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This section is about the Mayo men's county football team. For the Mayo ladies' football team, see Mayo county ladies' football team. For the county board, see Mayo GAA. For other uses, see Mayo (disambiguation).

Mayo
Sport:Football
Irish:Maigh Eo
Nickname(s):The Westerners
The Yew County
The Heather County
County board:Mayo GAA
Manager:Kevin McStay
Captain:Paddy Durcan[1]
Top scorer:Cillian O'Connor (30–337)
Home venue(s):MacHale Park, Castlebar
Recent competitive record
Current All-Ireland status:QF in 2023
Last championship title:1951 against Meath
Current NFL Division:1 (2nd in 2022)
Last league title:2023
First colours
Second colours

The Mayo county football team (/ˈmeɪoʊ/;[2]) represents Mayo in men's Gaelic football and is governed by Mayo GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Connacht Senior Football Championship and the National Football League.

Mayo's home ground is MacHale Park, Castlebar. The team's manager is Kevin McStay.

Mayo was the second Connacht county to win an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC), following Galway, but the first to appear in the final. The team last won the Connacht Senior Championship in 2021, the All-Ireland Senior Championship in 1951 and the National League in 2023.

Mayo has acquired a long-term record for reaching All-Ireland SFC finals only to fall at the ultimate hurdle. In 1989, the county reached a first All-Ireland SFC final since its last previous appearance in 1951 only to lose to Cork. In 1996, a freak point by Meath at the end of the final forced a replay, which saw Mayo concede another late score that would deny the county victory. Kerry bridged an 11-year title gap against Mayo in the 1997 final with a three-point win, before torturing them by eight points in the 2004 final and thirteen points in the 2006 final.[3] In the 2012 final, Donegal bridged a 20-year gap between titles, helped in no small part by a nightmare opening quarter for Mayo as Michael Murphy launched a rocket of a shot into the goal after three minutes. Then, in the eleventh minute, Colm McFadden seized the ball from the grasp of Kevin Keane and slid it into the net for a second Donegal goal. Mayo managed thirteen points to Donegal's two goals and eleven, only got on the scoresheet after sixteen minutes when already two goals behind and never led during the match.[3][4][5] Mayo qualified for the 2013 final, and once more came up short, this time being seen off by a Dublin team which won by a single point. The 2016 final likewise, a single point against Dublin, though this time after a replay; the drawn game featuring two own goals by Mayo players, a previously unknown occurrence in the sport, which left Mayo behind by five points at half-time despite holding Dublin scoreless for the first 30 minutes of the game. The 2017 final, and another one-point loss to Dublin. The 2020 final and Mayo conceded the fastest goal scored in the history of All-Ireland SFC finals on the way to another loss to Dublin, this one by five points. Another five-point loss followed in the 2021 final, with Ryan O'Donoghue hitting a penalty against the goalpost and numerous other goal chances being squandered. Since 1989, Mayo has played in 13 finals (including replays), losing 11 of them, with the others finishing level.

History

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Though not affiliated[by what?] through the 1890s, there is strong evidence[clarification needed] of GAA activity in Mayo and the rivalry with Galway which brought success to both counties from the 1930s onwards was already in evidence.

Between them, Galway and Mayo have won more than three quarters of the Connacht Senior Football Championship (SFC) titles that have been contested.[citation needed]

Mayo has an unequalled[citation needed] number of consecutive National Football League titles. The Mayo team were champions in 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, and 1939.

Early years: First All-Ireland SFC title

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One of the great turning points in GAA history west of the River Shannon was the 1935 Connacht SFC final when 26,000 spectators witnessed then league title holders Mayo defeat then All-Ireland SFC holders Galway at Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon.

Mayo was leading by a goal in the last minute of the 1936 Connacht SFC final when Brendan Nestor scored an equaliser for Galway; Nestor raised the flag himself and caused a riot. However, Mayo won the replay and went on to capture their first All-Ireland SFC, defeating Laois by 4–11 (23) to 0–5 (5) in the final.

The following year, 1937, the county was the victim of a Louis Blessing last-minute goal in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Cavan, another match that featured a pitch invasion. This ended Mayo's run of 57 matches without defeat.

Mayo dominated the National Football League for six years, but pulled out of the 1939–40 league in a grievance over the 1939 semi-final, a bad-tempered draw and replay with Kerry. Mayo returned to the competition to win its seventh league title in 1941. Due to the Second World War, the league was suspended for four seasons until 1946, and Mayo was unable to add to these successes.

Post-war: Second and third All-Ireland SFC titles

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Following Mayo's 1939 Connacht SFC final victory, the team took nine years to emerge from the province again.

Mayo narrowly lost the 1948 All-Ireland SFC Final to Cavan and 1949 All-Ireland SFC semi-final to Meath.

