GAA fan secures ticket to go to his 65th All-Ireland final

An avid GAA supporter is off to his 65th All-Ireland Men's Senior Football final after securing a ticket with a little help from his friends.

Harry Smith has been at almost all the GAA finals since seeing Galway win the Sam Maguire against Cork in 1956 and will now take his seat in the Upper Hogan Stand on Sunday.

The 81- year old said getting a ticket for this final was "the hardest challenge ever" in all his years obtaining the golden passes but added that he is "thrilled".

The ticket was secured after friends John Heverin, owner of his local pub, Donegan's in Collon, and bartender Brian Kelly did everything possible to get Harry to the final.

"We rang everyone, and eventually I got a number for someone who was brilliant, once I explained how Harry was a huge fan of GAA football and has attended hundreds of matches nationwide of every county and club team possible over the years," Brian said.

"The man, who wants to remain anonymous, said to leave it with him and, in fairness, was back to me with a ticket which was purchased between myself and John as a gift to Harry. We are just delighted that we were able to help, and we will see him going now to his 65th All-Ireland final.

"He is like a GAA memory man. Any match and he would nearly tell you the score line and all the players in any year."

Harry himself said that he wasn't going to give up hope of a ticket until the end.

"Everyone who I would normally get tickets from just couldn't get their hands on one for me. I didn't lose hope. I was going to go up to Dublin on the day and see if I could buy one up there.

"I'm thrilled that Brian and Joe went out of their way to find me one, and I'm so grateful. It was definitely the hardest year to get a ticket. It was almost