Emotional Mayo fan who went viral is ‘pulling himself back together’

Kilmaine man Shane Fitzgerald captured the mood of the entire county when he sank to his knees and kissed the ground in Croke Park.

The Mayo man’s emotional reaction to Mayo’s All-Ireland triumph went viral.

Mr Fitzgerald said he still felt a “bit hoarse” and would likely take a few weeks to get used to Mayo's win.

“We’ve had our pilgrimage to Croke Park for years and years,” he told the Claire Byrne Show.

“Look, every county would love to have the honour of the Sam Maguire but we all know that Mayo has served our time.

“It’s a great achievement; I’m so proud of the lads, they’re an amazing bunch,” he added.

“Delighted for everybody that has Mayo connections and those that have gone in the past that weren’t there to see it, but we had them with us to just to see that,” Mr Fitzgerald told RTÉ Radio.

The well-known florist has been bringing flowers up Croagh Patrick for Reek Sunday every year for 20 years. On Friday, he carried the flowers up and hoped for Mayo to bring the Sam Maguire home.

“This was a great journey, and hopefully this week I’ll have a pilgrimage to the top of the reek with the Sam Maguire.”