However, the county returned to Croke Park to win the 1950 All-Ireland SFC when Louth's Sean Boyle had his kick-out charged down and Mick Flanagan broke through for a freak winning goal, Mayo winning the game by 2–5 (11) to 1–6 (9). Mayo retained the All-Ireland SFC the following year, with Pádraig Carney (known as the flying doctor because he had returned from the United States to play the game) scoring three late points to give Mayo a 2–8 (14) to 0–9 (9) victory against Meath. During this period, Mayo also won the National League in 1949 and 1954, the county's eighth and ninth titles in this competition. Eight wides and a one-point defeat in the replayed 1955 All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Dublin brought this period of success to an end.

Mayo went 12 years without winning another Connacht SFC title. The county then won the 1967 Connacht SFC, ending Galway's four-in-a-row All-Ireland SFC expectations in the process. Another Connacht SFC followed in 1969. Mayo also added a tenth National League title in 1970, defeating Down in the final by a scoreline of 4–7 (19) to 0–10 (10). Despite this success, the 1970s was arguably the least successful decade in the history of Mayo football, as the team failed to win a Connacht SFC title, coming closest when losing the 1975 Connacht SFC final to Sligo after a replay.

1980–1991: Return to regional prominence

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While Mayo had not won an All-Ireland SFC title since 1951, nor even qualified for the final, the 1980s brought a marked improvement in the team's fortunes. The 1981 championship bridged a twelve-year gap when Mayo defeated Sligo at MacHale Park in Castlebar in the Connacht SFC final by a scoreline of 0–12 to 0–4; however, this was followed by a heavy defeat to the sport's then dominant Kerry team, by a scoreline of 1–6 to 2–19.

The 1982 championship featured a heavy Connacht SFC final defeat to Galway at St Jarlath's Park in Tuam, and a rematch of that final the following year in Castlebar brought another defeat to Galway, by three points on this occasion. Mayo had by then been relegated to Division 2 of the National League and lost a promotion play-off to Roscommon in early 1984. For the third consecutive year, Galway and Mayo met in the Connacht SFC final, this time at Pearse Stadium. The result remained the same, with Galway completing the three-in-a-row, by a scoreline of 2–13 to 2–9.

Mayo and Galway were positioned on opposite sides of the 1985 championship draw, and easy victories over Leitrim (semi-final) and Roscommon in the final, allowed Mayo to win the title. The final notably coincided with the retirement of Roscommon player Dermot Earley Snr, whom the Mayo players chaired[clarification needed] from the pitch at the end of the match. Mayo played Dublin in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final, the county's first championship meeting with the Dubs since 1955 ending in a draw, with a scoreline of 1–13 to 1–13. Mayo player John Finn's jaw was broken in mysterious circumstances during the first game; tension was high for the replay. However, despite a goal from Padraig Brogan, Dublin easily defeated Mayo by eight points, with a scoreline of 2–12 to 1–7. Still, this was as close as Mayo had come to an All-Ireland SFC final since 1955. Dermot Flanagan, Willie Joe Padden and Kevin McStay received All Stars in recognition of their performances during the year.

Although 1986 brought promotion to Division 1 of the National League, that year's championship campaign ended with a Connacht SFC semi-final defeat to Roscommon at McHale Park. Mayo reached the Connacht SFC final in the 1987 championship, losing to Galway in a low-scoring match which finished with a scoreline of 0–7 to 0–8. Though the team was relegated to Division 2 of the National League in 1988, the county fared better in that year's championship. Connacht SFC wins over Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon (the last in the final) brought Mayo to another All-Ireland SFC semi-final. However, reigning All-Ireland SFC champions Meath defeated the county, by a scoreline of 0–16 to 2–5, on its way to defend the title.

Former player John O'Mahony took over as manager ahead of the 1989 season.[citation needed] Mixed results in the league were followed by that year's championship.[citation needed] After a draw in the Connacht SFC semi-final against Galway in Tuam, Mayo won the replay by a scoreline of 2–13 to 1–8 in Castlebar, with goals from Liam McHale and Anthony "Larry" Finnerty.[citation needed] The final, against Roscommon, was held in Castlebar.[citation needed] This too resulted in a draw, 0–12 to 1–9. A further 70 minutes at Dr Hyde Park a week later could not separate the teams either, with Mayo winning after extra-time by a scoreline of 3–14 to 2–13.[citation needed] A scrappy game against Tyrone in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final ended with Mayo winning by a scoreline of 0–12 to 1–6. This victory was made famous by an iconic image of a bandaged Willie Joe Padden.[citation needed] Mayo's first All-Ireland SFC final appearance in 38 years was against Cork, the runner-up in the previous two competitions.[citation needed] Though Mayo substitute Finnerty scored a goal in the middle of the second half, Cork won by a scoreline of 0–17 to 1–11. All Stars followed that year for Gabriel Irwin, Jimmy Browne, Dermot Flanagan, Willie Joe Padden and Noel Durkin.[citation needed] The team Mayo selected for the 1989 All-Ireland SFC final was full of players more accustomed to the role of midfielder than anything else, e.g. T. J. Kilgallon at centre-back and Greg Maher at wing-forward.[6]

