Every Inch with Kieran Lynch: Bravery, work ethic and belief delivered the Sam Maguire to Mayo

​In ‘Every Inch with Kieran Lynch’ I will explore all the hot topics in the GAA world each week and give my perspective. The onus will be on me to come up with different ideas and talking points, and I’m sure that in some weeks those ideas will flow to me a little easier than others.

There was only ever one starting point for this week’s column. What took place on Sunday isn’t just one of the most incredible moments in GAA history, but surely in Irish sporting history.

The outpouring of emotion as Mayo ended 75 years of hurt at Croke Park, to finally bring the Sam Maguire back west for the first time since 1951, is exactly why sport is is so special. Even if you have just a passing interest in Gaelic football, you can’t help but be touched by the images and the noise as referee Martin McNally blew his full-time whistle.

The sight of a Mayo supporter blessing himself before dropping to his knees and the audio of the Midwest Radio commentators, who could barely believe what they were witnessing, will live long in the memory. And they are just two examples out of hundreds!

Furthermore, the scenes in Castlebar on Monday were a reminder of how much sport means to people, as MacHale Park was filled to the brim with Mayo supporters young and old, welcoming their heroes home.

What makes the achievement all the more special was how they did it. Very few people (myself included) foresaw Andy Moran’s young side taking down the mighty Kingdom. Kerry were four-point favourites with the bookmakers, and were tipped by many to bring Sam Maguire home with them for a record 40th time.

For Mayo, the hurt of losing finals in 1989, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021 couldn’t have been far away from their minds as they arrived at the GAA’s Headquarters on Sunday afternoon. Those memories would have certainly came flooding back for more than a few supporters when Kerry led 1-5 to 0-1 early on.

But this Mayo team are exemplified by three characteristics: bravery, work ethic and belief.

Those qualities were shown just as much when Mayo didn’t have the ball as when they did. Their full forward line will go down in legend forevermore not just for their quality in possession, but for how they hunted down the Kerry ball carriers like their lives depended on it.

Then, of course, there was they did with the ball in their hands. Man of the Match Ryan O’Donoghue hit two delightful two-pointers, the second of which coming in the dying minutes of the game, as well as playing a key role in Mayo’s most famous goal – taking three Kerry defenders out of play with a barnstorming run.

That famous goal was blasted into the top corner by 19-year-old Darragh Beirne, and 18-year-old Kobe McDonald got his All-Ireland final moment when he split the posts from 45 metres out.

Full credit goes to Andy Moran for getting this team over the line, and there is a lot more that could be written (and there has been… does anyone know if Mayo News can be delivered up here?) but it looks like that’s my column done for the week.

Now it’s time for me to get back to watching the highlights once again.

And trying not to cry.