Mayo GAA is an obsession that never lets up.
For every autumn that brings heartache and recriminations, another spring rolls around and offers fresh hope.
A new management ticket. A lad that's on fire for his club. Good reports back from winter training. That minor from a few years back that has grown into himself and who's ready to kick on.
Hope that the coming September will be the month when the wait ends.
The current crop of Mayo footballers proved, once again, that they are one of the very best counties in the game. Sometimes they need a performance like the one they produced against Roscommon, on August 7, to convince of it all over again.
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For the second summer running, Stephen Rochford's men have reached the final four through the All-Ireland qualifiers. They have traversed the country and logged more minutes - put more miles in their legs - than any other team.
Many felt the load would break them but Mayo know all about carrying loads. You can't tell this team they are beaten - you have to show them.
One of the driving forces behind the team
is widely acknowledged as their fervent supporters. For every person that suggests the weight of expectation out west is a weakness, Paddy Durcan will tell you othewise.
The Castlebar Mitchels man spoke with
Midwest Radio about this weekend's semi final with Kerry and his comments on Mayo fans will tell you a lot. He said:
"As a group of players, we are certainly aware of the supporters we have and it's incredible, really. We're conscious of that. We're going out there to represent the county the best we can.
"The people that have supported us, that is the least they deserve - for us to put our best foot forward. And I can promise them that we are doing everything we can to give ourselves the best chance we can. We are definitely appreciative of the support we've got up to date."
Durcan harked back to Mayo's tough journey back to the qualifiers to highlight just how vital that support is. "We had some tough games, notably down in the Gaelic Grounds against Cork.
"The support we had that way was unbelievable, as it has been throughout the year. As I've said, we have a responsibility to our supporters and all the time and effort, and the cost factor, that they've put in so far this year and on previous years.
"We are aware of that and we have an obligation to our our best for them and we're doing that."
Stirring words and well spoken by Durcan.
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That passionate Mayo support will be on show at Croke Park on Sunday and they will hope to play the role of 16th man against a Kerry team that have yet to be truly tested this championship summer.
