Holmes: title will do wonders for game in county

UNBRIDLED scenes of joy erupted at the final whistle of yesterday’s thrilling Cadbury’s All-Ireland U21 football championship final, and it took Mayo coach Pat Holmes an age to make it back to the safety of their dressing-room.

“When we set out at the start of this campaign we knew winning a Connacht title wouldn’t be good enough because we have enough of those,” said an emotionally drained Holmes.

“We took on the job because we knew there were a group of players in the county capable of winning the All-Ireland and today’s result is the culmination in a lot of hard work and commitment by everybody associated with the team. It’s just a superb day for Mayo football.