Hill 16 Harry, the dual fan and the day-tripper – the six types of Dublin GAA fan

Hill 16 Harry

It's HIS spot, and God forbid anyone should take the place at the barrier just to the left of where 'Cluxto' guides his aerial missiles from. He's seen them all in blue over the years and he's smuggled it all onto the Hill too. Blue flares, rollies and maybe the odd can in the umbrella back in the day, just for the special occasions like beating Kerry. He has to explain to the young ones coming up to the Hill the rules of supporting the Boys in Blue and when it is appropriate to take one's top off and start singing derogatory songs about Meath. Can't understand why any counties would not want to play in Croke Park and be hammered by the best team in Ireland. Genuine supporter This rare beast has followed the Dubs all his life and even has travelled down the N4 and the M8 once or twice. He even knows where Parnell Park is. You know you're in the presence of this man when he will acknowledge other counties' star players and then compare them to Dublin footballers. Can also come out with some cracking one-liners such as his friend who wouldn't come to the game because he's 'so tight he won't even breathe out'. Likes the way Jim Gavin's team play football but also loves any team that doesn't set up defensively. A Dublin fan anyone get along with. Day Tripper Took a deep breath of air when he crossed from southside to northside as he clutched his corporate box ticket tightly in the front pocket of his nice new Diesel jeans. Was offered a Hill ticket but didn't fancy getting rained on, and anyway, his Superdry jacket isn't rainproof (the irony!). Not a scrap of blue on him for match day, he has be to be reminded that those are the minors that are playing when he says the players are much smaller than he imagined. Prefers to watch the match on the screen in the warm box than head out to his seat in the stadium, this guy never misses a game. Sure how could you when the sandwiches in Croker are to die for? I played with Bernard Brogan Despite a population of over a million people this guy has either played with Bernard Brogan, marked him out of it in a club game, could have been the 'next' Bernard Brogan or once shared a taxi with him. Was the first man into Coppers and the last man to leave after the 2011 win over Kerry, he loves Dublin more than anything in the world. Has the whole match tactically figured out and 30 seconds after Kevin McMenamon scores another goal shouts loudly 'didn't I tell yis?' to the whole pub. The first one to start the 'come on, you boys in blue' chant when Dublin score their 25th point of the day. The secret Dub  They live in Kildare or Meath, and maybe even as far as away as Mayo, but Now That's What I Call Sport on 98fm is their Sunday ritual. Urban sprawl has forced them away from the capital but their accent and bravado can be heard in pubs in Ashbourne and Naas every summer Sunday. They're the ones that hang blue Dublin flags from their cars, will never get a MH or KE reg on their car and pray that someday the Dubs will play a championship game outside of Croker just so they don't have to worry about parking in the city. Their kids may have been born in the Navan but they hold Dublin citizenship thanks to their parents. The dual fan Dublin has a hurling team too, you know, and this lad won't let you forget that anytime soon. Almost got a tattoo of Anthony Daly on his bicep he loved the Clare man so much, and he's bitter that so many of the county's footballers have turned their back on our 'national game'. He loves hurling but he loves his county too as he thinks only true Dublin GAA people follow the men with the stick and sliotar. Has visited more county grounds than a full Hill 16 in August, this man is old enough to have seen Mick Loftus hurl for St Vincents. He once got to shake Brian Cody's hand and told him there 'might be a few bob in it' if he ever moved up the motorway. There was no reply.