God, how do you keep going?
An outstanding tactical performance, some wonderful individual displays, a two point lead in the last 10 minutes, the chance to go ahead with a free in injury time, and still, yet again, it's ultimately a defeat.
How do Mayo do it?
Since 1989, it's nine All-Ireland finals, and nine defeats. You add in two replays, and it's just all too much.
This is the best Mayo team of all time. They've been in seven All-Ireland semi finals in a row. Four times in those seven years, they've made the final. For the past 6 years, they've been beaten by the eventual All-Ireland Champions. They've just happened to come up against one of the best teams of all time.
Even still, with the games as close as they've been, and Mayo's ability to put it up to Dublin like no other team can, by the laws of average, they should have caught them at least once. But they haven't had that bit of luck. Just one bit of luck on one day was all that was needed, but it just won't come.
So how can they keep coming back? Isn't there a part of them that just wants to go back to obscurity and not have to deal with this kind of pain? Some other fans around the country felt the same today:
I'd rather that laois never get to an all Ireland final than have the heartbreak that mayo have 🙈🤢
— Seamus Dowling (@SeamusDowling90) September 17, 2017
On a night like tonight, Mayo fans might not feel too differently.
Heartbreaking. That is all.
— Edwin McGreal (@edmcgreal) September 17, 2017
Thank you @MayoGAA for the greatest year ever. We are heartbroken for you all.
— Mid West Radio (@radiomidwest) September 17, 2017
So gutted for Mayo, brilliant game but a heartbreaking result. 💚❤️ https://t.co/14vATTFuOx
— Sharon Kelly (@SharonK908) September 17, 2017
But they will be back.
They will be back because this is a special team and a special group of GAA fans. They come back because that's what they have to do. They are a county who are proud of their brilliant team, and they are a brilliant team who have the character to go again in 2018.
Still waiting for the one-in-a-row. We’ll be back. We always will. Up Mayo forever. #InThisTogether 💚❤️💔
— Gerry 🇮🇪🇪🇺 (@unlaoised) September 17, 2017
Hard luck Mayo.
It's not going to be easy today. It's not going be an easy winter. There's going to be a lot of long, quiet drives back West tonight. There won't be much comfort.
But all hope is not lost. This team can live with, rattle, and even outplay, one of the best teams to ever play the game.
They'll be back, because they're always back. That's just Mayo.
