Mayo deserve an All-Ireland, but as Clint Eastwood said at the end of Unforgiven, 'deserve has nothing to do it with it'. They have lost another All-Ireland final tonight. Their third this decade and fifth this century. They threw the kitchen sink at Dublin these last two weeks and their kitchen sink wasn't enough.
Mike Finnerty, John Casey and Billy Fitz were tasked with putting words on this latest chapter of Mayo misery on Midwest Radio this evening. It was not to be. They had hoped that history would be reversed, and that the curse would be buried. After a shocked silence, Casey sighed and sighed before offering one of the sadder lines of the day:
"These fellas now have three All-Irelands in their arse pockets and what have we, Mike?...Ah give us a break, for god's sake give us a break. It's the least we deserve."
Billy Fitz, for what it's worth, is finally convinced Mayo are cursed after today's loss. All in all, it makes for GAA equivalent of an especially depressing Cure album.
Only two weeks ago, their emotions were so much different.
For what little it's worth, Midwest Radio Sport have had a brilliant season and their GAA commentary might be the best in the country. Hopefully some day the lads will commentate on a Mayo All-Ireland victory.