Who do you think are the longest sufferng fans in the GAA?
Mayo
Dublin
Limerick
Cavan
Waterford
Carlow
Leitrim etc...

Personally I'll go for my own county.
I know there are great GAA people in small counties who have never even seen their county win a provincial championship.
It's a pity and many will never see it.
To watch your county march behind the band on All Ireland Final day is a very proud moment.

Limerick
- hurlers:
Have come so close in the past and what their supporters must be thinking now?
- footballers: Pity they are in the same province as Cork and Kerry

Cavan: - What has happened a county that dominated for so long in the past.

Waterford: - a great team over the last 10 years.
Would be a shame if they don't win an All Ireland after been so close.

Dublin: - 15 years without an All Ireland.
Is it really a famine? - have come so close without actually getting to a final.
Have a great core support of around 25 - 30000 who are great GAA people and know their stuff.
Who knows this could be their year, when nobody can see it.

Mayo: - nobody comes close to us I feel - We have been in more finals (except Kerry) than any other county since 96.
I can't even count at this stage the amount of Minor, U21 and Senior Finals we have lost.
We have a massive following which has been decreasing I feel a bit lately.
We had one win in 06 (u21) but its still a horrible return.
Barring the few WUMS in here I dont think there is anyone that would begrudge us one win.
To win just once as the song goes.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12125 - 13/08/2010 11:25:48    745099

You forgot the galway hurlers.

TonyB (Galway) - Posts: 4 - 13/08/2010 11:36:47    745116

Kildare ? Last All Ireland 1928. Have lost 4 Finals and 3 semi's since then.

corkcelt (Cork) - Posts: 4388 - 13/08/2010 11:39:01    745120

yes of course - the galway hurlers. but at least most galway people have seen their county win an all ireland.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12125 - 13/08/2010 11:43:00    745123

Limerick football, they havent won anything since 1898!!!!

jambread (Cork) - Posts: 307 - 13/08/2010 11:48:45    745128

The hurling fans of Galway and Dublin. No contest! I had thought I was bad until met Galway chap in his 50s or 60s crying his eyes out in toilet in Thurles last year after the Waterford game!

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 13/08/2010 11:55:12    745138

Longest: Has to be Limerick football. So near yet so far. A century and counting of hurt

Most suffering: Mayo, so many finals, so much hope. so many defeats.

Corrxxx (Kerry) - Posts: 584 - 13/08/2010 11:58:31    745145

The hurling fans of Galway and Dublin. No contest! I had thought I was bad until met Galway chap in his 50s or 60s crying his eyes out in toilet in Thurles last year after the Waterford game!
hurlingdub , 13/08/2010 at 11:55


he was in the toilet again this year after the tipp game ha!

thurlesblues (Tipperary) - Posts: 4475 - 13/08/2010 12:03:45    745153

Great story hurlingdub, was at the Galway Tipp game last month and there were Galway people seriously devastated by the loss.
As regards the longest suffering fans, i would say the fans that follow the code, Hurling or Football, which is not dominant in their county. To stick with it when the county's other team are dominant / enjoying success requires great dedication.

Tongo (UK) - Posts: 1795 - 13/08/2010 12:04:42    745154

You forgot the galway hurlers.
TonyB , 13/08/2010 at 11:36


Id say its Limerick its been 1973!

thurlesblues (Tipperary) - Posts: 4475 - 13/08/2010 12:07:42    745162

I would link suffering to expectations. If you come from say a County with a small population say Leitrim I doubt if you would feel devestated if your County was knocked out of the Championship as you wouldn't have expected to win it in the first place..

corkcelt (Cork) - Posts: 4388 - 13/08/2010 12:11:36    745171

Has to be the Galway hurlers and the Mayo footballers. No other set of supporters has been through as much heartbreak.

throw_it_over (Galway) - Posts: 769 - 13/08/2010 12:15:10    745177

Didn't Mayo win a few Ladies All Ireland football finals. So you are not as starved of success as you think. How quickly one forgets!!!!!

Duffster (Meath) - Posts: 279 - 13/08/2010 12:18:31    745179

To stick with it when the county's other team are dominant / enjoying success requires great dedication.


