COLUMN: The 15 things I loved about Mayo's All-Ireland win

FEELING DIFFERENT

So many of us said it. “It feels different this time”. And it did. It felt like things were falling into place as we progressed through the championship. The luck of the draw.

The new energy of young players and fans. The little signs. But equally, we were different – we had been liberated in 2021 from the fear of losing, and in 2026 from the fear of never getting back there. And when we least expected it, the gods, led by Jack Coyne and Ryan O’Donoghue, delivered Sam.

FISHERMEN

Four headers of young fellas overtook us on the dual carriageway on Sunday morning en route to Croker, with a flag attached to a fishing rod sticking out the car window. Written on it in black marker? ‘Fishing for Sam’. We spotted the same lads in raptures on the Hill in the TV footage afterwards, the big catch landed. The young fans led the way this year and made it so very special.

THE KERRY CROWD

It didn’t start well. It took my best withering death stare to scare two grown Kerrymen into silence when they jeered a miss by Kobe. It wasn’t looking good. Then, it turned. On the final whistle, they embraced us. They stayed, clapped and even cried with us. Their magnanimity really added to the day.

THE JOY

It wasn’t just joy. It was concentrated, liquid ecstasy, and we were all on the trip together. Has a greater collective outpouring of emotion been experienced ever, anywhere? So many hugs, high-fives and toll bridge shenanigans.

Dancing in the streets. Weeks later, it continues unabated as the cup makes its way around and everyone continues to celebrate. How blessed are we to be (still) experiencing this?

THE BIG HOMECOMING

Couldn’t see or hear a thing. Too hoarse to cheer. Didn’t matter. I could smell the grass and feel the joy. It didn’t need to be perfect. We just needed to be there.

THE OTHER HOMECOMINGS

There will be a million little homecomings. But some are extra moving. Ballyhaunis, to a captain’s welcome. The flotilla of little boats accompanying the cup to Inishturk. The pipers walking the cup across the Davitt Bridge in Achill. Magic.

THE MUSIC

We all have a Croke Park playlist now. And a homecoming playlist of the lads’ eclectic song choices. Let’s be honest, no day jobs will be given up. Aidan O’Shea aside, with maybe an honourable mention for Rob Hennelly, the singing was brutal. But absolutely, hilariously, joyfully brilliant. All together now: ‘We love you Kobe, JUST THE WAY YOU ARRRRE’ …

THE GLOBAL WARMTH EFFECT

Within 24 hours, the story had gone around the world. On a personal level, my sister Michelle in Sydney and videod call just after the final whistle. We couldn’t hear each other amidst both our mayhems, but it didn’t matter. We debriefed at 5.20am on the Monday morning, she on the steps of the Sydney Opera House with the Mayo flag. I really missed her, and I know she found it hard being so far away, like so many more of us

THE SPORTSWRITING

From our own scribes here in Mayo, to the national press, some of the articles written on Mayo’s victory have been sublime. Special mentions must go to our own Colin Sheridan, to Malachy Clerkin, and to Christy O’Connor for his handcrafting of Keith Higgin’s pre-match diary, ultimately a beautiful tribute to his late brother, Pierce. To Maurice Brosnan for his razor-sharp analysis all year.

And to Keith Duggan, whose much-anticipated take on events did not disappoint. Writing to treasure. Mayo may have single-handedly saved the print newspaper industry. We forgot to get the Monday papers before leaving Dublin, to discover there wasn’t one to be found in Mayo. Cue a few panicked phone calls to elsewhere in the country. At last count, I had 49 unread newspapers in my house. What a wonderful winter lies ahead.

SOCIAL MEDIA

In the aftermath, having successfully disposed of most of my social media accounts, I was drawn back in. I fully embraced MayoTok, KobeGram and RyanBook. How incredible to have finally won in this age, with all this magnificent content to watch and re-watch from every angle.

A shout-out to Mark Forde in the GAA in particular for their incredible digital content. Sublime.

UNEXPECTED MOMENTS

The most innocuous moments catch you by surprise. Driving by Mick Byrne’s on the way to work one morning, I noticed a new addition to the window display. A framed photo the team, resplendent in white. Caption: Mayo: All-Ireland Champions 2026. And the fierce burst of emotion and pride hit me all over again, to the point where I had to take a moment to compose myself in the car park. Long may those happy tears continue.​

THE OPENNESS

Not only did Mayo pull off the shock of the century, but they were quite happy to share with the world how they did it. From Andy’s frankness with Joe Molloy on the Indo GAA pod, recorded early on the Monday morning after the game, to the individual interviews with players over the last few weeks. The doors were thrown open, and the era of secrecy in the GAA was set alight.

THE STILL ELUSIVE SAM MAGUIRE

I had encountered the giant cup many years ago, on a tour of Croke Park given by none other than the mighty Maurice Fitzgerald, but stubbornly refused to touch its silver lugs. On the Monday morning after the game, I was so overawed when I saw it up close in all its shiny glory that it never occurred to me to pick it up and get a photo with it. And life has conspired to ensure I haven’t gotten near it since. Won’t someone help a girl out?

THE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

It, too, has felt different this year. The thrill of watching All-Ireland medallists line out with their clubs. The sense of joy that has permeated the first three rounds. The unpredictability, just like the intercounty championship. The sideline scouting of new talent to help us win back-to-back and make history all over again. What a time to be alive in Mayo.

ESKIMOS

My beloved matchday crew. Christened below in Thurles in 2018 by a bunch of irate Tipp men - apparently, we were so loud in our celebrations when James Durcan scored the goal that we would “deafen the Eskimos”. (It took us several years to realise that Eskimos have been known to wear earmuffs.) We’ve travelled thousands of miles on motorways, boreens and planes following Mayo, sharing life, love, loss and countless chicken rolls. Finally, the four of us – me, Emma, Kathryn, Tony - got to embrace in the Cusack Stand, having reached our Nirvana. A moment I’ll treasure for life.