Blue mood in capital as D-Day looms
Friday July 18 2008
The tickets are sold out, the feeling of expectation is growing, and - unless you live in Lusk - the bunting and flags are flying high in the sky.
On Sunday, Dublin's boys in blue will enter the Croke Park cauldron to take on Wexford in the Leinster Senior Football Final. And if expectant fans are to be believed, a weekend provincial win over their rivals could be the first stop on the way to the capital's first All-Ireland triumph in 13 long, painful years.
Success
Ever since that one-point victory over Tyrone in 1995, a lengthy list of Dublin stars have tried to emulate the success of local heroes like Charlie Redmond, John O Leary, and Jason 'one boot' Sherlock.
And until now every year, just as expectations begin to rise, the reality of crushing defeat has come to end hopes of the Sam Maguire returning home.
However, this year the anticipation around the capital's team has some facts to back it up, with Dublin playing the type of determined football that has brought the buzz back into the capital.
And reacting to the real prospects that the capital's team may be on their way to their first triumph in 13 years, a massive 82,000 fans are now due to descend on Croke Park on Sunday in what will be the biggest crowd at the stadium this year.
The huge figure makes Sunday's showdown the first All- Ireland game in GAA HQ to be sold-out this year, surpassing the Six Nations games and - thankfully - outperforming the Celine Dion and Westlife concerts earlier this year.
Fans have redressed the capital's streets in a sea of blue and navy in the hopeful prospect of reclaiming the success of the Heffo's army era. All over the city Dublin fans have been putting their colours on display in the hope that this year will bring the success they so badly crave.
Colours
Flags are being stuck out windows, kids are wearing replica jerseys, and even pet dogs are being dressed up in their county's colours - adding to the growing expectation that this could be the capital's year.
Cork may have miraculous second half comebacks, Armagh may have northern grit, and Meath may have - well, not much - but Dublin has the growing expectation that this could be their year.
The capital is in a blue mood. And for once, it's for all the right reasons.
- Fiachra O' Cionnaith