Mayo's 1990 championship was brief, a 2–11 to 1–12 defeat to Galway in Tuam. The following season proved little better; after big wins against London and Galway, Mayo met Roscommon in the Connacht SFC final. Derek Duggan's long-range last-minute free for Roscommon led to a replay at Dr Hyde Park, a game which Mayo lost by one point on a scoreline of 0–13 to 1–9. John O'Mahony resigned as manager at the end of the season, following a dispute between himself and the county board over team selector appointments.[citation needed]

1991–1995: Further decline; relegation to Division 3

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Though Mayo won Connacht SFC titles in 1992 and 1993, the early 1990s was a largely unsuccessful period for the county, as the standard of Connacht football declined significantly between 1990 and 1995.

Former Dublin player Brian McDonald took over as manager for the 1992 season, which proved more successful for Mayo. Following a Connacht SFC first round replay victory over Galway, Mayo defeated Sligo in the Connacht SFC semi-final and then Roscommon in the final. This set up a first championship meeting for the county with Donegal in a 1992 All-Ireland SFC semi-final. Donegal, however, defeated Mayo by a scoreline of 0–13 to 0–9 to qualify for a first All-Ireland SFC final in team history, achieving an unanticipated victory over Dublin in that game. TJ Kilgallon received an All Star at midfield. A player revolt, over allegations concerning his training methods (which were said[by whom?] to include pushing a car around a car park), led to McDonald departing as manager.[citation needed]

Former Kerry player Jack O'Shea succeeded McDonald as manager for the 1993 season. Consecutive Connacht SFC titles were secured in a poor game against Roscommon, which finished with a scoreline of 1–5 to 0–7. But humiliation followed in the 1993 All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Cork, as Mayo lost by 20 points, 5–15 to 0–10. Kevin O'Neill was a rare bright spot for Mayo, and the young forward ended the year with an All Star. Despite the result, O'Shea remained in place for the 1994 campaign, which ended in a Connacht SFC final to a Leitrim team then managed by John O'Mahony. This was only Leitrim's second Connacht SFC title, and prompted O'Shea to resign.

Anthony Egan succeeded O'Shea as manager but 1995 was a low point for Mayo, with relegation to Division 3 of the National League followed by a championship campaign that ended in a seven-point defeat to Galway in the Connacht SFC final in Tuam.

1995–1999: Three championship finals; one draw, two losses

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John Maughan, noted for managing Clare to a Munster Senior Football Championship title in 1992, was brought in as manager in an effort to improve the team's position. Maughan, a former Mayo player and Defence Forces officer, was renowned for the physical fitness regime he imposed on his teams; improvements were swift. Mayo won Division 3 of the National League in 1996; then the county won its third Connacht SFC title of the decade, defeating Galway in the final. Maughan's team produced its year's best performance in the 1996 All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Kerry. Mayo won by a scoreline of 2–13 to 1–10, with a James Horan goal lobbed from a distance of 40 metres by in the last minute of the game sealing the victorya nd giving Mayo its first championship victory against Kerry since 1951.

Ray Dempsey's 45th-minute goal gave Mayo a lead of six points in the 1996 All-Ireland SFC final against Meath; however, a Meath comeback, culminating in a last-minute Colm Coyle long-range point, saw the game end in a draw on a scoreline of 1–9 to 0–12. During a bad-tempered replay – which included a brawl in which Coyle and Liam McHale, one of Mayo's most influential players, was sent off – Mayo led by four points at half-time but conceded a goal to Tommy Dowd and lost by one-point on a scoreline of 2–9 to 1–11. Kenneth Mortimer, Pat Holmes, James Nallen, Liam McHale and James Horan later received All Stars.

Mayo defeated Galway, Leitrim and Sligo (the last of these in the final) to retain the Connacht SFC title in 1997. The defeat of Galway was Mayo's first victory in Tuam for more than 30 years. Mayo reached its second successive All-Ireland SFC final following a 0–13 to 0–7 victory over Leinster Senior Football Championship winner Offaly. However, Mayo lost the 1997 All-Ireland SFC final to Kerry by a scoreline of 0–13 to 1–7 in a poor game illuminated by the skill of Kerry forward Maurice Fitzgerald. Mortimer received another All Star, with Pat Fallon also receiving one.

