awakening of the west.
@MayoGAA @OfficialPDC first #TourDeFrance now #worldmatchplaydarts #mayoforsam pic.twitter.com/2Q6wq3455B
— Paul Flynn (@PFlynn89) July 24, 2013
And it definitely, absolutely won’t be the last time.
It’s a long way ’til September. This campaign is going to gather more and more legs as they go.
Man Utd legend @Ole_Solskjaer shows his support 4 Mayo for the Connacht Final but also wished @OfficialLondonG well! pic.twitter.com/UzISHgL2wk
— Ireland West Airport (@Irelandwest) July 18, 2013
Thanks to Cillian O’Connor for sending this our way. If you have any pieces of content you’d like to share with us, hit us up on Facebook or Twitter or send us an email at editorial@SportsJOE.ie.
