Summing up a season in song

SEPTEMBER ROAD:The 2010 senior football championship had its moments. Or moment, if you're from Louth. We thought it was vital to bring you the similiarities between parts of each counties' anthems and their performances in the 2010 football championship. Here's what we came up with . . .

ANTRIM

2010: Once again, they had high hopes, but, once again, it just ain't working. County Song: The Green Glens of Antrim. Includes the Line: "Far across yonder blue, lies a true fairy land."

ARMAGH

2010: Losing to Dublin hurt, but being whacked by Monaghan . . . County Song: The Boys From The County Armagh. Includes the Line: "No more the sun will shine on that blessed harvest morn, Or hear our reaper singing in a golden field of corn."

CARLOW

2010: Two football matches, two loses. Enough said. County Song: Follow me up to Carlow. Includes the Line: "Fallen is your star low!"

CAVAN

2010: Fortunately, not many travelled the long distance to Cork. Some of the players didn't even turn up. County Song: Come Back Paddy Reilly. Includes the Line: "Oh, sweet are the dreams, as the dudeen I puff."

CLARE

2010: Has already exited both senior competitions. County Song: My Lovely Rose Of Clare. Includes the Line: "And now to say goodbye, farewell to all you true and fair."

CORK

2010: It's July so they're dreaming of a double. County Song: The Banks of my Own Lovely LeeIncludes the Line: "How oft do my thoughts in their fancy take flight."

DERRY

2010: Such potential, such annoying underachievement. County Song: The Town I Loved So Well. Includes the Line: "For what's done is done and what's won is won, and what's lost is lost and gone forever."

DONEGAL

2010: Left in the starting blocks – again. County Song: Mary From Dungloe. Includes the Line: "It breaks my heart, from you to part, Where I spent many happy days, Farewell to kind relations."

DOWN

2010: Quietly, creeping up on the inside. County Song: The Star Of The County Down. Includes the Line: "I've travelled a bit but was never smit, Since my roving career began, But fair and square, I surrendered there."

DUBLIN

2010: Seems cruel to build up the fans twice in the one season for the same annual result. County Song: Molly Malone. Includes the Line: "She died of a fever, And no one could save her."

FERMANAGH

2010: Encouraging start, but then fell apart rather quickly. County Song: Fare Thee Well Enniskillen. Includes the Line: "Well now the fighting's over and for home we have set sail."

GALWAY

2010: Need to clone Pádraig Joyce. At least a dozen times. County Song: Galway Bay. Includes the Line: "Had I youth's blood and hopeful mood and heart of fire once more."

KERRY

2010: Annoyingly, you get the feeling they're still just warming up. County Song: Rose Of Tralee. Includes the Line: "Yet, 'twas not her beauty alone that won me. Oh no! 'Twas the the truth in her eye ever beaming."

KILDARE

2010: Starting to look like a serious threat to the big boys. County Song: The Curragh Of Kildare. Includes the Line: "The winter it has passed, And the summer's come at last."

LAOIS

2010: Biggest news of the year for Laois is the possible second coming of Mick O'Dwyer. County Song: Lovely Laois. Includes the Line: "And dreams I still can see, A beauty just as rare as you will find, To see those scenes from childhood, Once more I will return."

LEITRIM

2010: Some people are from counties such as Kerry and expect, others are from counties such as Leitrim and never stop believing. County Song: Lovely Leitrim.Includes the Line: "Last night I had a pleasant dream I woke up with a smile."

LIMERICK

2010: Less said about hurling the better. Footballers bowed out gracefully. County Song: Limerick , You're a Lady. Includes the Line: "And now to say goodbye, farewell, To all you people there."

LONGFORD

2010: Beating Mayo brought back memories of defeating Galway in the late 1960s to claim the NFL title. County Song: Abbeyshrule. Includes the Line: "Take me back to the good old days."

LOUTH

2010: A long, demanding, high-profile season is over in July. County Song: The Turfman From Ardee. Includes the Line: "Your cart is wracked and worn friend, your ass is very old."

MAYO

2010: Woe, woe, and more woe. Even women's football in the county is in chaos. County Song: The Boys from the County Mayo. Includes the Line: "The hand of the tyrant brought plunder and woe, The fires are now quenched and our hearts desolated."

MEATH

2010: Did they actually win that Leinster final? It seems so long ago already. County Song: Beautiful Meath. Includes the Line: "You would think it was all just a dream."

MONAGHAN

2010: Undoubted talent, but look awkward when beside the big boys. County Song: The Town Of Ballybay. Includes the Line: "Now, she said she couldn't dance unless she had her wellies on, But when she had them on she could dance as well as anyone."

OFFALY

2010: On their day, they can do absolutely anything. County Song: The Offaly Rover. Includes the Line: "Where great sportmen are laid low."

ROSCOMMON

2010: It was written in stone – and every preview – Sligo would win Connacht. County Song: The Men Of Roscommon. Includes the Line: "Shouting their battle cry, Willing to fight or die, Forward to victory down to the plains, Joy with them as they go, So that the world will know, Men of Roscommon are marching again."

SLIGO

2010: So close, and yet . . . County Song: The Isle of Innisfree. Includes the Line: "I've met some folks who say that I'm a dreamer, And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say, But sure a body's bound to be a dreamer, When all the things he loves are far away.

TIPPERARY

2010: Still only a shadow of the glory days, but progress is being made – slowly. County Song: Slievenamon. Includes the Line: "But my heart is not here at all, It lies far away by night and by day, To the times and the joys that are gone."

TYRONE

2010: Planning for September. Nothing else matters. County Song: The Flower Of Sweet Strabane. Includes the Line: "I would use my whole endeavour and I'd try to work my plan."

WATERFORD

2010: Had (misplaced) high hopes of beating Limerick at Fraher Field. County Song: The Old Dungarvan Oak. Includes the Line: "There'd be a great disaster and Dungarvan would be drowned.

WESTMEATH

2010: Opted out at the earliest convenience. County Song: Westmeath Bachelor. Includes the Line: "Why should I change this life of ease, for one of struggle and strife."

WEXFORD

2010: Just couldn't match the performance against Galway when Cork showed up. County Song: Boulavogue. Includes the Line: "Our heroes vainly stood back to back."

WICKLOW

2010: It's been a rollercoaster ride, but looks like the show's over. County Song: The Meeting of the Waters. Includes the Line: "'Twas not her soft magic of streamlet or hill, Oh! no, it was something more exquisite still."