Mayo entered the 1998 Connacht SFC heavily favoured to win the competition, but John O'Mahony's Galway team ambushed the county in the preliminary round in Castlebar. Two Ciarán McDonald goals could not prevent a 2–6 to 1–13 defeat.

Mayo had achieved promotion in the 1997–98 National League and returned to Division 1 of the National League. Another Connacht SFC title (Mayo's fifth of the decade) followed, after wins over New York, Roscommon and Galway, this last in the final. However, Mayo failed to reach another All-Ireland SFC final, losing to Cork by a scoreline of 2–12 to 0–12 in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final. James Horan received an All Star and manager John Maughan resigned after four tumultuous seasons.

1999–2010: Two championship finals

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Pat Holmes was manager for the 2000 season, but his managerial career got off to a poor start with a Connacht SFC first round defeat against Sligo. When National League matches resumed in the spring of 2001, Mayo won the competition for the eleventh time. In what was the only national final played between the two western rivals, Mayo defeated Galway by a scoreline of 0–13 to 0–12, courtesy of substitute Marty McNicholas's late point. This was Mayo's first national title since 1970. League success did not transfer to the championship and Mayo lost the Connacht SFC final to Roscommon following a last-minute Gerry Lohan goal. That year's introduction of the All-Ireland SFC qualifier system meant Mayo received a second chance. The county met Westmeath but this too ended in a Mayo defeat, albeit after extra time, by a scoreline of 1–14 to 0–16.

Galway defeated Mayo in the opening round of the 2002 championship. Into the qualifiers once more, Mayo fared better this time with wins against Roscommon, Limerick and Tipperary, facing the latter duo for the first time in the championship. In the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final (the quarter-final stage having been added to the championship in 2001), Cork again provided the opposition and Mayo again lost, by a scoreline of 0–16 to 1–10 on this occasion.

Mayo's failure to win a Connacht SFC title under Holmes and his departure at the end of the 2002 season paved the way for John Maughan's return for a second term as team manager. The first season of Maughan's return was also a failure as Galway defeated Mayo in the Connacht SFC final and Fermanagh defeated Mayo in the last 12 of that year's All-Ireland SFC.

Mayo regained the Connacht SFC title with ease in 2004, securing facile wins over New York, Galway and Roscommon, with none of the teams able to finish its match within five points of Mayo. The county then attained an unexpected victory over reigning All-Ireland SFC champions Tyrone in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final by a scoreline of 0–16 to 1–9. However, Mayo's form rapidly deteriorated following this win. A struggle to overcome surprise All-Ireland SFC semi-finalists Fermanagh following a replay led to an eight-point loss to Kerry in the All-Ireland SFC final on a scoreline of 1–20 to 2–9. James Nallen and Ciarán McDonald received All Stars that year.

In the 2005 championship, Mayo did not retain its title, losing to Galway in the 2005 Connacht SFC final. A three-point victory over Cavan in the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers was followed by a three-point All-Ireland SFC quarter-final defeat to Kerry, bringing an end to Maughan's second term as manager.

Mickey Moran then became Mayo's first manager from outside the county since Jack O'Shea managed the team in the early 1990s. In the 2006 championship, Moran led the team to another Connacht SFC title, defeating Galway by one point in the final. Following an unconvincing replay victory over Laois in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final, in the semi-final against Dublin, Mayo produced arguably its greatest performance since the defeat of Kerry ten years previously. Even before the game started tensions were raised by Mayo warming up into the Hill 16 end. They were soon joined by Dublin, and some jostling occurred between players and management teams. The match itself was of high quality and resulted in Mayo coming from seven points behind with 20 minutes remaining to defeat pre-match favourite Dublin by a scoreline of 1–16 to 2–12. Ciarán McDonald's winning point from under the Hogan Stand was a particular highlight. Kerry again awaited Mayo in the All-Ireland SFC final. Kerry defeated Mayo at the competition's ultimate stage for the third time in ten years, this time by a scoreline of 4–15 to 3–5. Alan Dillon won his first All Star award, as did Conor Mortimer, joining his brother Kenneth as an award winner. Despite the relative success of the 2006 season, rumours persisted of divisions between Moran and the Mayo County Board and Moran was not retained as manager for the 2007 season.

John O'Mahony returned as Mayo manager following a 16-year absence during which he had won a Connacht SFC title with Leitrim (1994) as well as two All-Ireland SFC titles with Galway (1998 and 2001). In his first season back as manager, O'Mahony led Mayo to the National League final but this ended in defeat to Donegal. A seven-point defeat to Galway followed in the opening round of the 2007 Connacht SFC and Mayo exited the 2007 championship in the second round of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers with a defeat to Derry at Celtic Park, a game in which Ciarán McDonald made his final appearance for Mayo as a substitute.

