For such a GAA stronghold, Galway don’t win as much as they should.
Their last All-Ireland football title was in 2001 and before 2016 the last time Liam MacCarthy was out west was way back in 1988.
In that time Galway reached six All-Ireland finals and played in seven inclusive of their drawn match and replay in 2012.
That was until 2017, this was going to be there year. Their comeback against Waterford in the spring showed that the Tribesmen were a different animal in 2017. They didn’t know when they were beaten, they didn’t know when to give up.
Brilliant stuff from the @Galway_GAA star https://t.co/5ZvFgQ0sBn
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) September 6, 2017
“It kicked on from there,” admits Aidan Harte “But you couldn’t say back in April in Pearse Stadium after coming back from nine down at one stage against Waterford that it was definitely our year.”
“We did gather a bit of momentum and it’s hard to explain but every game is just such a battle and you’ve to believe in yourself going out on the pitch because if you don’t believe in yourself going out there but you do need that slice of luck sometimes and we had it this year.”
It was the perfect year for Galway as they won not only the All-Ireland title but also the National League and Leinster Championship. Throw in the seven All-Star awards and 2017 can be regarded as a serious, serious success.
And for Harte it was a special moment, hurling is everything to him and Galway hurling is everything to his father, Josie. On the third day of September, it was always going to be an emotional one for the Harte’s but maybe one that hasn’t sunk in quite yet.
“He was just at the top of the steps of the Hogan,” Harte says when asked about the first time he saw his father after Galway won the All-Ireland “It’s very surreal because we’d be huge hurling people at home.”
“We have a huge hurling community in Galway and I suppose it’s everything you ever did from four or five years of age and you picked your career around it so it was very surreal now. It was huge for him and he had a huge bearing on my career and he loves the game and is just as passionate about it as I am.”
What Gearoid McInerney plans to do with All-Ireland medal is just the nicest thing you'll hear https://t.co/e2u2PlQVX6
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 13, 2017
The Galway players haven’t yet received their medals, they’re due to pick them up on 22 December just in time for Christmas. But what does one do with their Celtic Cross? Harte is planning on keeping his anyways.
“I’ll keep it alright. I’ve won two county championships with Gort which is brilliant but I probably don’t even know where they are but it’s all about the memories and meeting people.”
By the sounds of it, Harte has something planned for his medal, it may make it onto the wall in the sitting room with the jersey alongside or maybe something simpler but it’ll be a stark contrast to one of his teammates. Gearoid McInerney earlier revealed in the year that he plans to give his medal to his mother.
The Oranmore club man is following tradition as his father, who also played for Galway, who gifted his medals to his own mother.
“We haven’t got them yet, Dad always gave it to his Mum so I’ll probably do the same. It means a lot to me but it will probably be that little bit more special for her.”
Different strokes for different folks.
