Mayo fans make epic journey home

Two ardent Mayo supporters travelled close to 10,000 miles to make it home. 

On the pitch, David McBrien and Kuba Callaghan may have been the duo who helped bring Sam home, however, off the pitch, James Towey and James Horan were among those who made it a remarkable week for Ballaghaderreen celebrations.

The duo, who travelled from Perth, Australia to Dublin and finally home to Mayo have celebrated the win in style. After landing in Ireland , the lads, unfortunately, were unable to get tickets to Croke Park. After the match saw Mayo crowned champions, the lads made sure they were back in Ballagh for the homecoming.

Towey said the ‘the atmosphere in Dublin after the final was unreal, but the homecoming was something special’. After waiting 75 years, Ballaghaderreen finally welcomed The Sam Maguire Cup home.

The homecoming took place last Tuesday, and over 5,000 supporters showed up to welcome the team home. A massive turnout was expected for the celebrations as it is the hometown of Kuba and David, Andy Moran, the team manager, Barry Solan, strength and conditioning coach, David Drake, Barry McGuire and Micheal Regan, management team.

Thepair delayed their flights returning to the mines in Perth, for another week so they ‘could stay around and soak it all in’. Towey expresses how seeing his hometown filled with supporters, was ‘absolutely incredible’ and ‘it was also great to see so many of our local club men involved, especially Andy Moran, who thoroughly deserves it after everything he has done for Mayo’.

Returning to Australia will be bitter-sweet for the boys, after witnessing something so special for Mayo fans. After a week of partying and acknowledging such an astounding achievement, Towey and Horan are set to fly back this week. They will leave with life-long memories and say ‘seeing the whole town come together to welcome the team home is something I’d never forget’.