You've eaten your breakfast at 5.45. The jerseys have been hanging on the front of the wardrobe since last Thursday. You hit the road at 6.15 sharp, with a flask of tea and 24 ham sandwiches in the boot. It's time. It's here. The Big Day Out.  If this scenario sounds familiar to you, then you're part of the family. You've had your heart broken more times than you can remember, and experienced euphoria once if you're lucky (237 times approx if you're from Kilkenny). When it comes to the GAA, nothing beats being there. The pilgrimages to the grandest stage of them all have begun, so we've put together a little ode to the magical phrases you hear from the stands at Croke Park. _______________________________________________________________ It’s A Sign Ask an Irish dad if he's superstitious and he'll probably tell you to feck away off with your nonsense and stop waving at that magpie - you look ridiculous. Then sit back as he talks across three lines of supporters to Jimmy in 37 M about the last time Mayo drew with Kerry. "Sure we all know what happened after that, don't we Jimmy?" "We do Tom, we do." "It's a sign Jimmy." "It is Tim, it is." Who has the sandwiches? Given the time you hit the road at this morning, you're practically suffering from jet lag by the time the half-time whistle blows. The cute GAA fan knows queueing outside for twenty minutes to buy a Mars bar is a mugs game. This is the time to take out the tinfoil wrapped sandwiches. Fun fact: in the same way it's a proven fact that triangular sandwiches taste better than rectangular ones, another universal truth is that sandwiches at a GAA game are the best tasting sandwiches you'll ever have in your life. That’s your ball! Somehow, we all consider this one to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Along the lines of "If you build it, they will come", if you roar it, the break will come. Anytime there's a breaking ball that could go either way, choose one member of your team to berate/support by screaming this repeatedly. If they win the ball, you did your job well. Where's Hawkeye?! No, not the most underrated of the Marvel superheroes. Hawkeye is a relatively new addition to GAA speak and you'll find plenty hardcore fans who don't exactly trust it yet. Unless of course they feel hard done by thanks to the umpire, then Hawkeye it is! COME ON, REF! Choosing to referee a GAA match is not for the faint of heart. Whatever happens, the best you can hope for is that only half the crowd hates you. And even that is asking for a bit much. The sheer speed of a hurling or Gaelic match means that tough calls have to be made and they're not always the right ones. Even if they are, the admonished party will take none-to-kindly to your bias. They may even have rooted out the fact that your great-grandmother's second cousin once went to a dance hall in Tipperary, so NO WONDER YOU'RE GIVING THEM EVERYTHING! Take Your Point The GAA equivalent of 'from small acorns, great oaks grow', or 'look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves'. Everyone loves to see the green flag raised, but woe betide you if a run on goal results in nothing and the opportunity for a guaranteed point is wasted. It's not a soccer player you are at all, stop trying to show off. What a day Whether the sun is splitting the stones or Noah and his ark might be called on in extra-time, there's no such thing as a GAA final that doesn't deserve this refrain. It's the most impressive stage of them all, and it's almost over for another year. Though many counties are battle-scarred from years of nearly/almost/next time, we never stop coming. Win, lose or draw we'll be back to cheer on the county next year, from opening round and all the way through. Nothing beats being there.   Bonus Point: Lovely Hurling! Hurling supporters are passionate before games, but when they get into the stands, their real grá for their county side truly comes out!  Whether it's a great catch or blockdown, or when a white or green flag is raised, GAA fans are always united in their praise of players displaying great skill. Encouragement in the GAA is the key as is seen in their Freestyle Hurling competition where not only skill, but participation too is rewarded as people get the chance to take part in All-Ireland Hurling Final day! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ9X3cq_Pwc&list=UUCsDOY9UaBpPnv60mxX6dQA For more information, please visit www.gaa.ie. To purchase tickets to this Saturday’sGAA All Ireland Football Championship Replay, Kerry v Mayo please click here. Or to purchase tickets for this Sunday’s GAA Football All-Ireland Championship Semi-Final, Donegal v Dublin, please click here. Keep up to speed with the latest GAA news by following the GAA on @officialgaa and www.facebook.com/officialgaa