The BURNING QUESTION – Where does today’s drawn All-Ireland final leave THE CURSE?

The greatest story in GAA just got spookier right?

The Mayo GAA CURSE is unquestionably one of sport’s most compelling subplots. Even the BBC had a go at explaining it to their audience this week.

It’s funny (*hastily adds “for neutrals”*), it’s weird, it’s simultaneously illogical and almost plausible given the rotten, rotten luck they’ve endured.

In brief – it’s very Mayo.

Before today’s game according to at least one respected GAA pundit (Martin Carney) there has never been an own goal in an All-Ireland final.

Now, it’s worth pointing out that there’s every chance that somewhere along the way, back in the olden days that even Martin has forgotten about, there’s probably been an OG scored in an All-Ireland football final. Law of averages etc.

But I’m happy to go out on a limb here and categorically say that there has NEVER been two OGs scored by a team in a final.

Mayo, who have lost 7 (ffs SEVEN) consecutive All-Ireland Finals since the curse… sorry THE CURSE… reared it’s ugly head in 1951, managed to score two within the first 22 minutes of today’s game.

That guy Eoin Goal sounds like a real key player for Dublin today #DUBvMAYO

— Her.ie (@Herdotie) September 18, 2016

We know that Mayo and Dublin drew today and they’ll do it all again in two weeks, but let’s be honest, the burning question now is – where does all of that leave THE CURSE?

Some souls say THE CURSE… lives on *dun, dun, dun*

Two Own Goals. The mist. The greyness. The wides. Tom Parson's hair. The curse lives on. #DUBvMAYO

— Oliver Callan (@olivercallan) September 18, 2016

Mayo have scored TWO own-goals in the first 25 mins.
The curse is real! @KarinBBC @BBCNews

— Conor McNamara (@ConorMcNamaraIE) September 18, 2016

It definitely exists anyway that’s for sure…

But what about THE CURSE? #DUBvMAYO

— JOE.ie (@JOEdotie) September 18, 2016

Bloody hell the curse is real

— Eoin Sheahan (@EoinSheahan) September 18, 2016

Right so the curse must actually be a thing. Two own goals 🙈 #DUBvMAY

— Conor Donnelly (@conorjdonnelly) September 18, 2016

Because how else can you explain the OGs right?

https://twitter.com/EmmettEganSC/status/777521132920602624

https://twitter.com/darrendolan90/status/777527318961131520

I mean nothing else makes sense, so it’s got to be… *dun, dun, dun*… THE CURSE

It's the curse… It's the only thing that makes sense 🙈 #Mayo4Sam #DUBvMAYO #GAA

— Rachel Hoban (@Iamhobbi) September 18, 2016

Yikes, what if it gets worse from here? 

I think the additional week of hope only deepens the impact of #TheCurse

— Carl Kinsella (@TVsCarlKinsella) September 18, 2016

But there is hope, THE CURSE can be beaten (presumably by getting Michelle Mulherin tickets for the replay)

The curse can only be broken by undoing he damage, or by a good deed https://t.co/qDXpSP4Xaj

— Fred Sharkey (@FredSharkey) September 18, 2016

And if all else fails, just stick your fingers in your and sing “lalalalalalalala, THE CURSE is for babies, lalalalalalalala”

Message to #Mayo footballers and fans. Not one more word about the 2 O.G.s. Just let on the Dubs put 'em in and get on with it. #mayoforsam

— john creedon (@johncreedon) September 18, 2016

If you are in any way interested in GAA or Mayo football or just hairy aul yarns, you probably know the story of THE CURSE. But, its worth a retell.

THE CURSE

The legend goes that the last Mayo team to win an All-Ireland football final in 1951 were returning home from their triumph and passing through the town of Foxford. The team, who were probably concentrating on enjoying the occasion (sure you’d never know when you’d win one again?), failed to respect a funeral ceremony.

The local parish priest decided to put a curse on the Mayo football team to never win a future All-Ireland final. Some versions of the story say it can will be broken when every member of that team has passed away.

Yep, it sucks.

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