75 years after their last All Ireland win, the people of Mayo were delighted and relieved to announce that The Curse has been lifted.
In a nailbiting final, Mayo beat Kerry 1-20 to 1-17 to raucous scenes at Croke Park.
With Kerry slightly ahead at half time, it looked as Mayo might be on track to lose their 14th All Ireland final since their 1951 win.
However, the team bounced back in the last half of the game, with Darragh Beirne's goal helping them build a clear and decisive lead over the Kingdom.
When the final whistle blew, the scenes of happiness and relief in Croke Park were perhaps unmatched in the history of Gaelic games.
One man who went viral afterwards was Shane FitzGerald, whose tears of joys spoke for an entire county.
On The Claire Byrne Show, 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 explained.
“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.”
View this post on Instagram
When it was all over and Mayo's victory became official, Mr FitzGerald said he was overcome with emtion.
“It was a blink and the hooter went,” he recalled with emotion in his voice.
“And I looked at the Sam Maguire and I just broke, just broke and that was it.
“I blessed myself and I just went to kiss the ground of Croke Park.”
On Newstalk Breakfast, reporter Henry McKean said he had spent the day in Castlebar, describing it as a ‘truly historic moment’ for the county and “perhaps the best All Ireland ever”.
While out west, he met the Reilly family, who were driving around with a fake Sam Maguire strapped to their roof.
“We waited so long for this,” Mr Reilly said.
“75 years, we’ve been through thick and thin; just today, I’m thinking of all the people who’ve gone to All Irelands and who are not here today - especially my late brother, John.
“I know he’s very happy tonight.
“I’m just so excited, stunned really and still in shock. I suppose it won’t sink in until the homecoming.”
View this post on Instagram
One Mayo woman said that it was “amazing” given that “nobody was giving them half a chance”, while a young boy said the result was “savage”.
“It’s the best day ever,” he said.
Another Castlebar man said it was an “unbelievable feeling” after so many disappointing All Ireland finals.
“75 years, too long,” he said.
“The Curse is gone, Mayo won today! Up Mayo!”
Even visitors to the county were quick to recognise the historic nature of the celebrations around them.
“This is my first ever visit to Ireland,” one Englishman said.
“And now I’m a Mayoman - I feel it. I am 100% a Mayoman.
“We got in a taxi last night and Eddie said to me, ‘You’ll never forget your first visit to Ireland.’
“And I will never forget this for the rest of my life.”
Main image: Shane FitzGerald. Picture by: Alamy.com.
