NEVER underestimate the role of the supporter in a team's performance. The difference in our games now that we are allowed to attend again, albeit in limited numbers, is unbelievable. I have absolutely no doubt that had Mayo played Dublin with the same restrictions in place as last year, they wouldn’t have had the performance they did. Don’t get me wrong, at the end of the day, the result is down to the players on the pitch, but the mentality of those players can be affected so much by the noise coming from the stand.
When I was playing, I honestly didn’t appreciate the sacrifices made by supporters in the run up to a game. When you are in that playing bubble and your sole focus is the match, you believe that it is all about the squad. I never once considered the families who had the expense of tickets, jerseys, travel, hotels and restaurants.
Any years when Tyrone advanced well in competitions (of which there have been many thankfully) the expense on the supporters cannot go unnoticed and unappreciated. I have heard of families who have decided not to go on a family holiday some years so that they could follow their county instead. That’s incredible commitment and a sacrifice which must be commended.
When a game isn’t quite going your way and your head starts to drop the impact of the ‘16th person’ can be the difference between turning it around or admitting defeat. As a player, it is frustrating to be having a bad day on the field and so when we hear a voice in the crowd shouting ‘get him off’ or ‘what’s he still doing on the pitch, get a sub on’ that can be demoralising. No-one goes out on the field of play with the intentions of having a bad day – we don’t need someone outside the fence making us feel worse.
My family have heard all sorts in the stands, probably more than I have ever been told, but just remember we are all human, we are all trying our best and if you were out on that field or it was your son or daughter out playing, would you still shout the same things? A supporter, by their very nature, is there to support, in a positive way. It’s the old adage, if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
Back to the Mayo supporters and what an absolute credit to their county they were. They have waited a long time for the performance to come on one of the big days and their team achieved something that has eluded everyone else for over six years. To see grown men crying in the crowd shows just how much it meant to them as a county – and I have no doubt they will be even louder and more intense for the final.
Picture: Seamus Loughran
It wasn’t just the fans in Croke Park, the whole county (and let’s be honest, most of the rest of the country) were just delighted for the team. They will be a force to be reckoned with in the final and their fans will be doing all they can over the next few weeks to show their support.
Sometimes when we are on the pitch and our energy levels aren’t quite 100 per cent and we can feel the heavy legs setting in; the roar of the crowd gets behind us and it can carry us through and give us the boost we need to see a performance out.
I think after all the squad have been through in recent weeks, Tyrone will be heavily reliant on the support from the stands and from the community at home to help push them over the line this weekend against Kerry. I have said it before, I have no doubt in the ability within the Tyrone squad and I remain positive that they will come out this weekend and do us all proud, I just hope that the supporters let themselves be heard both in Croke Park and at home and let the team know we are behind them and that, as a county, we are proud that they have battled through every obstacle the have faced recently and are willing to go out and give it their all.
Kerry supporters are sometimes considered complacent but let’s not be fooled into thinking they won’t be out in numbers this weekend getting behind their team and willing them through. Credit to Kerry for insisting that this weekend's game went ahead, they could have taken the bye and landed themselves straight into an All-Ireland final, but instead they are putting their supporters through the expense and travel time of a rescheduled game, disrupting their preparation as a team and no doubt costing them in many ways. That had to be admired and appreciated by everyone in Tyrone.
Fans of any sport in the world can be fickle, soccer fans turning on a particular player because they left their club for a rival, basketball fans turning on a player after a streak of poor performances. GAA fans are perhaps the most consistent because we support local, we are all one community but we each have our own club, we are born into our team rather than picking who we would like to support. Tyrone fans can prove that this weekend and support their team as loudly as positively as possible. To be looking forward to an All-Ireland final would be the best reward for all the efforts involved.
