South-west Gaelic football fans can't wait to watch All-Ireland

Illowa's Martin Ruane and Warrnambool's James Cassidy are working for Rodger Constructions at the Waterford Estate in Koroit - the south-west's Irish village.

And their Irish roots are what matter this weekend.

Mayo, which hasn't won Gaelic football's crown since 1951, is facing Tyrone at Croke Park on Saturday night.

Tyrone is also bidding for its first Sam Mcguire trophy in 13 years. Both teams have three All-Irelands each and its the first time they will meet in the final.

Ruane, who hails from Meelick in County Mayo, went to his first match in 1978 with his dad and has followed the green and red ever since.

Ruane's father, Martin Snr, was only a boy when Mayo triumphed in 1951.

He listened to it on the next door neighbour's radio in Meelick.

"Straight after the game he said they had to go into town to charge up the radio which just puts in perspective how long ago it has been since we've won one," Ruane said.

The Illowa resident overcame hurdles to fly to Ireland last year - during the coronavirus pandemic - and visited his 82-year-old father.

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They enjoyed watching the game together - with Ruane in his jersey and Martin Snr wearing a red and green beanie - even though Dublin defeated Mayo.

It will be something Ruane will always remember.

"(My father) died six days later and it was the last time he got out of bed," he said.

"For me it was really a special time, I feel privileged that I was able to share and farewell my father because I never thought I'd get that - that's been one of my fears as being an ex-pat over here.

"I managed to get over there and spend a bit of time with him, tell him I loved him and then celebrated his life.

"This one is very special for me this year, more so than ever."

Mayo has enjoyed a stunning finals run beating Dublin in the semi-final and stopping the Dubs from winning their seventh championship in a row.

The club's famous 'curse' adds intrigue to the match.

"They won the All-Ireland (in 1951) and traditionally you bring the cup back down to the west and all the towns, you go and celebrate, each town you raise the cup in the town square and move onto the next one," Ruane said.

He explained the curse happened in Foxford.

"There was a cortège, a funeral procession, someone was getting buried and the bus never gave way for the cortège and that was the reason why they showed disrespect - I don't think they intentionally did it but that's the story.

"Because they did that the woman said you'll never win an All-Ireland while anyone from the team is still alive."

Paddy Prendergast is the only the surviving member of that team.

Martin doesn't buy into the curse too much.

"It is a story, but I think it's only a story, we've had our chances to win and maybe it is the curse - we'll know this time Sunday whether it is the curse or not," he said with a laugh.

He believes it's Mayo's best chance of winning the championship.

Cassidy, who is from Fintona in Country Tyrone, attended all three of his team's All-Ireland wins - 2003, '05, and '08.

He moved to Australia from Tyrone only about four months ago and has played Gaelic football for Fintona.

Tyrone survived a thrilling semi-final against County Kerry to make the final.

Former Essendon player Conor McKenna is one of their stars.

Cassidy's Tyrone highlight came in 2008.

"The win was great and then running onto the pitch with the flags with my brother and two cousins," he said.

"We ran down from the stands onto the pitch with the flags."

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