Robbie Hennelly has spoken out about his All-Ireland football final replay horror-show for the first time, thanking Mayo fans and those from other counties for their support during a turbulent couple of days.
The 26-year-old Breaffy goalkeeper issued a heartfelt statement on his Instagram account following an error-strewn display in Saturday's replay, with Dublin overcoming Mayo by the narrowest of margins in Croke Park.
After struggling with his kick-outs, Hennelly was eventually black carded for hauling down Paddy Andrews after dropping an incoming ball, and replaced by David Clarke, who he had replaced in the starting lineup for the replay. It's a moment which he reckons will probably haunt him for 'a while to come'.
Hennelly said:
I'll never be able to fully describe what was going through my head at this moment. What I was expecting to be one of my best days turned out to be the opposite, and it breaks my heart that I didn't come through for my team and county.
I told a brilliant young man Anthony Casey that that one game wouldn't define him, and today, and probably for a while to come, I'll be telling myself the same thing. It is not a good place to be, but I know I have to come back from it, I still believe I have something to offer this team and my county, so now is not the time to relent.
I have to say that the support I've received has been incredible and the messages from friends, family, former team mates, players from other counties, and of course the Mayo supporters, has helped me immensely.
I don't know where I'll be in a years time, but I do know that I'm not going to give up. I love Mayo and this team too much to do that.
Mhaigh Eo Abú
The aforementioned Anthony Casey rushed to Henelly's support on Saturday, just months after Hennelly himself had backed Casey following a mistake by the Cork man in their u21 All-Ireland final with Mayo.
Much was made of Hennelly's performance on Saturday, and he'll have doubtless taken torrents of abuse online from those who hold him personally responsible for Mayo's defeat. However, many - including the Sunday Game panel - asserted that Mayo's management team should shoulder the blame for inexplicably swapping goalkeepers before such a big game.
Hennelly previously left the Mayo panel in 2012, only returning for the Connacht final against London in 2013 when David Clarke and Ken O'Malley were both injured. Judging by today's statement, however, he'll be sticking around for the foreseeable future, as Mayo seek their first All-Ireland title in what will be 66 years next season.
