While the Mayo supporters in Croke Park made the most of the celebrations after Sunday’s All-Ireland win, there were many more fans dotted around the globe who would have loved to be in the ground for the victory over Kerry.
Mayo have long been one of the most well supported counties in Ireland, with the fanbase starved of the biggest prize in the game for over seven decades. Those who were lucky enough to be in Croke Park when they finally got their hands on the Sam Maguire won’t quickly forget the occasion.
Someone who was not in attendance was Oisín Mullin, with the former Mayo star currently in the middle of the AFL season with the Geelong Cats.
As it turns out, he could have been back for the game if his home county got their way.
Mayo made cheeky Oisín Mullin request before All-Ireland final
We have seen AFL stars take a hiatus from the sport to return to the GAA in the past, with Mark O’Connor’s All-Ireland run with Dingle earlier this year the most recent example.
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His Geelong teammate Oisín Mullin has not attempted something similar as of yet, although it seems Mayo made a cheeky request ahead of the All-Ireland final.
Speaking on Fox, Geelong head coach Chris Scott revealed that Mullin received a query from Mayo about potentially returning to Ireland to feature in the decider.
“Asking if he might be able to pop over to Ireland…” 😆
Geelong’s Oisin Mullin had a chat with Chris Scott about whether he could fly home and play in Mayo’s drought-breaking All-Ireland final victory… in between Cats games! #AFL360 pic.twitter.com/sigouGVrLV
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) July 27, 2026
It was actually in person with Oisín Mullin.
He had taken a phone call from the Mayo coach, just planting a seed that possibly after our game against Melbourne Friday night that he might be able to pop over to Ireland to play in the final and then come back.
Bearing in mind, this is right in the period where we had three weeks where Oisín was going to play on Nasiah [Wanganeen-Milera], the next week he was on Kozzy Pickett, then next week I don’t think I’m telling anybody something they don’t know on who comes after that.
Plus an All-Ireland final. We were kind of open to the conversation!
Geelong are currently in the midst of a difficult run in their season, meaning the offer was never seriously considered by the club.
Mayo set to lose another player to AFL
Oisín Mullin has no plans to return to the Mayo panel as things stand, with the 26-year old thoroughly enjoying his time in Australia. In saying that, he did reveal earlier this month that he could line out for club side Kilmaine in the Mayo Intermediate Championship later this year should his schedule allow.
Kobe McDonald is also set for an extended period of time from the panel as he prepares to make the move Down Under with his parents over the coming weeks.