IN THE build-up to Sunday’s All-Ireland football final between Mayo and Donegal, rival supporters have been matching each other in manoeuvres to show their support.
Michael Maye, Douglas Kelly, Joe Mellett and Patrick Dyer from Swinford GAA Club in Co Mayo braved wet and misty conditions on Tuesday morning and headed north to hoist their county flag on top of Mount Errigal, the best-known peak in Co Donegal.
The move was made in response to Carrigart TD Joe McHugh, who planted a Donegal flag on the summit of Croagh Patrick during the Fine Gael party think-in.
While Jim McGuinness’s Donegal men have the backing of some in Leinster House, it’s the men from the west who have the real heavyweights behind them.
Taoiseach and Mayo man Enda Kenny has predicted a close match: he forecasts that the Connacht men will run out winners by 2-10 to 1-12.
He was backed up in his prediction by Olympic boxing medallist Paddy Barnes from Belfast.
Pictured in a red and green Mayo jersey with matching headbands, the Co Antrim man threw his support behind James Horan’s team.
Fellow Belfast boxer Michael Conlon, who tweeted the picture, disagreed.
“@PaddyB_Ireland says Mayo for Sam!!!! I say no chance! #DonegalfortheSam” he tweeted yesterday afternoon.
With both #donegal4sam and #mayo4sam trending on Twitter, over on Facebook it is the northern team who have a slight edge, with the Donegal GAA page leading in the battle of the “likes” with just under 10,500, compared with 9,875 for Mayo.
In both counties, cars and even animals have been painted in county colours.
The Irish Times is looking for readers’ photographs of the most ardent fans and mascots in their county colours as well as images of the most festooned streets and most lavishly decorated houses or vehicles.
Your pictures may be included in a montage of photographs compiled by irishtimes.comahead of the big game.
Send your pictures to news@irishtimes.com
