The modern history of the rambunctious Dublin-Mayo rivalry begins with a skirmish in front of the Hill in 2006. David Brady was the man collared as being responsible for instigating Mayo's impetuous raid on the Hill goal (by Conor Mortimer). A predictable perp, as we wrote earlier this week.
On our All-Ireland preview edition of the Hard Shoulder, Brady and midfield sparring partner Ciaran Whelan recalled the melee.
Whelan was keen to know what went down. Brady recalls Mickey Moran's anxiety at the whole set-piece.
He was waving at lads "get back down! who decided this, who did this?"
And we were going, "lookit Mickey, just relax now, there's no hassle."
"Who, who, who organised this!!?"
"Mickey, we're here now."
And he was saying, "go back down (to the Canal), this is not right, we're being distracted". Mickey was getting distracted allright. But I think the team knew what the plan was.
It was during the photograph (when it was decided). It was, like, guys, now we're going left, we're not going warming up in the Canal, we're going left.
In the confusion, Alan Brogan whacked Mayo's dietician with an errant (the question is how errant?) free-kick. She was knocked out.
Ciaran Whelan: I think what people forget that day, and the cameras only caught Pillar running into John Morrison and Mickey trying to get the lads up and the lads standing with their hands out saying "no, Mickey, we're grand", but there was chaos going on behind that. There was guys running into one each other and shoulders being thrown into each other
David Brady: I think Alan Brogan kicked the worst free kick I ever seen.
Ciaran Whelan: He hit your dietician of something?
David Brady: Smack on the nose. Knocked her out. As he said himself, he actually was aiming for someone beside her.
On Mayo's relentless quest for Sam Maguire, which has resulted in immeasurable heartache, David Brady says the county will never tire of the journey. The psyche is such that they're able to take it and keep going.
That's either the sign that we're the most resilient, great group people that you've ever seen in your life. Or we're either stupid. But, for me, it's the former. Never giving up. You have to be there to win it. You never know what's going to happen on the day. But if you keep knocking on heaven's door, eventually it's going to open.
Listen below:
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The lads were speaking on the eighth episode of this year's Hard Shoulder podcast, a weekly GAA podcast hosted by Meath legend Anthony Moyles. The podcast will run for the rest of the season and will feature many more special guests, and scientists [citation needed] believe it will improve your life by somewhere in the region of 84%.
In addition to the big interview, we quiz our guests and discuss some of the big stories to arise from the past week.
Previous interviewees include Dublin's Bernard Brogan, Kildare forward Johnny Doyle, Kilkenny attacker Richie Power, Wexford's Matty Forde, and the Sunday Game's Michael Lyster. Listen here.
You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher.
