John Hayes All-Ireland Diary

‘Leaving Bere Island on the ferry I swore if we won Sam Maguire, I would return with only the clothes on my back and the porter money in my back pocket.’

IT may be the Monday morning of All-Ireland final week but Sunday’s main event could hardly be further from my mind. I start my new job today with Bord Gáis Energy on Lapps’ Quay in Cork, a move which has also necessitated my relocation to the city from my West Cork home. In a sense, it’s the best possible distraction from the hype that goes with the build-up to an All-Ireland. I’m too busy to start getting wound up.

Leaving Rosscarbery last night the ‘Causeway’ was bedecked in red and white with signs wishing good luck to me, Kevin MacMahon and John O’Rourke (our minor and the only Ross man guaranteed to see action in Croke Park Sunday). Nonetheless it’s quite a big deal for a relatively small club like Carbery Rangers to have three guys involved on the day and interest is huge, as is the demand for tickets. With 13 siblings in my fathers’ family and five on my mothers’ side it's hard enough to try and look after my own relations. Generally I leave it to Margaret Hayes to sort out. She can deal with the hassle. I sort out a couple of my buddies and the people who went to the games all along.