All-Ireland SFC final: What does Mayo’s 75-year heartbreak end mean?

It looked as if Mayo would be on the receiving end of another defeat when David Clifford – widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, perhaps even of all time – netted to keep Kerry in check in the early stages.

But Mayo dug deep and fought back, and trailed by a single point at half-time.

Things changed four minutes after the restart when Darragh Beirne finished a flowing move to give Mayo a lead they would not relinquish.

Kerry, like great champions, never folded and had a late scare as the pressure mounted, but Mayo were not to be denied a three-point victory.

The cry and emotion at the final whistle meant everything.

Manager Andy Moran, a former Mayo player and in his first year in charge, visited his wife and family in the stands.

The new generation, such as Beirne and the brilliant Aussie rules-bound Kobe Macdonald, soaked up every moment on the Croke Park pitch.

There were over 80,000 people in attendance, and for those in green and red and the many neutrals in attendance, there was barely a dry eye in the house.

While the so-called ‘curse’ is a thing, Mayo wore a special white jersey in the final for the first time since 1951 due to a clash between Kerry’s green home kits. Perhaps it was fate.

“To every man, woman, boy and girl in Mayo, wherever you are, dream big,” said captain Jack Coyne, who gave an all-time great speech before lifting Sam Maguire.

“Anything is possible and we showed that today. I’m over the moon.”