Great story as Francis meets his boyhood Mayo GAA hero Paddy Prendergast

IT's not often a man of 82 meets a footballer he regards as his boyhood hero.

Francis Maloney is a regular Mayo GAA supporter and made the long haul to Tralee last weekend to see Mayo in action against Kerry.

The trip was well worth it on two counts, as not only did he get to see Mayo win, but he met his boyhood hero, the great Paddy Prendergast, who is pictured here having a chat with Francis, who was just 16 years of age when Paddy played on the All-Ireland winning team of 1951.

The two met in Benners Hotel, Tralee, and I can report that both men are in rude health, Paddy a mere slip of a lad at 92 and Francis a young buck of 82.

Francis' daughter, Stella Maloney from Kiltimagh, tells me her dad can recount every step and every player that donned the Mayo jersey over the years.

Said Stella: “He travels to every game. Growing up in Mayo, our holidays revolved around Mayo football and in the last 10 years he has travelled with the Westport supporters on Corduff's bus in the capable hands of Ann Baynes, another legendary Mayo supporter.

'As for Paddy Prendergast...what a gentleman and what stories he can recount.”