Mayo lost the 2008 Connacht SFC final by one point to Galway. The county then lost narrowly to eventual All-Ireland SFC winner Tyrone in a 2008 All-Ireland SFC qualifier by a scoreline of 0–13 to 1–9.

Mayo defeated Galway in the 2009 Connacht SFC final by a scoreline of 2–12 to 1–14, with Peader Gardiner's injury-time point giving Mayo a first (and only) Connacht SFC title of O'Mahony's second term as manager, and its 42nd title overall. However, a 2–15 to 1–15 defeat to Meath followed in the 2009 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final.

The 2010 season was a nadir for Mayo. Cork defeated it in a National League final, Sligo defeated it in the first round of the 2010 Connacht SFC and Longford defeated it in round one of the 2010 All-Ireland SFC qualifiers. John O'Mahony immediately resigned as Mayo manager after this game.

2010–present: Six championship finals and relegation

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James Horan replaced O'Mahony as manager for the 2011 campaign. Horan had won a Mayo Senior Football Championship with Ballintubber as manager the previous year. After nearly losing in London in the first round of the 2011 Connacht SFC, Mayo won that year's Connacht SFC title by defeating Roscommon at a rain-sodden Dr Hyde Park. Mayo was the underdog ahead of its 2011 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against title holder Cork but won by four points. The county's championship campaign ended at the semi-final stage, with a nine-point defeat to Kerry, but the improved performances augured well for the future.[7] Andy Moran was subsequently selected as an All Star full-forward.

Mayo reached the 2012 National League final but lost to Cork by a scoreline of 2–10 to 0–11. Mayo retained the Connacht SFC title with wins against Leitrim and Sligo, before defeating Down in the 2012 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final. Encountering the reigning champion Dublin in an All-Ireland SFC semi-final, Mayo overcame a Dublin rally to win by a scoreline of 0–19 to 0–16 and qualify for a first All-Ireland SFC final since 2006. Conceding two goals in the first eleven minutes of that game, Mayo to Donegal by a scoreline of 2–11 to 0–13. Alan Dillon received his second All Star, while Ger Cafferkey, Keith Higgins and Lee Keegan each received their first.

Mayo easily won its third consecutive Connacht SFC in 2013, defeating Galway by 17 points, Roscommon by 12 points and first-time finalist London by 16 points. Mayo met Donegal in the 2013 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final, winning comprehensively. A six-point win over Tyrone returned Mayo to the All-Ireland SFC final. A close game was ultimately decided by a single point in favour of Mayo's opponent, with a scoreline of 2–12 to 1–14.[8] Higgins and Keegan received their second All Stars, while Colm Boyle and Aidan O'Shea both received their first.

Horan led Mayo to the Connacht SFC title in his fourth year as team manager, after wins against New York, Roscommon and a victory against Galway in the final by a scoreline of 3–14 to 0–16. A one-point win over Cork led to a 2014 All-Ireland SFC semi-final meeting with Kerry. An improved second-half performance had Mayo leading by five points as the last five minutes approached; however, a Kieran Donaghy goal levelled the game, 1–16 apiece. The GAA fixed the replay for Gaelic Grounds in Limerick as Croke Park was unavailable due to it hosting a game of American football. Another eventful match occurred there and the teams were again level after 70 minutes of play. Kerry stretched its lead in extra time and won by a scoreline of 3–16 to 3–13. James Horan resigned as team manager immediately afterwards. Keith Higgins won his third consecutive All Star, with Colm Boyle receiving his second and Cillian O'Connor his first.

Mayo appointed Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly as joint managers ahead of the 2015 season. After defeating Galway in the 2015 Connacht SFC semi-final, a 6–25 to 2–11 victory over Sligo gave Mayo a record-breaking fifth consecutive Connacht SFC title. Another All-Ireland SFC quarter-final defeat of Donegal led to Mayo meeting Dublin again in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final. Seven points down with five minutes to go, a Cillian O'Connor penalty helped Mayo force a draw, 1–15 to 2–12. The replay was played at a high tempo, but after an even first half, Dublin pulled away in the second half to win by seven points, 3–15 to 1–14, because of a bad error by management. Lee Keegan received his third All Star and Aidan O'Shea received his second. A player protest against management over the winter led to the resignation of Holmes and Connelly.

