Inside Track: Forget 1950 – we’ll be shouting for Mayo

Louth flags flew all over the world

Flags flew high as Louth prepared for the All-Ireland semi-final with Mayo. They were here, there and everywhere throughout the county, and further afield as well. There were many flying down in Australia and America, ex-pats keen to show their support for the team back home.
But Vietnam? As our picture shows there was one on show there, in the capital Hanoi. And proud to display his county colours were Ardee native, Seán Ross, and his son Liam. They chose a significant location – close to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where the embalmed body of the great revolutionary leader lies in state.
Seán, a son of the legendary St Mary’s clubman, Johnny Ross, is married to Chi, a native of Hanoi. Dublin-based, he regularly visits the land of his wife’s birth. — Louth flags flew all over the world Flags flew high as Louth prepared for the All-Ireland semi-final with Mayo. They were here, there and everywhere throughout the county, and further afield as well. There were many flying down in Australia and America, ex-pats keen to show their support for the team back home. But Vietnam? As our picture shows there was one on show there, in the capital Hanoi. And proud to display his county colours were Ardee native, Seán Ross, and his son Liam. They chose a significant location – close to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where the embalmed body of the great revolutionary leader lies in state. Seán, a son of the legendary St Mary’s clubman, Johnny Ross, is married to Chi, a native of Hanoi. Dublin-based, he regularly visits the land of his wife’s birth. | Inside Track

placeholder image — Louth flags flew all over the world Flags flew high as Louth prepared for the All-Ireland semi-final with Mayo. They were here, there and everywhere throughout the county, and further afield as well. There were many flying down in Australia and America, ex-pats keen to show their support for the team back home. But Vietnam? As our picture shows there was one on show there, in the capital Hanoi. And proud to display his county colours were Ardee native, Seán Ross, and his son Liam. They chose a significant location – close to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum where the embalmed body of the great revolutionary leader lies in state. Seán, a son of the legendary St Mary’s clubman, Johnny Ross, is married to Chi, a native of Hanoi. Dublin-based, he regularly visits the land of his wife’s birth. | Inside Track

Inside Track with Joe Carroll

Éamonn Mongey played at midfield for Mayo in the 1950 All-Ireland final. He was in the same position when the Westerners retained the title, beating Meath.

When his career was over, Mongey wrote a column for the long-gone but still lamented Sunday Press. Commenting one week on Louth’s 1957 win, he said: “How we rejoiced over that win.”

The ‘we’ were the Mayo team of ’50, of course. It may be that they felt guilty how they had engineered their win over Louth – Éamonn didn’t say.

As was recorded a few times leading up to the recent semi-final, Louth were in a winning position as the clock wound down in the ’50 final. Mick Flanagan, a bother of team captain, Seán, went on a run, and according to Louth folk, but not ther referee, he over-carried the ball before dispatching it to the net.

The goal stood, and by winning 2-6 to 1-5, Mayo put their name on the Sam Maguire for the first time since 1936.

We’ll give Mongey and his colleagues the benefit of the doubt and say the controversial goal didn’t even enter their minds as they congratulated Louth on their win over Cork.

Louth folk, other than those who can’t see beyond Kerry, except when it’s their county that’s in action, can only be rooting for Mayo when they face the holders on Sunday next.

Aside from the knee that went into Sam Mulroy’s back that needed attention, and was probably the reason why the Louth captain didn’t have the impact that was expected, Mayo played the game, and were much superior on the day.

That would find them favour here; but there’s one other obvious reason why Louth and most neutral counties will be shouting for the red-and-greens.

Since 1989 Mayo have contested 11 All-Ireland finals and have been beaten in them all. Some were by the narrowest of margins, others coming after a replay.

Their most recent outing was in 2021, when Tyrone beat them 2-14 to 0-15. There was a crowd of only 41,000-plus at the game, but even fewer were there for the previous year’s final, when Mayo were also beaten.

In fact, the 2020 final had no official crowd. Covid was raging, and it was behind closed doors that Dublin improved on their own record by winning a sixth successive title. The score was the same as the following year, 2-14 to 0-15.

How could anyone, therefore, not want Mayo to win this time? Kerry have the Clifford brothers and many others of star quality – Mayo have three hot-shots in their full-forward line.

Beirne, O’Donoghue and McDonald went into the Louth game with a huge reputation, and enhanced it even further by claiming 2-17 between them. That’s some scoring – if they were to repeat it, a win for the outsiders would be on the cards.

Mayo, however, will also have to come up with the goods at the other end of the field.

Putting two players to try to police David Clifford – as Dublin did in the semi-final – might solve one problem, but could create others elsewhere.

Thanks bro, said Paudie Clifford when Donegal tried something like that in last year’s final. The older of the two boys had a field day, claiming the man-of-the-match award.

The West has been awakened six times since 1951, Galway shaking it from its slumber on each occasion. They sang Galway Bay in celebration.

Could it be The Green and Red of Mayo next Sunday, the Saw Doctors giving it wellie, as they did last Saturday week? Good luck to them.