"What I was expecting to be one of my best days turned out to be the opposite" - Rob Hennelly on All-Ireland final replay

Rob Hennelly's introduction for David Clarke in the Mayo goal was perhaps the biggest talking point from Saturday's All-Ireland final replay.

Hennelly, who had been playing second string to Clarke for the majority of the championship campaign, conceded a penalty and received a black card during the second half of the game which ultimately proved to be one of the turning points of the game.

Having remained silent since the defeat, he today took to social media to thank friends and family for their support during a difficult period for him.

"I'll never be able to fully describe what was going through my head at this moment," he wrote on Instagram. "What I was expecting to be one of my best days turned out to be the opposite, and it breaks my heart that I didn't come through for my team and county.

"I told a brilliant young man Anthony Casey that that one game wouldn't define him, and today, and probably for a while to come, I'll be telling myself the same thing. It is not a good place to be, but I know I have to come back from it, I still believe I have something to offer this team and my county, so now is not the time to relent."

Hennelly publicly supported Casey after the Cork goalkeeper conceded five goals during an U21 All-Ireland final loss to Mayo. One of those shipped came as a result of a kick-out directly to a Mayo player.

I think it has to be said that Anthony Casey is a fine keeper with a big future and today won't define him or his career by any means.

— Rob Hennelly (@RobHennelly) April 30, 2016

"I have to say that the support I've received has been incredible and the messages from friends, family, former team mates, players from other counties, and of course the Mayo supporters, has helped me immensely.

"I don't know where I'll be in a years time, but I do know that I'm not going to give up. I love Mayo and this team too much to do that.

"Mhaigh Eo Abú"

 

I'll never be able to fully describe what was going through my head at this moment. What I was expecting to be one of my best days turned out to be the opposite, and it breaks my heart that I didn't come through for my team and county. I told a brilliant young man Anthony Casey that that one game wouldn't define him, and today, and probably for a while to come, I'll be telling myself the same thing.  It is not a good place to be, but I know I have to come back from it, I still believe I have something to offer this team and my county, so now is not the time to relent. I have to say that the support I've received has been incredible and the messages from friends, family, former team mates, players from other counties, and of course the Mayo supporters, has helped me immensely. I don't know where I'll be in a years time, but I do know that I'm not going to give up. I love Mayo and this team too much to do that. Mhaigh Eo Abú

A photo posted by Rob Hennelly (@robhennelly) on Oct 3, 2016 at 5:41am PDT

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