Stephen Rochford succeeded them as Mayo manager for the 2016 season. Though its league performance was poor, Mayo avoided relegation from Division 1 for an eighteenth consecutive year. A heavy favourite to win a sixth successive Connacht SFC title, Galway achieved an unexpected win by a scoreline of 0–12 to 1–12 against Mayo in the semi-final of the competition. Mayo advanced through the 2016 All-Ireland SFC qualifiers, with unconvincing victories against Fermanagh, Kildare and Westmeath to reach an All-Ireland SFC quarter-final encounter with Tyrone. In a tight game, Mayo won by a point, 0–13 to 0–12. Tipperary awaited in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final, which Mayo won by 2–13 to 0–14 to set up an All-Ireland SFC final against Dublin. Mayo's Kevin McLoughlin and Colm Boyle both scored early own goals to give Dublin a significant half-time lead (though no Dublin player scored in the first 30 minutes of the game). Cillian O'Connor scored an equalising point in the 77th minute of play to leave the score at 0–15 to 2–9. Thus, a replay, which ended in another All-Ireland SFC final single-point defeat. Cillian O'Connor had an opportunity to bring the game to extra time in the 76th minute but he missed the free. The game finished with a scoreline of 1–15 to 1–14. David Clarke received his first All Star, Lee Keegan received his fourth All Star and was named All Stars Footballer of the Year for 2016, Colm Boyle received his third All Star and Brendan Harrison also received an All Star.

A Mayo flag flying on the day of the 2017 All-Ireland SFC final

After a 2017 Connacht SFC semi-final loss to Galway, Mayo required extra time in two games and played a total of eight games to reach the 2017 All-Ireland SFC final against Dublin. After conceding an early goal in that final, Mayo dominated the game and held control for most of the first half, leading by one point at half-time. However, Dublin recovered and Dean Rock scored a free late into injury time to win the game for his team by a scoreline of 1–17 to 1–16, inflicting a one-point defeat on Mayo at this stage and to the same opponent for a second consecutive year. Andy Moran received his second All Star and was named All Stars Footballer of the Year for 2017. Keith Higgins and Colm Boyle received their fourth All Stars, Aidan O'Shea received his third All Star, David Clarke received his second All Star and Chris Barrett also received an All Star.

Another poor league campaign in 2018 required a late Kevin McLoughlin point to salvage a draw against a Donegal team which that result relegated instead. Galway defeated Mayo in the opening round of the 2018 Connacht SFC. This obliged Mayo to participate in the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers again, and although Mayo defeated a poor Limerick team in Round One, Mayo had to earn a hard-fought win over Tipperary to secure a place in the next game against Kildare. A rejuvenated Kildare team won the game by a scoreline of 0–21 to 0–19. Rochford resigned as team manager not long after this defeat, citing that he "didn't have the backing of the board".

James Horan returned as manager in 2019. Mayo lost to Roscommon in the 2019 Connacht SFC. The county defeated Down, Armagh and Galway in All-Ireland SFC qualifiers. The campaign ended in defeat (by a scoreline of 3–14 to 1–10) to Dublin at the All-Ireland SFC semi-final stage, with Con O'Callaghan scoring two goals and Brian Fenton scoring the other.[9] Paddy Durcan received an All Star.

The county was relegated from Division 1 on the final day of the 2020 National League, its first time to exit the top flight in 23 years, with Tyrone heavily defeating the team in Castlebar.[10] Mayo reached the 2020 All-Ireland SFC final, Dublin again the victors, while conceding the fastest goal scored in the history of All-Ireland SFC finals, knocking more than 20 seconds off a record which had stood for 58 years.[11]

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games, Mayo's 2021 Connacht SFC game in London was not permitted to occur for the second time in its history, after the UK's 2001 foot-in-mouth outbreak.[12]

In 2021, Mayo gained promotion at the first attempt back to Division 1 of the National Football League with a 2–22 to 2–18 win over Clare in the final round of that competition. Another All-Ireland SFC final, another five-point loss, with Ryan O'Donoghue hitting a penalty against the goalpost and numerous other goal chances being squandered.[13] A 2022 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final exit to Kerry was followed within hours by the resignation of manager James Horan.[14][15]

In 2024 will host New York back to the draw for 2025 season the resume of hosting London in the 2026 season of the Connacht championships.

Curse

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Since the 1990s, a sports curse story had circulated that Mayo would not win another All-Ireland until all members of the 1951 team had died.[16] The supposed cause was that the 1951 champions, returning through Foxford in a coach or lorry, passed a funeral cortège without respectfully suspending their boisterous celebrations, and were cursed by either the priest, the bereaved spouse, or a Traveller.[16] Folklorist Arlene Crampsie, who conducted interviews in Mayo for the 2008–2012 GAA Oral History Project, found that participants had no interest in the story and regarded it as "recently contrived nonsense" spread by the media in the wake of multiple recent near-misses.[16] In a 2016 TG4 documentary, the two surviving 1951 players, Paddy Prendergast and Pádraig Carney dismissed the story.[17] Carney died on 9 June 2019 — leaving Prendergast as the last surviving player from the 1951 team. Prendergast died on 26 September 2021.[18]

Colours and crest

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County Mayo coat of arms

The team's traditional colours are green and red. The Mayo jersey will commonly be mostly green, with a thick horizontal red stripe just below chest level. These colours are inspired by "The Green Above The Red", a rebel song.[19]

Mayo's crest is based on the current GAA crest, with the famous mountain Croagh Patrick in green and the sea beneath it in red, signifying the county's coastline.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mayo GAA kits.