Spot on Tongo. A few years ago when we were in Division II we beat Wicklow by some ridiculous score and I got talking to some of their supporters in Ciarans afterwards. They were disappointed but had a great fatalistic outlook on the game and life in general. I was delighted to see the Wicklow boys doing well this year. I'd say those people in Ciarains got great enjoyment from it.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 13/08/2010 12:22:50    745183

corkcelt
County: Cork
Posts: 1839

745171 I would link suffering to expectations. If you come from say a County with a small population say Leitrim I doubt if you would feel devestated if your County was knocked out of the Championship as you wouldn't have expected to win it in the first place..


Leitrim people like ourselves, love their GAA and wish every bit as hard as anyone else to win and are every bit as devestated when the Championship run comes to an end. Those two sentences of yours are probably most arrogant I've read on HS

ochonlir (Cavan) - Posts: 4343 - 13/08/2010 12:30:47    745197

Tyrone football fans are suffering a long time, we have only won 3 allirelands and it is 2years since our last. If we don't win something next year there will be hell to pay

omaghjoe (Tyrone) - Posts: 1191 - 13/08/2010 12:33:41    745202

thurlesblues wrote:

Id say its Limerick its been 1973!

Yes & No.

Yes because of all we have lost, 5 All-Ireland finals soeak for themselves.

No because unlike other counties we've still got there, got to finals in both codes and had some success. When we lost to Clare in Ennis in June 2006, I thought it could be 10 years before we made it back to a final. 15 months later we were in the final. I've also seen my county win All-Ireland's at minor & U21 since 73 as well as massive progress on the football side of things.

I'm happy with what we've done, would rather have won more, but if you're hugny for success, Limerick is the wrong county for you, if you love GAA you have loads of options and will always be able to follow the boys in Green.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6628 - 13/08/2010 12:43:22    745217

ochonlir
County: Cavan
Posts: 1415

745197 corkcelt
County: Cork
Posts: 1839

745171 I would link suffering to expectations. If you come from say a County with a small population say Leitrim I doubt if you would feel devestated if your County was knocked out of the Championship as you wouldn't have expected to win it in the first place..


Leitrim people like ourselves, love their GAA and wish every bit as hard as anyone else to win and are every bit as devestated when the Championship run comes to an end. Those two sentences of yours are probably most arrogant I've read on HS

corkcelt is quite right, some counties know they're not going to win but they still live in hope.
A bit like those of us who buy a 2 line lotto ticket, you know your chances of winning are not good. Unlike say a big syndicate of people with more tickets at their disposal but you still buy one nevertheless in the hope that you get lucky.

BufordTJustice (USA) - Posts: 669 - 13/08/2010 12:51:12    745223

Yes & No.

Yes because of all we have lost, 5 All-Ireland finals soeak for themselves.

No because unlike other counties we've still got there, got to finals in both codes and had some success. When we lost to Clare in Ennis in June 2006, I thought it could be 10 years before we made it back to a final. 15 months later we were in the final. I've also seen my county win All-Ireland's at minor & U21 since 73 as well as massive progress on the football side of things.

I'm happy with what we've done, would rather have won more, but if you're hugny for success, Limerick is the wrong county for you, if you love GAA you have loads of options and will always be able to follow the boys in Green.
slayer , 13/08/2010 at 12:43


Well Slayer I do think ye should have won the 2 in the 90s and were hugely unlucky against Offally ye had the game won but lost it yerselves. Yer Goalie should ve delayed the puckouts ye were better team on the day.

Against Wexford ye had the ball in the net and he called back for a 21 and the advantage ruled applied there ye should have won that one 2.

thurlesblues (Tipperary) - Posts: 4475 - 13/08/2010 13:00:12    745243

Kildare have not won it since 1928! All the other teams left in championship Dublin, Down and Cork have all won it during the 90s. At least some of their fans can recall winning an All Ireland. Thats why I hope we can get over the Hurdle of Down and get to an All Ireland!

lilywhitemagic (Kildare) - Posts: 1693 - 13/08/2010 13:00:48    745245