Mayo break priest’s 75-year-old curse to beat Kerry after final member of staff dies
The biggest event in Irish sport saw Mayo break a priest’s ‘curse’ in overcoming Kerry in a dramatic win at Dublin’s Croke Park to lift the trophy for the first time in 75 years
It was a historic day for Mayo(Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
A sports team has finally overcome a 75-year curse placed on them by an angry priest. Mayo made history yesterday when they won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championships for the first time since 1951.
Players and some fans collapsed to the floor in a sea of emotion after the final whistle of the Gaelic football game blew. Mayo were underdogs going into the match against Kerry, who were a far more experienced and decorated team.
To overcome ‘The Kingdom’ 1-17 to 1-20 on the biggest stage in Gaelic football only added to the emotions on the day. BBC pundit and former Mayo defender Padraig O’Hora even wept live on air as he tried to explain what the win means to the people of Mayo.
Mayo last won the SFC in 1951
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.
“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.
“What a moment for Gaelic football, what a moment for sport. It’s just something else.”
The commentary on Midwest Radio as Andy Moran’s side finally got their hands back on the Sam Maguire trophy was even better.
Stephen Grealis and Martin Carney couldn’t contain their joy, with Grealis shouting: “Delirium! Delirium!” after Tommy Conroy fisted over the ultimate point, before yelling: “The famine is over! The famine is over!”
The commentator then cried out: “The curse be damned! Hit the nuclear button!” He added: “Mayo have won the All-Ireland. Sam Maguire is coming home!”
There were jubilant scenes(Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
To understand the significance of the win, one must go all the way back to 1951 – the last time Mayo won the Sam Maguire trophy.
The celebrations after their third ever win were legendary and led to the alleged curse. On their way home to Mayo from Croke Park they are 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.
Padraig O’Hora wept on TV
The cleric is said to have placed a curse on the team that prevented them from winning another SFC as long as any of the players were still alive.
While it has never actually been established if the events occurred as they are described, many believe the curse is real – especially since Mayo have lost 11 finals since 1951.
Just a few weeks after their last doomed final against Tyrone in 2021, Paddy Prendergast, the last player to feature in the 1951 final, died aged 95.
Two years later, Dr Mick Loftus – the last surviving squad member – died aged 93.
