What has been the longest six months of my life, finally comes to an end with the return of Inter county football.

Now a days many people have the January blues but I’m more happier then ever with the return of Inter county football.

It has been a long time since our semi final loss to Dublin but in the off season I got to learn a lot about myself and what Mayo football really means to me.

Some might say I’m a sunshine supporter not being fully invested in the club championship but no feeling will ever beat the Mayo roar each game.

During time apart I’ve I was counting down to the night we were back under the floodlights in Machale Park.

Now 2023 was a decent year for Mayo football but as everyone says a new year means new fresh start.

If you had said to me this time last year that Dublin would end out All Ireland final dreams, I would have happily laughed in your face and as another season approaches it’s time to start clean and fresh from the get go.

Over the past few months I’ve started to realise how fortunate enough I am to have such an amazing thing like Mayo GAA be a part of me life.

I often say to everyone “I’m a boring shite without football” and many of you have started to realise it whenever you meet me out and about.

For any GAA fan inter county off season is truly the definition of hell, once the final whistle blows in the All Ireland football final we immediately reflect on the year but start counting down until we can see our county warriors line out on the field again.

The 2023 season was probably my best one to date and it will have a job to be beaten. I will always cherish the memories of meeting all the players, being on the edge of my seat in the final minutes of the games and getting to share my opinions of the match until the next one was upon us.

Every time I’d make my way to work, looking by at MacHale Park counting down the days until we were back then hoping this season goes as slow as possible.

What has felt like a lifetime since July when times were tough I’m lucky I have amazing friends and family to rally be through it.

Through the shite days I’m lucky to have friends to remind me life can be more than football and that my life isn’t over just because a situation didn’t work out.

One special memory I have at work one of my friends comes over to me “Chloe one of your favourite Mayo players is in” so I sprint to the checkouts and see Paddy Durcan, even more happy when he says hello.

Come the 28th just being back cheering on my heroes, it’ll feel back to normal.

Under the floodlights in Castlebar in the freezing cold, the feeling of home being back in a community I’m so proud to be apart of.

You never know what to expect in the world of GAA and like always I want nothing but the best for our footballers in 2024.

A new year means new beginnings and I can’t wait to see what the year entails for our footballers.