You wouldn’t believe it only for we saw it with our own eyes

26.7.26. A day that not only ended one of longest droughts in sport, but the day that has changed Mayo GAA forever.

I have to hold my hands up and say that when I left Castlebar on Sunday morning, I did not think it would happen. As I watched the many supporters who gathered on the train station in the county town, I wondered how many genuinely believed this would be the day. I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone who had the real conviction to feel it could be done.

Speaking to supporters after we got off at Drumcondra station, the overriding feeling was more hope than expectation.

“We can, but…” 

“Yes, if…” 

“Maybe…” 

Even speaking to colleagues across the local print and broadcast media, I did not feel an overriding sense of confidence. Indeed, the first individual who was convinced beyond doubt was Croke Park stadium official Pádraig Flannery up in the press area.

A native of Castlebar, he has watched more All-Ireland finals at GAA HQ than I have even attended games at Croke Park. When he gave his prediction with such confidence, I was taken aback. Either he sensed my trepidation or he knew something was in the air.

My and many other people’s fears about Kerry coming flying out of the traps, like back in 2006, were quickly becoming a reality when Kerry led 1-5 to 0-1 after 15 minutes. The Mayo defence, which had showed such improvement after the first 20 minutes against Meath, looked all at sea while Mayo’s own attacks were not getting through the well-organised Kerry defence.

My mind wandered briefly to all the national media – and much of the Kerry support it should be said – not giving Mayo a prayer. They saw the script play out before and it was going by the book.

I could see the headlines already. “More Mayo misery.” 

But maybe that filtered down onto the pitch. Jack Carney’s stunning two-pointer was followed by two awful wides by Tom O’Sullivan and missed two-point frees by David Clifford and Sean O’Shea. The latter two rarely, if ever, miss. More on that later.

Mayo now looked reborn. Darragh Beirne, Sam Callinan, Ryan O’Donoghue and Tommy Conroy reeled in Kerry and even though Jack O’Connor’s side led by one point at half-time, Mayo had the momentum.

Then came that third quarter.

Mayo’s twin teen threats Beirne and Kobe McDonald put Mayo in front for the first time two minutes into the second-half. Then in the 39th minute, a visceral roar erupts. Ryan O’Donoghue’s lung-bursting run from deep, the greatest hand pass David McBrien will ever give and Beirne bursts the net.

Western People editor James Laffey and I give each other a look. Maybe they really can.

Another Carney two-pointer and Mayo are up by five with 25 to go. Kerry’s wides at the Davin End in the first-half are not a coincidence as Mayo began to have their own issues there. The next five shots see one drop short and four drift wide. In that time, Kerry are now back within one. Have we missed our chance?

We should have known better.

Against Meath, Cork and Louth, Mayo roared on. But All-Ireland final day takes on a life of its own – far too often for the wrong reasons from a Mayo perspective. But this team is the mirror of their manager Andy Moran. Free from inhibitions and fear, Mayo push it back out to three.

Then the moment came when I really started to believe. Sean O’Shea, with ten minutes to go, has a wide in front of the posts at the Hill. An inexplicable one. James Laffey and I give each other another look. It’s….happening?

Ryan O’Donoghue’s two-pointer is a wonder strike. A shot of sheer defiance from the soon to be Footballer of the Year. Five clear and Kerry are wilting, every single one of them bar the two we feared the most, David and Paudie Clifford. David’s stunning shot from outside the arc on his ‘weaker’ foot and a Paudie free make it a two-point game with four to go, and it is becoming unbearable.

Kerry work it to David Clifford for another two-pointer but this time it trails wide. Mayo break forward with 60 seconds to go and we’re all up now. Brian Gillespie of the Connaught Telegraph says Mayo have it. Not until the hooter, I thought. Tommy Conroy fisted over and it was real.

Every line written about chokers, bottlers, curses can be consigned to the bin and burnt to ashes. No longer will we have to go to Croke Park and hope for the best. We now know that they can win. We witnessed it with our own eyes. Mayo are All-Ireland champions.

To all involved with this Mayo team, we can only say thank you.

You have changed Mayo GAA forever.