Pearce Hanley knows.
No man is more aware of the shared misery of Mayo fans and supporters of the Western Bulldogs. The former Mayo footballer and current Brisbane Lion is hoping his beloved native county can make this the weekend of the underdog and complete an implausible double that will, in the space of 24 hours, wipe out 127 years of waiting.
We all know a win today will end Mayo’s 65-year longing for Sam Maguire. It is arguably the most famous drought in Irish sport, particularly when you consider how close the Connacht men have been, how competitive they have been. Some have even used a ‘Curse’ to explain away the defeats of 1989, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2006, 2012, 2013.
The Western Bulldogs don’t have anything like the same tale of woe in the AFL Grand Final, but they were waiting 62 years to be crowned kings of Aussie Rules.
And you know what, Mayo fans, they did it this morning.
Bulldogs broke the drought, why can't Mayo..
— pearce hanley (@pearcehanley) October 1, 2016
In their first Grand Final since 1961 they racked up a 22-point win over the Sydney Swans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to claim their first title since 1954.
A little bit like Mayo, who relinquished their grip on the Nestor Cup this year with defeat to Galway and had to come the hard way through the Qualifiers, the Bulldogs have not had an easy road to glory.
They came from seventh place in the league and won sudden-death finals against West Coast, Hawthorn and Greater Western Sydney before Saturday morning’s win.
While Mayo’s long wait since 1951 for an All-Ireland final appearance was ended in 1989, the West Melbourne-based Bulldogs nearly went out of business that year.
But they are back at the top now, having been saved by a supporters group.
Best of luck to the whole Mayo team especially my two great mates @andypmoran @BarrySolan #MayoforSam
— pearce hanley (@pearcehanley) October 1, 2016
The whole story is enough to make a Emigrant Son of the Green and Red hope.
Could we be seeing these scenes in the Mayo dressingroom this evening?
PREMIERS! #AFLGF pic.twitter.com/nicZV1R0MC
— AFL (@AFL) October 1, 2016
Will it be Mayo (or the Dubs) 4 Sam? Wooly, Paul Galvin and Conán Doherty preview Saturday’s All-Ireland final replay.
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