Last Saturday was a great day out. Sligo were playing in the Division 3 National Football league final against Antrim. The match was played in Croke Park at 7 pm. Nice here for the long evenings as it was still nice and bright, with the floodlights coming on as the light went down. For all those who know me and my support of Sligo football, this was a big event. It is not every day Sligo get to a final. I know, it is only division 3, but it is good for a team to get on a winning streak. Helps build the confidence. With a Stadium that holds 82,500, and only about 10,000 or so at the game, it felt empty. Funny how 10,000 people can seem so little. It was great that the GAA decided to play the game at headquarters, helped raised the profile of the match a little.
The day started off around 12 pm, picking up a friend of mine, Brian from the train station, he came up from Sligo for the game. Next few hours was spent calling people, texting people , friends and family from home, to see when everyone was about for the game, and where best to meet up. First stop was a pub called Quinns, this is a big favourite stop on GAA match day, and in my younger days often was here every thursday night. It has not changed at all in the 11 years been going to it, am sure it been the same longer than that 
Here I met up with Ray for a quick chat, and a drink, then it was time to meet up with my sisters, who were coming for the game. I headed off down to Jury Hotel, just across from the Stadium, and in there for a few pre match drinks, catch up on the news. Another friend Aidan joined us here, he is a Roscommon man , but a big GAA fan like myself. He has travelled all over the country with me going to matches on cold wet spring days. With everyone now all a little excited, and a confidence air around we headed into the Stadium. My sister, the accountant, never someone to miss up on a chance to get back some money, used her student card to save herself €10. I think she will survive the recession the best
The game had a nice flow to it, some great football played by both sides, with Sligo out in front for most of the game. The struggled to pull away, usually just a gap of 2 points, before half time we got a lead of 4 points. Thinks looking up. With Antrim coming back into it game early in the second half, was worried Sligo may have committed too much early on, however after an Antrim goal, Sligo raised their game and scored 4 points without reply. This now gave Sligo the advantage, and from here, the game was all over. With the final whistle going, it was all over, we had won I even had got caught on the TV cameras.
After the match, was time to head back to the pub, for some post match analysis. Met up with a few friends from home back in Jurys, and it was all talk for the next 2 hours. Great to see so many people around. With the analysis all talked out, it was then time to join other friends in town who were not GAA fans in town for the night. Somewhere around 2 am finished up, with a happy feeling off been Division 3 champions
