Mayo stars to leave London party to the fans

ALL Ryanair flights out of Knock Airport to London were fully booked yesterday as the exodus of Mayo football supporters began in earnest ahead of tomorrow’s Connacht championship opener against the Exiles.

A crowd of over 4,000 is expected to flock to the Emerald Gaelic Grounds in Ruislip for the provincial quarter-final, but before then there is much to be done, especially for Mayo GAA officials.

First up was a fundraising golf classic yesterday evening at Mill Hill Golf Club, in north London, that has drawn Mayo ex-pats from all across the country.

Tonight, approximately 400 people will attend a gala banquet to launch a book that chronicles the official history of the GAA in the English capital.

Tomorrow, it’s down to business for all concerned.

The Mayo squad only leave Ireland this afternoon and will kill most of the evening watching the Champions League final from their base near Watford.

They are due to fly home again tomorrow evening, side-stepping the UK bank holiday weekend festivities.

“In the greater scheme of things, it’s really just a case of getting the game played, and getting it out of the way,” explained Mayo selector Paul Jordan this week. “There are no such things as foregone conclusions but if Mayo are serious about competing this summer then London on Sunday should really just be a step on the journey.

“It isn’t really a game that you’d say that the Mayo players or management can, or will, enjoy. We have a job to do in London. The enjoyment will come from winning.”

Mayo manager James Horan has handed championship debuts to six players against the 1/20 outsiders. However, Aidan O’Shea, who has to be content with a place on the substitutes’ bench tomorrow, feels that this weekend is about much more than a game of football.

“It’s a massive day for the GAA community in the likes of New York and London when teams like Mayo go over,” said the 20-year-old student.

“Nowadays, with the recession, you’ve got to be very careful about how you approach these games and how you prepare. There are a lot of good footballers emigrating to the likes of London now and you could get caught up in a serious dogfight very easily.”