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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Thousands across U.S. gathered for Donegal-Mayo standoff -- Irish Diaspora shows up in record numbers for All-Ireland football final

Posted on Monday, September 24, 2012 at 08:07 AM

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Donegal become All Ireland champions for 2012

Long Island: I doubt if there has ever been a bigger crowd at the Irish Center in Mineola, New York for an Irish football game as there was on Sunday.

From early morning hundreds came streaming in from all over Long Island and Queens to see the novel final pairing between Mayo and Donegal in the All Ireland football final. It was a scene duplicated all over America and the world in Irish centers, bars and restaurants as well as online.

It was a beautiful September day, but the Irish Center crowd was much more interested to hear that the wind was blowing strongly in Ireland, which would affect the flow of the game.

By the time of the national anthem played live from Dublin’s Croke Park there was nowhere to sit and a deep sense of quiet pride was felt.

For emigrants to see Dublin’s Croke Park packed with fellow Irish, to see the Tricolor fluttering, to feel the same identity that crosses oceans and continents is always a profound moment.

Young and old, Donegal and Mayo fans as well as many neutrals came to see the Irish Super Bowl, the major game of the year between two counties who have endured massive emigration and were considered long shots to make it to the final at the beginning of the year.

The crowds at the Irish Center and elsewhere are dictated by which teams are playing, Kilkenny, hurling kingpins, will not draw any large numbers as relatively few have emigrated to the U.S. from the Leinster county.

On the other hand, Cork, Kerry, Mayo and Donegal bring out massive numbers, successive generations having left their far-flung homes in those counties to come to America.

For Mayo people, the All Ireland has become a trail of tears. Since they won their last one in 1951 they have contested six finals, including yesterday, and lost them all.

They are the Chicago Cubs of Gaelic football, lovable but always no cigar. Yet their fans continue to turn out in massive numbers as they did on Sunday, undeterred and bruised but not broken by the final result, which saw Donegal win deservedly.

Donegal are now 2 for 2 in all Ireland final appearances, their last appearance and win was twenty years ago. Like Mayo they are a county wracked by emigration and unemployment and their football team has become an emotional touchstone for Ireland’s most isolated county.

Remember, these are amateur players playing for the pride of their county and no money and a few dollars in expenses.

I spent some time in Donegal a few weeks ago and every available public space was plastered with Donegal team slogans.

Their victory will be more important to them than a Super Bowl for New York.

Donegal won, but the Irish love of sports and unique identity was the biggest winner of all. Despite all the bad news out of Ireland, the final proved once again that some Irish institutions will stand forever.

The GAA and the All Ireland football final are paramount among them.

Read more: Hills of Donegal to welcome Sam Maguire back home after stunning Croke Park victory

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IrelandNorth | Sep 26, 2012, 08:36 AM EDT

Well deserved win by Donegal (Dún n'Gall/Fort of the Foreigners). Commiserations to Mayo. Donegal's win is as much a win for Ulster/northern Ireland as Mayo's defeat was one for Connacht/western Ireland. Hmmm! "To hell or to Connacht!" (- Cromwell). Donegal's All Ireland win will compensate Ulster for their rugby defeat earlier in the year by Leinster/eastern Ireland. And whadya know, our attention deficit disordered Mayo School Teacher/Taoiseach Ó Cíonnaith - sans mobile. He coulda rang Benny to apologise for his earlier Castel Gandolfo indiscretion.

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Mairin67 | Sep 25, 2012, 04:52 PM EDT

Well done Donegal. We were rooting for you here in Chicago.

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Happyhippo | Sep 25, 2012, 06:51 AM EDT

Congrats to Donegal,the forgotten county for so long,they wont forget now for a while that uncle Sam is on the way up north, there is no more deserving place in the Republic and a great place

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JohnnyMac | Sep 24, 2012, 07:42 PM EDT

We watched the match at the East Islip AOH hall out on Long Island. The atmosphere was electric among the standing room only crowd. Mostly Irish ex-pats gathered to watch the historical match. Whilst the overwhelming majority of those in attendance seemed to be supporting the underdog Mayo, the small contingent of Donegal supporters (myself included) were well received and the spirit of good sportsmanship was abound as ne'er a bad word was said after the Jimmy and the Donegal lads took possession of the cup. A brilliant day for Irish and Irish Americans on Long Island. Just brilliant! UP DONEGAL !!

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cahalfinbarr | Sep 24, 2012, 06:49 PM EDT

Of course Donegal are Ulster champions. They did not need the back-door and are unbeaten in the championship this year.Fair play to them.

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cillowen | Sep 24, 2012, 06:47 PM EDT

the confusion that begets a sliced and diced island - divide and conquer occupier reaps the benefits that pertains. McIlroy having his MBE in hand boldly proclaims of feeling a Brit. The default for UK, GBR Brit is England to the world at large. Mayo mgr's putting a knat on Murphy was their undoing - paralyzed by the shock and yet another shock - shudda have had Aidain O'Shea marking that murphy monster early in the match. Had they done so this minor looking Mayo team who fought mitily might have had a chance. And a good one at that.

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ancavker | Sep 24, 2012, 03:33 PM EDT

I will tkae the culchies any day over those plastic paddies in Dublin!!!

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butlerreport | Sep 24, 2012, 01:12 PM EDT

Culchies on crack :)

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CitizenWhy | Sep 24, 2012, 12:38 PM EDT

Donegal is in Ulster, but not in NI. The title is simply Champions of Ireland.

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NYCsheridan | Sep 24, 2012, 11:13 AM EDT

Champions of Ireland, Warren. Leave Ulster out of it.