25. For once you don’t hate training under floodlights or in bad weather
24. Getting the championship haircut is an essential task on the week of the match – but nothing too drastic
23. The distribution of the free gear after training is a big deal and there will be inevitable complaints over sizes, colours, style etc
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22. There is a generous spread of sandwiches after the last training session before the match
21. At some stage during the week, you’ll hear the phrase – ‘It’s two goalposts and a field like any other ye’ve played on lads’
20. If you’re a veteran of the squad, you wonder is this your last chance to win a county
19. If you’re a young lad, you wonder what all the fuss is about
18. Productivity at work isn’t the best for the week before the match as you while the time way
17. Everyone you meet has the same message before the match
16. You notice that the local school has got a makeover
15. You see the bunting and colour up all over the parish
14. If you’re working, you fire this text message off to the boss
13. If you’re in college, you’re glad not to have to make up an excuse for skipping lectures or avoiding the library next week
12. You go to mass on the morning of the match and avoid the auld lads trying to talk GAA at the back of the church
11. You’re fairly sick of drinking gallons of water at this stage
10, You try to stomach that pre-match meal, wondering was there ever a time you ate something other than chicken and pasta
9. You face the big pre-match debate – studs or moldies?
8. Packing the gear bag is a task that you put time and effort into
7. The mother has bought new Holy Water to throw at you before you head out the door
6. The father pulls you aside for those key words of wisdom
5. You’re glad when the bus journey is over and you arrive at the stadium
4. There’s always one part of the match programme player profile that provokes a laugh
3. You listen to the club manager deliver the most rousing speech of his life
2. Finally you run out on the pitch, get set to give it 110% and show your pride in the parish
1. And you never forget that it’s all about getting your hands on the cup and bringing it home
Can’t beat that championship feeling!
Great stuff Fintan.
Walking into the dressing room/running onto the field while ignoring everyone talking to you like you’re on a different planet
I’d say half the Crossmaglen boys don’t even bother goin for pints anymore after they win the county final, home and in bed by 10.
How on earth did you pick Al Pacino over Timmy Ryan http://youtu.be/guT76kAPYs0
Well played sir. Well played
Why is this only about boys competing in the county final?! We have plenty of female GAA teams to which most of the above list would be a familiar ritual before their county finals. Less of the sexism please.