'Could Cork have beaten Mayo? They would have if they'd been more efficient, they only nailed 16 of 36 attempts'

When ‘The Sunday Game’ put a montage together last Sunday night to somehow try and capture the tsunami of emotion that had finally smashed Mayo’s dam of pain and frustration to flood Croke Park with an ocean of tears and emotion, they used a clip of John O’Mahony from the documentary series ‘Hell for Leather – The Story of Gaelic Football’ which was aired last year.

“When people ask me will Mayo win an All-Ireland, I always say of course they will,” said the late O’Mahony in that documentary. “But I cannot give you the year.” 

Mahony’s comment was sandwiched between a series of clips showing devastated and desolated Mayo players after serial All-Ireland final defeats before being followed by the incredible post-match scenes from last Sunday as a county and its people finally cast away eight decades of agony to bask in the ultimate glory that they had always dreamed of, but which feared they’d never get to experience.

Mayo finally getting their hands on the Sam Maguire was always going to be special beyond words and emotion as 75 long years of hope and hurt dissolved forever.

Breaking free

A new generation was able to extricate themselves from the chains of history that had tied them up in a dungeon of agony and regret. Breaking free was the ultimate liberation, but it was even more magical when nobody could have predicted that it could be possible at the outset of the season.

Mayo beat Tyrone and ran Donegal to the wire but they still finished fourth in a group of four in last year’s All-Ireland round robin. Roscommon hammered them by 10 points in April, outscoring them by 1-17 to 0-7 in the second half, at MacHale Park.

Mayo gradually began to build up momentum and showcase their potential after Connacht. But, outside of their own camp, how many people really thought they could win last Sunday? Nobody.

Emotion always clouds judgement, especially in the moment, but it was undoubtedly the greatest day ever in the new Croke Park, and one of the greatest GAA days in the association’s history.

This team was unburdened by the weight of history and expectation that had continually derailed Mayo sides throughout its history. But it has been that kind of a season.

When Wicklow sensationally defeated Down in the Tailteann Cup final three weeks ago, their incredible second-half turnaround triggered a raw and guttural emotion rarely witnessed in Croke Park prior to last Sunday.

The noise from their supporters that boomed around the ground throughout the second half, especially in the closing minutes and at the final whistle reflected a ravenous hunger, thirst and desire that could only come from a people starved of success throughout their history.

Along with Fermanagh, Wicklow are the only county not to have won a provincial title, but at least Fermanagh have had some of the big days that Wicklow could only crave; beating Armagh in the 2004 All-Ireland quarter-final before taking Mayo to the brink in the drawn and replayed All-Ireland semi-finals; drawing with Armagh in the 2008 Ulster final; reaching the 2018 Ulster final.

Anyone can

Wicklow’s only appearance in a Leinster final came as far back as 1897. Wicklow haven’t reached a Leinster semi-final since 1995, but they nearly did this year when pushing Dublin to the brink in Aughrim in April.

Still, Wicklow kept going and their Tailteann Cup success delivered a level of euphoria that the county had never experienced before.

In his acceptance speech, Dean Healy spoke of how Wicklow’s win could provide hope to counties, even outside of his own. “If I can get up these steps,” he stated, “anyone can.” After last Sunday, how many teams were wondering if that could have been them? How many teams are already thinking that it realistically could be them next July?

After hammering Mayo in April, what were Roscommon thinking last Sunday? Meath were 10 points ahead of Mayo approaching half-time in MacHale Park five weeks before the All-Ireland final. Tyrone had beaten Mayo the previous week. Cavan, let’s not forget, beat Mayo in last year’s championship – in Castlebar.

Of the 16 teams that competed for this year’s Sam Maguire, at least 11, possibly 12, would have perceived themselves to be ahead of Mayo at the outset of the championship.

That may not have been an accurate assessment from a tactical, technical and talent perspective. But within all of those camps, they would have still believed themselves to be better than Mayo.

After this season, every team will think that anything is possible with the right application and enough hard work. Why not? Westmeath couldn’t get promoted from Division 3 and they ended the season as Leinster champions and one of the stories of a glorious summer.

Louth beat Dublin, Armagh and Monaghan to reach a first All-Ireland semi-final since 1957. Monaghan will feel that should have beaten Louth - and that they would have if Rory Beggan hadn’t been injured.

In a number of power rankings before the championship began, four of the teams which subsequently reached the All-Ireland quarter-finals – Cork, Louth, Monaghan and Tyrone – were ranked outside the top eight.

Who predicted that Cork could get there by beating Donegal in Ballybofey? Outside of their own camp, nobody.

Could Cork have beaten Mayo in the All-Ireland quarter-final? They would have if they’d been more efficient. Cork only nailed 16 of 36 attempts. And still, the sides were level in the 63rd minute when goalkeeper Jack Livingstone made a fine save from Brian O’Driscoll.

After the greatest championship that Gaelic football has ever known, the future of the game is even more exciting again – especially under the new rules – when the championship has never been so wide open.

It was fitting that Mayo won such an electric championship. And that ongoing electricity already has the vast majority of teams thinking: ‘Why can’t that be us next year?’