Mayo has secured the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, ending a 75-year wait for the title. The victory, achieved against Kerry in the 138th All-Ireland final at Croke Park in Dublin, sparked widespread celebrations both within the county and among its global diaspora.
The team’s triumph on Sunday was particularly significant given the long period without a championship win, which some had attributed to a supposed ‘curse’. The previous win dating back to 1951.
A long-awaited victory
The final saw Mayo overcome reigning champions Kerry in an intense match. Despite a slow start, Mayo rallied, with a late score from Tommy Conroy helping to secure the win. The atmosphere at Croke Park was described as raucous, with a sold-out crowd of 82,300 witnessing the historic moment.
The win was met with emotional reactions, even from some Kerry supporters. The team captain, Jack Coyne, held aloft the Sam Maguire Cup, declaring, “The wait is over. Sam is home.” Authorities had initially estimated a crowd of 40,000 for the team’s homecoming at McHale Park in Castlebar, but this figure is now expected to be conservative.
The narrative of a ‘curse’ had gained traction over the decades, particularly after Mayo reached the final eleven times since 1989 without securing a victory. The legend suggested that the 1951 winning team, while celebrating their victory, had failed to pay respects to a funeral in the village of Foxford, leading to a priest’s pronouncement that Mayo would not win another All-Ireland title while any member of that team was alive.
However, the last member of the 1951 panel passed away. Sean McAndrew, whose father John played for the 1950 and 1951 winning Mayo teams, shared that his father, who passed away in 2013, would have been deeply pleased by the win. McAndrew noted that while the curse wasn’t discussed immediately after 1951, suspicions grew as strong teams failed to progress.
Global celebrations and connections
The celebrations extended far beyond Mayo, a county with approximately 137,000 residents but a significant global diaspora. Notable figures with ancestral ties to Mayo, including a former US president and the Canadian prime minister, shared their congratulations.
The former US president, who visited his ancestral home in Ballina, had previously used the chant “Mayo for Sam!” He took to social media to congratulate the team, stating, “Today, the dream becomes reality. You earned this victory. Enjoy every minute.” The Canadian prime minister also expressed pride in his roots in County Mayo.
The Gallagher brothers of Oasis, whose mother’s family hails from Mayo, also expressed their pride. Noel posted, “Finally!! Up Mayo!!” while Liam shared his congratulations. Other sports figures, such as Irish rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll and golfer Shane Lowry, also celebrated the win on social media.
On the pitch, siblings Kobe McDonald and Jordan Flynn were part of the winning team. McDonald, who made his senior football debut for Mayo in February of this year at 18 years old.
McDonald described the experience as “surreal,” expressing gratitude to the fans for their long-standing support. He looked forward to the celebrations, stating, “We’ll soak it in and enjoy it.” The victory marks a significant moment for the county, with celebrations continuing as the Sam Maguire Cup returns to Mayo.
Source: theguardian.com
Sam Whitlock is a Sports News Writer at News-GB.org. He moved from local newspapers into digital sport. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Gloucestershire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Gloucester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight game. “Clarity beats cleverness in breaking sport news.”