John Maughan has been through the depths of despair with Mayo – as a player, a manager and a supporter.
On Sunday he experienced a day he feared would never happen.
Maughan was Mayo boss in 1996 when they were beaten by Meath in an All-Ireland final replay. They returned to the decider the following year, losing to Páidí Ó Sé’s Kerry. In 2004, Maughan was in the dugout again to see the Kingdom ease to another victory on the big day.
They’ve endured 11 All-Ireland final defeats since winning it back 1951, each one leaving another scar, another wound to fester.
But yesterday evening the wait ended. Andy Moran’s exuberant side refused to buckle as they surged past Kerry to finally capture the Sam Maguire Cup.
For Maughan, it was overwhelming.
“I’m absolutely wrecked,” he told RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland.
“I came home last night and just took to bed. I woke at about three o’clock in the morning. I’m still shaking. It was a very emotive occasion.
“My immediate reaction after the game was unbridled joy, understandably, but tinged with a little bit of sadness as well because so many great players of the past and so many who have departed would have loved and enjoyed the occasion.
“I was trembling, actually. I had a great feeling with about 15, 20 minutes to go. I just saw the energy that was on display in front of me. It was quite remarkable. There was something just magical about the whole occasion… 75 years, the whole narrative around the curse is finally put to bed.”
That “curse” has hung over generations of Mayo players. It goes back to 1951, when it was alleged the triumphant Mayo team did not show due respect to a funeral they passed on their way home with the cup. The priest – so the legend goes – placed a curse on Mayo, warning they’d never win another All-Ireland while any of the players on the panel were still alive.
There’ll be no talk of it now. Mayo have climbed their Everest, and Maughan is still taking it all in.
John Maughan during the 1996 All-Ireland SFC final between Meath and Mayo
“I was sitting beside Kerry people,” he said. “It was lovely to see everybody remain for the presentation, all the Kerry supporters and any neutrals there. That was something quite unique.
“I’ve been at, I suppose, close to 40 finals, involved in three All-Ireland losses when I was on the sideline. We’ve had such grief and misfortune with the ball hopping over the bar in 1996 against Meath, sending-offs, own goals in 2016, so, I can understand entirely why people might suspect the curse was very much at play. But yesterday there was no curse.
“It was just an unbelievable occasion and we’re just looking forward to them coming home, to be with them. I’m a Crossmolina clubman. I’m delighted for Jordan (Flynn) and Conor (Loftus) and, obviously, the remarkable young Kobe (McDonald), who is just an incredible talent.
“(The younger players) brought huge confidence. I suppose the reality of modern society, modern young people, they’re not burdened with baggage. They’re just so confident as young people. But those lads that came in, every single one of them added something to it.”
Maughan reflected on the many years of Mayo frustration but highlighted the incredible impact made by current manager Moran.
“There were a lot of dark days, a lot of troubled days,” added Maughan.
“I grew up in the decade of the 70s in Crossmolina. I remember sneaking out of boarding school in 1978 to see Mayo play in a National League final against Dublin. We scored, I think, 2-13, beaten by the great Dublin team of that era.
Kobe McDonald takes it all in at Croke Park
“I thought, ‘hey, this is the start of something glorious, we’re going to win All-Ireland titles’. I never saw Mayo play in an All-Ireland semi-final. We didn’t win a single provincial final in that decade of the 70s. But in the last 10 or 12, 15, 20 years… we’ve been boxing above our weight.
“There was, I suppose, something holding us back. But Andy and his management team have reinvigorated this young squad. He brings a great energy and positivity.
“I know Andy for a long number of years. I introduced him into the Mayo team back in the day. He’s bubbling with positive energy and excitement. I suppose the manifestation of it was witnessed yesterday, where all those young lads were feeding off it.
“I was beginning to doubt it would ever happen. I was beginning to doubt it. I certainly didn’t anticipate it yesterday, if I’m being totally honest. Many others down here didn’t. That’s the beauty about it.
“When it was least expected, we’d go and do it. That was always the way it was meant to happen.”