Sure what else would you do with a weekend off?
Seamus Coleman is back in Donegal and he’s right back at the heart of it all.
The club championship is a special thing. Nothing would make you feel right at home like your neighbours and rivaling parishes busting their arses for a piece of leather as if it was the only thing that matters in the world.
It gets under your skin, the GAA club championship. My own club are vying for their first ever championship success at senior level next week and a guy who’s moved to America barely a month ago is flying back for the weekend. You couldn’t miss it.
Even for Premier League footballers, this is the real beating heart of Irish culture and Seamus Coleman hasn’t forgotten those roots that made him the inspirational man he is today.
Seamus Coleman: The making of the best right back in the world https://t.co/oAglvSUuxh
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 11, 2016
The Republic of Ireland legend is an icon in football but, as the good folk in Killybegs would tell you, it hasn’t changed one inch of him.
“Any time he’s at home, if he’s back for a month or two in the summer, he’d be up kicking about with the under-8s and under-10s and up giving them a few wee words,” his old GAA coach told us before the Euros.
“That’s the kind of modest type of a fella he is.”
That’s also the power of the GAA and the club, where it all begins for many. That’s what drags James McClean back to the reopening of his club’s grounds in Derry city.
And, the beauty of Friday night Premier League football like Everton and Coleman were treated to there, it leaves the weekend free. It gives people like Seamie the chance to spend weekends like he used to.
Sitting in Ballybofey watching the Donegal club championship.
Bhí Seamus Coleman, imreoir @Everton & @FAIreland i láthair tráthnóna inniu ag cluiche leath 1/2 cheannais @KilcarGAA v @NaomhConaillGAA pic.twitter.com/guSHEmFkon
— Damien Ó Dónaill (@RNF36) October 2, 2016
The renowned right back was in attendance at the senior football championship semi-final between Glenties and Kilcar where Martin McHugh’s side upset the champions and then some.
An unprecedented scoreline of 5-10 to 1-11 saw Kilcar barge through to their decider to face-off with Michael Murphy and Glenswilly after two goals from Eoin McHugh, and green flags from Paddy McBrearty and Michael Hegarty helped them into their first championship final since 1993.
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