Mayo's current crest is based on the county's coat of arms, which is shown on the left. It features four crosses, each representing a diocese of the Catholic Church in Mayo. The Patriarchal or 'double' cross represents the Archdiocese of Tuam, while the three smaller Passion crosses represent Achonry, Killala and Galway/Kilmacduagh/Kilfenora. The Irish-language root word of the county, Maigh Eo, means "plain of the yew trees", and the trees that surround the crest represent this. As well as this, the number of trees is significant, with the nine trees representing the number of baronies in the county. The sailing ship represents the county's maritime history, while the red sea below the green hills represents the traditional "green above the red" motif of the county.[20] The Mayo GAA crest also features the Irish words Críost Linn, which translates to "Christ be with us".

Stadium

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MacHale Park in November 2016

MacHale Park in Castlebar is the largest stadium in the province of Connacht. Its pitch is much criticised.[21]

It can hold around ten thousand more people than Pearse Stadium, the home venue of Galway, to the south.

Support

[edit]

Mayo's unofficial supporters club is Mayo Club '51. The name of the club commemorates the year that Mayo last won the Sam Maguire Cup, a year which is synonymous with Mayo football.

The many songs since 2012 resulted from a hitherto unsuccessful effort to match "Jimmy's Winning Matches", which became an anthem for the team that defeated Mayo in that year's final.[26]

Traditionally a football county, Mayo have always had a large support at minor, under-21 and senior level.[citation needed] According to RTÉ Sport reporter Conor Neville, the county has "famously the most devoted and fanatical fanbase in the country".[42]

A Mayo jersey with the signature of Pope Francis has been on display at Ireland West Airport since a 2018 visit.[43]

The Chicago Federation of Labor displayed the words "Mayo for Sam" in lights on the 41-storey Prudential Building ahead of the 2020 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.[44][45] Dublin Castle was also lit up in the Mayo colours ahead of the game.[46]

Rivalries

[edit]


Current panel

[edit]

Team as per Mayo vs Derry in the 2024 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Preliminary Quarter Final, 22 June 2023:[47]

No. Player Position Club
1 Colm Reape Goalkeeper Knockmore
2 Jack Coyne Right corner back Ballyhaunis
3 David McBrien Full back Ballaghadereen
4 Donnacha McHugh Left corner back Castlebar Mitchels
5 Rory Brickenden Right half back Westport
6 Sam Callinan Centre back Ballina Stephenites
7 Eoghan McLaughlin Left half back Westport
8 Stephen Coen (c) Midfield Hollymount-Carramore
9 Matthew Ruane Midfield Breaffy
10 Tommy Conroy Right half forward The Neale
11 Darren McHale Centre forward Knockmore
12 Jordan Flynn Left half forward Crossmolina DR
13 Aidan O'Shea Right corner forward Breaffy
14 Jack Carney Full forward Kilmeena
15 Ryan O'Donoghue Left corner forward Belmullet
No. Player Position Club
16 Rob Hennelly Substitute Raheny
17 James Carr Substitute Ardagh
18 Enda Hession Substitute Garrymore
19 Conor Loftus Substitute Crossmolina
20 Cillian O'Connor Substitute Ballintubber
21 Diarmuid O'Connor Substitute Ballintubber
22 Eoin O'Donoghue Substitute Belmullet
23 Pádraig O'Hora Substitute Ballina Stephenites
24 Michael Plunkett Substitute Ballintubber
25 Paul Towey Substitute Charlestown Sarsfields
26 Bob Tuohy Substitute Castlebar Mitchels

INJ Player has had an injury which has affected recent involvement with the county team.
RET Player has since retired from the county team.
WD Player has since withdrawn from the county team due to a non-injury issue.

Current management team

[edit]
As of October 2023:[48]

Managerial history

[edit]

Johnny Carey 1977–1980

Liam O'Neill 1983–1987

John O'Mahony 1987–1991

Brian McDonald 1991–1992

Jack O'Shea 1992–1994

Anthony Egan 1994–1995

John Maughan 1995–1999

Pat Holmes 1999–2002

John Maughan (2) 2002–2005

Mickey Moran 2005–2006

John O'Mahony (2) 2006–2010

James Horan 2010–2014

Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes (2) 2014–2015

Stephen Rochford 2015–2018

James Horan (2) 2018–2022

Kevin McStay 2022–

Players

[edit]

Notable players

[edit]
For individual player details, see list of Mayo inter-county footballers.

