FOR ANY MAYO supporter not lucky enough to be in Croke Park last Sunday, The White House pub in Swinford was the place to be.
Proprietor Shane Campbell was offering a free drink for every goal that James Horan’s men scored, but he certainly wasn’t expecting what transpired as the Green and Red rifled four goals past the meanest defence in the country, dismantling the All-Ireland champions in the process.
Talking to TheScore.ie Campbell laughed that he didn’t expect to be as busy as he was when the Connacht champions faced off against their conquerors from last September.
“Jim McGuinness has been in charge of Donegal for three years and in that time they have conceded four goals, so we weren’t expecting what happened. Their track record was pretty good I thought!”
It’s not the first time Campbell has offered a deal like this and he admitted that he’s been stung in the past.
“I did it before for Connacht’s first game in the Heineken Cup, a free pint for every try they scored and combined it with every goal Ireland scored against Estonia in the European Championship play-off. Connacht ended up scoring two tries and Ireland got four goals that night! There was lads refusing to take drinks at one stage,” he laughed.
“I’ve been doing it for years though and will continue to do it. For the London game [the Connacht final], I gave one free pint for every three goals. I didn’t think I’d get away lighter when Mayo played London than when they played Donegal to be honest. It was crazy before half-time (on Sunday), but I’m delighted to do it and hopefully we’ll be doing it for the final as well come September. If Mayo win I think I’ll have to offer free pints for anyone still standing at the end of the week.”
