Blue Heaven as Royal County's Dubs fans make voices heard

Johnstown resident and keen Dublin supporter Patrick Hegarty says his team's victory in Sunday's All-Ireland final was a "hugely emotional" event that will stay with him for the rest of his life. Patrick, who has lived in Johnstown for eight years, made no secret of his allegiance in the lead up to the big game, bedecking the front of his house in Cluiain na Boinne with Dublin flags. It was a scene replicated in several towns across Meath in the past week and evidence of the county's mixed football allegiances with a massive influx of former Dublin residents now living in various towns and villages across the Royal County. Patrick got to go to the big game and afterwards dropped in for a few celebratory drinks in the Gravediggers pub in Glasnevin. But he was up again at 5.30am on Monday morning for another day's work as a truck driver. Sixteen years since their previous All-Ireland success, Dublin endured many disappointments in recent times, but it all came right on Sunday. "The last time Dublin won the All-Ireland, I had hair, a big head of red hair, I had no mortgage, no children, it's a long, long time ago," he recalled with a laugh this week. "I've spent a lot of money going up to Croke Park to watch the games so it was time we got something back. I was nervous at the end and now I've no nails left!" Originally from Blanchardstown, he only married his long-term partner, Sinead, a few weeks ago. They have a daughter, Zara (12), who is following in her father's footsteps by supporting 'the Dubs.' Patrick says that since Pat Gilroy took over the managerial reins, Dublin have become a much stronger team mentally and it showed on Sunday as they pushed on to achieve a cherished victory made all the sweeter by the fact that Kerry were the victims. The Dubliner has had to endure his fair share of good-humoured slagging for supporting the Sky Blues over the years, some of it from Meath supporters. "The great thing about the GAA is that you can have the banter and the laugh with each other. I follow Manchester United but there's no way I'd put a United flag outside my house. You wouldn't get away with it. I've been putting Dublin flags up for years and I've got plenty of slagging but there's no hassle," he said. For the next few weeks at least, Patrick has the bragging rights - and he's planning to enjoy every minute.