It’s a rare thing seeing an angry Andy Moran.
Few knew such a thing existed, but the journalists present at the Mayo manager’s post-match media briefing after their All-Ireland semi-final demolition of Louth were given a glimpse of what that fury looks like.
Moran sat beside Stephen Coen at the top table and was in a splendid mood. How could he not be? A semi-final expected to go the distance, and looked like it would for the first 33 minutes or so, ended with a 17-point victory for his side in one of the most impressive performances from any team in this year’s championship.
Ten minutes from time, and with a spot in the final secured, and dreams of a first All-Ireland title since 1951 very much alive and kicking, the Mayo fans in the Hogan Stand broke into an impromptu version of the Saw Doctors hit ‘The Green and Red of Mayo’.
They are without question one of the most colourful, dedicated fanbases in the country, and while some snigger at their boisterousness on the back of continuous heartbreak, their team has called the faithful back to yet another All-Ireland final to pray.
Back to the media briefing and the fairly innocuous question from a journalist; would the Mayo fans get caught up in the hype that has accompanied their previous eight All-Ireland finals since Moran’s first year as a player in 2004 or would they be cautious given past experiences?
“You laugh at that, lads. I don’t laugh at that,” Moran retorted.
“I find it very actually dismissive, if I’m being honest. I think it’s a bulls**t question. I think it’s a disrespectful question.
“Our county has been starved the last four or five years. If they go a bit nuts, let them.
“You’re going to go to a game tomorrow. Every single one of ye, you’re going to write that Kerry or Dublin will go to win the All-Ireland final, right? Right?
“Does anyone here think we’re going to win the All-Ireland final? No. Thank you.
“So that question is nonsense. If our supporters want to enjoy it, let them enjoy it.”
Darragh Beirne scores Mayo’s second goal
A headline-grabbing response, totally out of kilter with what had been essentially a victory lap following Mayo’s stunning showing.
Ryan O’Donoghue’s 1-11 was just one point shy of Louth’s entire tally. Their maligned defence – so open at times this season – bottled up everything in red with some superb tackling and work-rate. Substitutes came on and contributed 1-03.
Mayo doubled their 2026 championship goal tally from three to six in 70 minutes.
Conor Loftus scored the third of those. The 1957 All-Ireland semi-final was mentioned countless times in the build-up to this game given it was Louth’s last appearance in the last four.
The Crossmolina man has links to that day too as his granduncle and former GAA President Mick Loftus played on the Mayo side that beat Louth in the All-Ireland Junior semi-final beforehand.
Moran, understandably, was delighted with what he had witnessed across the board.
“Semis are to give yourself a chance to go and win the big prize in any competition, county championships, Connacht championships and All-Ireland championships.
“But for us, we had an aim at the start of the year – can we get the Mayo back supporting the team? And I think that was answered today.”
Roll back to 22 February and Moran was standing in the Clones tunnel chewing the fat after Kobe McDonald’s stunning debut in their 19-point league win over Monaghan.
He was fielding queries on how long they’d have him on board before his move to AFL side St Kilda.
It felt like Mayo’s season with the youngster was set to be like an episode of Bullseye – McDonald producing magic, reminding supporters ‘here’s what you could have won’ before heading Down Under.
Nobody with a microphone at St Tiernach’s Park that day expected that McDonald’s leaving party would extend to 26 July and an All-Ireland final against the winners of today’s clash between holders Kerry and Dublin.
The youngster all but tied down the Young Footballer of the Year gong with another invigorating display against Louth.
McDonald’s shooting was a mixed bag, but nothing could repel him from having yet another huge say.
His flick for Ryan O’Donoghue’s opening goal was not the action of a greenhorn but of a wily veteran who had realised that his marker had gotten too tight. He landed four points from play too and some of his acceleration was scary.
“Let’s be honest, they’re generational talents,” Moran said of his man and others cherry-picked by AFL scouts.
“You’re going to watch a guy tomorrow, Ciarán Kilkenny, playing for Dublin, who went over for a month or two (with Hawthorn) and came back a couple of months later and played against us in 2012 in an All-Ireland semi-final.
“Of course these boys bring something different. The Aussies aren’t after them because they’re average players. They’re after them because they’re the best.”
For Louth, a season that brought so many special moments ended in humbling fashion.
Speaking to the media afterwards, Gavin Devlin wore the smile of a man who knew that there were no ‘what ifs’.
Craig Lennon’s first-half injury was huge, Paul Matthews going over on his ankle at training on Monday was unfortunate, a few bounces of the ball didn’t go their way.
For all that though, they were simply beaten by a much, much better team on the day.
Kobe McDonald (R) added to his ever-growing reputation
The pain now is trying to work out just how far Louth are off it, but in the passage of time, they’ll remember fondly those wins over Armagh, Monaghan and Dublin.
The AIB billboards around Croke Park projected a giant picture of Devlin kissing the cheek of Conor Grimes in celebration after that famous day in Inniskeen. Those are the moments fans live for.
Mayo will be hoping for one more big moment to cap the most incredible of seasons.
And their fans are going to enjoy the build-up, If you have a problem with that Andy Moran wants a word….
Watch the All-Ireland Football Championship semi-final between Dublin v Kerry on Sunday from 3.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on all matches on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1