COLUMN: Crowds swarm to welcome Jack Carney, the king of Kilmeena

A rebuild seemed inevitable, and Andy was the man to lead it. There were plenty of challenges ahead.

Galway were chasing a fifth consecutive Connacht title, while Roscommon were making steady progress under Mark Dowd. Personally, I felt winning Connacht this year was a priority especially for the group, but in the end, there was a bigger and better prize won.

From the optimism that greeted Andy's appointment to the unforgettable sight of Sam Maguire returning to Mayo, 2026 will forever be remembered as the year the dream finally became the reality.

On April 26 Roscommon came to town. It was the day our neighbours destroyed us. It was a tough one to take, but in hindsight it was the day that kickstarted this special journey. Andy and a few players have mentioned it. Captain Jack Coyne and the two vice-captains Ryan O’Donoghue and Darren McHale had a meeting with the players.

Whatever was said at that meeting lit a fire in each of the 42-man panel and from there, a sense of togetherness, a sense of growth occurred. That loss was a bad day for the county but looking back, perhaps it was needed. Personally, I’m a big believer in ‘you have to lose in order to win.’ You have to go down the hill to go up the hill and that’s what happened.

Exactly three months later Mayo were crowned All Ireland champions. When Jack Coyne climbed those steps in The Hogan Stand, it was one of the best days to be from Mayo and as for his speech, simply unbelievable. The emotion in Croke Park was off the charts, people crying, a monumental day in the history of the association.​

MISSING THE FINAL

UNFORTUNATELY, after falling on Croagh Patrick on June 23 and breaking my leg, I was unable to attend Mayo's clash with Kerry.

I went in search of a wheelchair ticket, but because of the huge demand, I was unlucky. Mam kept insisting, “We'll get tickets somehow, and we'll be there,” but on my birthday, July 22, I got the news that I wouldn't be making the trip.

Having attended previous All-Ireland Finals in 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2021, this was the one I would miss. I eventually accepted it and settled for watching at home, and to be honest, I was convinced Kerry would win comfortably.

Reluctantly, Dad who had attended every Mayo Final since 1989, felt the same. Mam, however, never lost faith. She travelled to Croke Park with family members, confident for weeks that this could finally be Mayo's year.

The game itself was a fascinating contest. Mayo arrived as major underdogs, while reigning champions Kerry were overwhelming favourites. Many felt Kerry had won the game before a ball was kicked and that was definitely the feeling coming from the so called ‘Kingdom’.

But Andy Moran had a plan, and the Mayo players delivered a stunning performance. Ryan O'Donoghue and Jack Carney led the way, with the Belmullet man outstanding at both ends of the field, defending, tackling and kicking scores when it mattered. Ultimately, it was a complete team performance, with every player contributing to a historic victory and a day the people of Mayo will never forget.

CARNEY THE FOCAL POINT

Growing up in Kilmeena, it was quiet. There’s not much around, a furniture shop, a post office, a pub, a fish factory, a church and the GAA Club. However, in recent years, Kilmeena has had an amazing series of achievements. Going from junior to senior in a short period was brilliant and throw in an amazing day in 2022 when Kilmeena claimed All Ireland junior glory in Croke Park.

At the heartbeat of all those success stories were a group of hard-working players but the focal point was Jack Carney. Growing up, myself and Jack were the one age. I still remember those U-13 days in Kilmeena where Jack was just an outrageous talent

He lit up the pitches throughout the underage ranks and now is seen as an important player in Andy Moran’s squad. Jack is only 25 years of age and I have no doubt that he will captain Mayo in the near future. Kilmeena is a small place but the whole parish is massively proud of Jack and what this Mayo group have done.

SPECIAL FAMILY MOMENTS

Back in January, on a miserable wet day, I had the privilege of covering Mayo's FBD League game in Roscommon. Myself, my uncle Neil and his friend Geoffrey O'Grady travelled to The Hyde together. After Mayo defeated the hosts, Neil joked on the journey home: “Geoffrey, make sure you tell them when you go back to Chicago that you've already seen the All-Ireland champions.” We laughed at the time, but those words would eventually become reality.

Those winter months also brought family heartbreak. My uncle Barry, on my mother's side of the family, became ill in Kildare and sadly passed away in The Beaumont Hospital on January 19, aged just 56. A proud Castlebar man, Barry supported Mayo all his life and that love is now passed on to his sons.

A few weeks before he died, Barry told his son Aaron that Mayo would win the All-Ireland, although he wouldn't be there to see it. Aaron shared those words with me before the Kerry game and in the end Barry's prediction came true.

Many years ago my grandfather Mick, used to tell Dad and his siblings: “I've seen them do it before, but I don't think I’ll see it again.” He was talking about Mayo winning the All-Ireland. Mick passed away in 2011, but since that my own dad and his two brothers Neil and Pat would often talk about Mick.

They started saying “I’m not sure we’ll see it either.” As it turned out, they were wrong as Jack Coyne climbed the steps of Croke Park and lifted the Sam Maguire Cup, ending generations of waiting. A few days later, Dad visited Mick's grave. Standing there, he smiled and quietly told him the news that “We did it.”

To all the Mayo people around the world from Belmullet to Bangkok, Castlebar to Chicago, stick your chest out and be proud to be from Mayo because we’re now champions of Ireland!