Comedian Gene hoping Down have the last laugh

Gene Fitzpatrick was just 15 years old when he watched his Down heroes lose to Galway in the 1959 All-Ireland semi-final. “I cried my eyes out,” he told the Leader.

But just a year later he sat with his schoolmates, crowded round a television set in St Colman’s Newry, and watched the same men lift Sam Maguire for the first time. This weekend he hopes they’ll make it six out of six.

“Wouldn’t it just be great for the whole county if the won it on the 50th anniversary, to the day, of the first win?” he said. “It has just captured the imagination of everyone across the county, and from both sides of the community. I’ve had plenty of big rugby fans and others asking me about tickets,” he laughed.The local comedian is looking forward to taking his seven-year-old grandson Liam to the big game and said the benefits of a win for the area are countless.

“Everybody is in a good mood,” said Gene. “The shops are doing more trade already with the sales of Down shirts going through the roof. “Bars and restaurants are going to do more business if they win too. It’s just a great buzz for the area.”

And Gene said he has total faith in Tullylish man James McCartan to guide the county to victory.

“I think this is James McCartan’s year,” he said. “This wee team was being prepared by Ross Carr and then James came in to tweak them.Now they’re in the final with a great chance against Cork.

“I had a feeling in 1991 that we would win and I have the same feeling this year - fingers crossed.”