Rob Hennelly has made a heartfelt statement about the All-Ireland Final

Alan Loughnane

We’ve a lot of respect for Rob Hennelly…

Rob Hennelly was brought into the Mayo team to play Dublin in Saturday’s All-Ireland Football Final replay at the expense of David Clarke, but things didn’t quite go according to plan as the Breaffy goalkeeper conceded a penalty and a black card in the second half of the game.

In what is a true mark of the man himself, Hennelly has addressed the All-Ireland Final in a statement written straight from the heart.

“I’ll never be able to fully describe what was going through my head at this moment. What I was expecting to be one of my best days turned out to be the opposite, and it breaks my heart that I didn’t come through for my team and county.

“I told a brilliant young man Anthony Casey that that one game wouldn’t define him, and today, and probably for a while to come, I’ll be telling myself the same thing. It is not a good place to be, but I know I have to come back from it, I still believe I have something to offer this team and my county, so now is not the time to relent.

“I have to say that the support I’ve received has been incredible and the messages from friends, family, former team mates, players from other counties, and of course the Mayo supporters, has helped me immensely.

“I don’t know where I’ll be in a years time, but I do know that I’m not going to give up. I love Mayo and this team too much to do that.

“Mhaigh Eo Abú.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLGeUmVgKmQ/

He has received a hugely positive response online as people waded in to show their support for the man who has dedicated so much to his county.

We are Mayo and we go again

— Máirtin Flannery (@BallyMairtin) October 3, 2016

https://twitter.com/satpillane/status/782927599160950784

chin up & go again next year. You don't need to say anything the people of Mayo are behind you & the rest of the lads 100%.

— patrick cawley (@paddycawley1) October 3, 2016