Mayo made history yesterday by winning the All-Ireland Senior Football Championships for the first time since 1951, finally overcoming a 75-year curse reportedly placed on the team by an angry priest.
In a dramatic match at Dublin's Croke Park, Mayo defeated Kerry 1-17 to 1-20. Players and fans collapsed to the floor in emotion after the final whistle. Mayo were underdogs going into the match against the more experienced and decorated Kerry side.
Emotional scenes after victory
BBC pundit and former Mayo defender Padraig O'Hora wept live on air as he tried to explain what the win means to the people of Mayo. He said: "I can't put it into words. Thousands upon thousands of people have dreamed of this day, I can't believe it's here."
He added: "There are people who have waited their whole lives for this. Hats off to the lads on the field, it is their day, but if you have green and red blood it belongs to you, young and old."
The origin of the curse
Mayo last won the Sam Maguire trophy in 1951. The celebrations after their third ever win led to the alleged curse. On their way home to Mayo from Croke Park, the team bus is said to have passed a funeral in the rural village of Foxford.
Legend has it the bus failed to stop and switch off the engine, as per local customs at the time. The Mayo team were allegedly accused of not showing respect by a local priest, who is said to have placed a curse preventing them from winning another Senior Football Championship as long as any of the 1951 players were still alive.
Curse lifted after last members die
While it has never been established if the events occurred as described, many believe the curse is real—especially since Mayo lost 11 finals after 1951. Just a few weeks before this final, the last two members of the 1951 squad passed away, aged 93 and 95.
