Donegal takes ownership of the Sam Maguire Cup on Sunday, September 23, 2012. Photo courtesy of Liam Porter.
“I really want the boys to win for the journey that they’ve been on and to end the journey on a positive. And once they have it, if they get it, nobody could ever take it away from them and that would be something for them. For them, for their kids, for their family. Everybody.” – Donegal Manager Jim McGuinness (pre all-Ireland final press conference)
As Donegal’s celebrations erupted on the final whistle on Sunday, there was only one thing that Martin McHugh wanted – and that was to hug and congratulate his son Mark.
Martin, a winner with Donegal in 1992 was on the sideline working for the BBC at the final whistle when Mark ran to him. The clip of that emotional embrace will become one of the iconic images of the 2012 final and in many respects sums up what all-Ireland day really means.
There is no doubt that to win the Sam Maguire is the pinnacle in the sporting sense for GAA footballers – but for their county it is also something bigger than that, something that transcends sport.
Donegal’s win over Mayo was, to use the words of Jim McGuinness, “a journey.” While he brought his players on a particular journey to achieve the pinnacle in sporting terms, they brought the rest of the county with them, re-affirming pride, passion and a real sense of belonging.
In essence it sums up the very best of the GAA. That sense of community pride, joy, energy and enthusiasm that permeates the organization to the grass roots and is replicated week in and week out in club games across the country.
To those involved in clubs, those who stand on a cold wet January evening watching a McKenna Cup game, it is something natural. It is part of their DNA.
And because of that, they don’t always grasp the phenomenon that sweeps a county into a frenzy – but it happens anyway.
It happens because, whether we like it or not, our lives are more often than not shaped to a large degree by lines drawn on a map.
Where we’re born, where we grew up, where we live, have a huge bearing in our sense of identity.
We can travel – but we always measure travel, where we go and what we do – to home.
It is where we start out, and it is where we know we will always to some degree belong.
That’s what brought people from all over the world – including many from Philadelphia -to Croke Park on Sunday to cheer on the team and it was that sense of home, that sense of family and community that made Sunday’s win such a memorable one.
It was highlighted not only by that wonderful McHugh embrace, or by the players’ children on the field at the end, but also by the hugs and sheer delight of family members and friends from all over Donegal meeting, often for the first time in ages, in such exciting and thrilling circumstances.
Family and friends – were reunited on the most delightful of days and everyone with a drop of Donegal blood beamed and almost burst with pride.
This was more than just a football game. The people of Donegal have a new family member.
Sam Maguire, we’re delighted to have you. We’ll make you more than welcome.
See more photos from the event here.
See some clips from the game.
Manager Jim McGuinness and Donegal singer Daniel O’Donnell duet on “Destination Donegal.”
“Jimmy’s Winning Matches,” with Mark McHugh and the team.
Liam Porter is a freelance sports writer in Donegal who has a large family right here in the Philadelphia region. Donegal manager Jim McGuinness played GAA football in Philadelphia in 1999.
