As a grown up man in his thirties I do not take as much satisfaction from the recent Sam Maguire wins that my county have won compared to winning in 95. As a child everything meant so much more. Jason Sherlock was my hero as a teenager. When they came to visit our school (CBS Synge Street) after winning the All Ireland the sense of pride I had for being from Dublin shook me. I would really love to know other peoples stories about how their counties exploits made them feel like they could achieve anything. Funny stories encouraged.

alidemora (Dublin) - Posts: 5 - 18/07/2016 22:59:15    1885946

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9702 - 19/07/2016 13:29:59    1886268

Tom Brewster winning point in 2004 against Armagh. I was a cub at the Gaeltacht at the time. I walked into the hall that night for the ceili with such a swagger convinced we could beat any team in Ireland. The pride was restored after Tyrone gave us a pasting in the qf in 2003 and I let everyone know it, particularly the students from Armagh and Tyrone.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 19/07/2016 14:43:25    1886354

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5012 - 19/07/2016 14:49:41    1886362

our optimism...one senior hurling AI since 1940 and the mad belief that THIS year (_?) things will change...

skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1062 - 19/07/2016 15:09:55    1886386

The summer of 1996. The rich tradition of Wexford hurlers of bygone era's. The Rackards, the Quigleys, the Doran's, the O'Connor clan, the Fitzhenry's.
I hope we can return to those days soon.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 19/07/2016 15:16:04    1886395

22nd of September 1957 as the smallest county in Ireland beat the biggest county on a scoreline of 1-09 to 1-07. Cork were the favs before the match as the previous year they reached the final only to be beaten by Galway. Both sides changed jerseys because of a colour clash. Louth wore the green of Leinster and Cork wore the blue of Munster. Dermot O Brien the Louth captain nearly missed the match itself. He stayed behind in the team hotel so that he could receive treatment to an injury. He reached Croke Park only 15 minutes before the throw in and was denied entry by the gateman , who failed to recognise him. A group of Louth supporters recognised him and started roaring at the gateman to let him in. He was just in time to lead the team on to the pitch. It was Louth's only Sam Maguire victory and Louth's third All Ireland in total.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 19/07/2016 16:20:24    1886459

Amazing how some people age ( also profession and education ) change on HS depending on the debate or topic. Hilarious

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 19/07/2016 16:31:49    1886472

juniorjudge (Waterford) - Posts: 383 - 19/07/2016 16:33:57    1886476

Our inconsistency cracks me right up !!

moros (Roscommon) - Posts: 1080 - 19/07/2016 17:01:51    1886492

2014 against Dublin was the day that brought tears of pride & belonging to my eyes.

After 25 mins my daughter turned to me & said "we're in trouble here". I told her just to sit back and try to enjoy the greatest display of football she would ever likely see. I thought we were going to be massacared.

What happened over the next hour was beyond belief & if the good Lord had decided to choose that evening to come & take me to my eternal reward, I would have gone a happy man with a smile on my face.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 19/07/2016 20:32:50    1886637

What defines great , a moment ? A characteristic ? A belief ? What sets you apart ? Not really sure I have an answer , will leave it at this S Cluxton gave me the greatest sporting moment of my life
Away from field activities , I love Dublin GAA for the friends I've made , both club n county those relationships have nothing to do with winning as they were formed when we were rubbish.

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 19/07/2016 20:42:00    1886639

plike (Kerry) - Posts: 569 - 19/07/2016 20:57:09    1886649

plike (Kerry) - Posts: 569 - 19/07/2016 21:17:29    1886661

the style the tradition the skill of our footballers
sean Purcell, the master with the terrible twin frankie stockwell,
ja fallon the way he sold a dummy and lofts one over from the clouds
, padraig joyce the way he made scoring look so easy
michael donnellan the way he ran with ball on his solos
the passion and style of our hurlers
john connoly an artist on the field
, Ollie canning a hurler like no other
,Gerry mc inerney the way he came bursting out with ball
, joe cooney the magic in his hurling the vision in his eyes
the maroon jersey proudly taking the field in croke park
renembering all our great men who donned the maroon and white
and made us proud to be from galway

rhudson (Galway) - Posts: 1478 - 19/07/2016 21:42:04    1886682

I have so many its hard to put them down to just one, the 84 centenary cup, the early 1970s when my late father lifted me over the styles at canal end to instill a love of Meath football that will be with me to day I die, the 86 Leinster final, a dreadful day a dreadful game, but finally getting that monkey off our backs, the 87 final in the hill, the homecoming in navan heading to ardboyne hotel (no sorry that was 88) 87 was beachmount hotel, bob omally throwing his can of beer into the crowd from the bus, the 91 games v dubs, the 96 hammering of Tyrone when massive underdogs, the final and replay in 96 v mayo. The team of 99, the 5 past cluxton, ahh too mamy to mention.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 19/07/2016 21:43:43    1886686

Spoddgy (Mayo) - Posts: 660 - 19/07/2016 21:55:31    1886695

I suppose its the memories of great victories, especially winning the league in 75 against a good Dublin side and of course the 91 saga. The many great comebacks over the years from 70 against Offaly to 2000 in league semi final against Kerry and the many more in between. Hopefully what once made us great will return in the not too distant future

seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2142 - 19/07/2016 22:33:46    1886725

The banter, the craic, the general spirit of the Dublin people when times were hard, and of course, the Dubs. It ain't what is used to be but I'm glad I grew up in Dublin in the time that I did.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8591 - 19/07/2016 22:39:36    1886732

The colour, the bunting, the local radio station WLRfm, the kids in their jerseys, match days, seeing that white and blue take to the field, remembering heros like flynn, daly, brenner, hartley, frampton, cullnane, mcgrath, shanahan, mullane, great managers and even greater supporters who are following the team from the heavens now..the '92 u21 homecoming to dungarvan was heart racing, the storys of your parents or grandparents going to the '59 final....hearing the hopes, nearing expectations...the history of waterford hurling takes alot off a man but gives so much more back - the epic munster championship matches of the late 90s early 00s. The fellow countymen forever saying "id love to see waterford winning it" - the thoughts of sunday, the dream of liam mccarthy. As a great hurler once very emotionally said "i loves me county".

juniorjudge (Waterford) - Posts: 383 - 20/07/2016 08:01:08    1886786