Limerick super fan Pat ‘Bog’ Carroll is dusting down the sombrero for Sunday
WHETHER it's Mick Neville Park or Croke Park, the green and white sombrero of Pat Carroll is visible if Limerick inter-county GAA teams are in action.
Limerick’s Green Army will march on Dublin this Sunday and Croom’s Pat, or ‘Bog’ as he is more commonly known in GAA circles, will lead the way.
The Limerick man recalls his first real memory of hurling - John Fenton’s wonder goal for Cork in 1987.
“That goal which Fenton took off the ground is the first real memory. I have been going to games since 1982 and I always just had a love for the game. As you go up along sure you get involved in the club and start playing it yourself and I have just carried on supporting ever since.”
His support fills the majority of his weekends and afternoons - depending on fixtures - and, without a doubt , he will be one of the most recognisable people in Croker this Sunday.
“I could be attending 80 to 90 games between intercounty and club, the figure could be even more. I could nearly be hitting the 100 mark by the end of the year and that happens every single year.”
This is an incredible amount of games for one supporter to attend but he admits that he wouldn’t be doing it only for the love of the game.
He always travels to and from the matches with the same gang - Sean McKenna and Noel Hayes, with the three of them, and friends, watching on from the terraces, if they are open for that particular game.
“There's always four or five of us that would go to every single game and, in terms of venues, I would say Thurles would be one of the best. The tradition and atmosphere there is unmatched and it’s where most of Limerick’s early winnings were.”
One of his favourite moments from traveling to matches came about during the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny when the heavens opened up and the match was played in horrendous conditions.
“One of the lads was saying before the game that there would be no need for coats and we were no sooner inside when it deluged down. I even lost the sombrero that day. The thatch almost folded in with the weight of the rain above it...taught me to check the weather before games anyways!”
Like many other Limerick fans, Pat will be making the trip up to GAA HQ on Sunday morning when the green and white sombrero will be getting another day out - in the sun, hopefully!
Pat will be praying the heavens won’t open again and that he will be coming back home with his treasured hat and another All-Ireland win for Limerick!