Records

[edit]

Most appearances

[edit]

Lee Keegan: 140 appearances, as of end of 2022 season (140th in championship elimination by Kerry)[55]

  • The following are among those to have made the highest number of appearances for the senior team:
# Name Career Apps
1 James Nallen 1995–2010 132
2 Dermot Flanagan 1982–1997 122[56]
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Cillian O'Connor 2011– 100[57]


All Stars

[edit]

Mayo has 48 All Stars, as of 2017. 29 different players have won, as of 2017. Lee Keegan won five All Stars, and is the only player to win five All Stars without winning an All-Ireland medal (he also never played at minor level).[55]

Mayo's John Carey was among the inaugural selection in 1971. Despite winning only two awards in total during their unsuccessful 1970s period, Mayo have been one of the most successful teams nationally in terms of All Star awards gained, with Mayo players winning 42 awards to date. Willie Joe Padden and Dermot Flanagan became the first Mayo players to win multiple awards, both winning their second awards in 1989. Kenneth Mortimer achieved the same feat in 1997, as did James Horan in 1999 and James Nallen in 2004. Mortimer became the first Mayo player to win consecutive awards, in 1996 and 1997, a feat matched by Colm Boyle (2013, 2014 and again, 2016, 2017), Lee Keegan (2012, 2013, and again, 2015, 2016) and David Clarke (2016, 2017), and exceeded by Keith Higgins, who completed three-in-a-row in 2014. Kenneth and Conor Mortimer became the first Mayo siblings to win awards when Conor won an All Star in 2006.

Year Player Position
1971 Johnny Carey Right-full back
1979 Joe McGrath Left-full forward
1985 Dermot Flanagan Left-full back
Willie Joe Padden Midfield
Kevin McStay Right-full forward
1989 Gabriel Irwin Goalkeeper
Jimmy Browne Right-full back
Dermot Flanagan2nd Left-full back
Wille Joe Padden2nd Midfield
Noel Durkin Left-half forward
1992 T. J. Kilgallon Midfield
1993 Kevin O'Neill Right-half forward
1996 Kenneth Mortimer Right-full back
Pat Holmes Right-half back
James Nallen Centre-half back
Liam McHale Midfield
James Horan Left-half forward
1997 Kenneth Mortimer2nd Right-full back
Pat Fallon Midfield
1999 James Horan2nd Left-half forward
2004 James Nallen2nd Centre-half back
Ciarán McDonald Centre-half forward
2006 Alan Dillon Left-half forward
Conor Mortimer Right-full forward
2011 Andy Moran Full forward
2012 Ger Cafferkey Full back
Keith Higgins Left-full back
Lee Keegan Right-half back
Alan Dillon2nd Centre-half forward
2013 Keith Higgins2nd Left-full back
Lee Keegan2nd Right-half back
Colm Boyle Left-half back
Aidan O'Shea Midfield
2014 Keith Higgins3rd Left-full back
Colm Boyle2nd Left-half back
Cillian O'Connor Right-corner forward
2015 Lee Keegan3rd Right-half back
Aidan O'Shea2nd Full-forward
2016 David Clarke Goalkeeper
Brendan Harrison Right-full back
Lee Keegan4th Right-half back
Colm Boyle3rd Centre-half back
2017 David Clarke2nd Goalkeeper
Chris Barrett Right-full back
Keith Higgins3rd Left-full back
Colm Boyle4th Right-half back
Aidan O'Shea3rd Centre-half forward
Andy Moran2nd Left-corner forward

Footballer of the Year

[edit]

The GAA & GPA All Stars Footballer of the Year—known for sponsorship reasons as the Vodafone Footballer of the Year—is an annual award given at the end of the Championship season to a footballer who is adjudged to have been the best in Gaelic football. Players from Mayo have won this twice, with Lee Keegan winning it in 2016 and Andy Moran winning it in 2017, Mayo did not win the All-Ireland Championship in either of those years.

Young Footballer of the Year

[edit]

The GAA & GPA All Stars Young Footballer of the Year (often called simply Young Footballer of the Year) is an annual award given at the end of the Championship season to a young footballer under the age of 21 who is adjudged to have been the best in Gaelic football.

Players from Mayo have won this award more times (7) than players from any other county since the award was instituted in 1997. Cillian and Diarmuid are the only set of brothers to win the award; they and Oisín Mullin are the only multiple winners of the award.

Team of the Century and Team of the Millennium

[edit]

The Team of the Century was nominated in 1984 by Sunday Independent readers and selected by a panel of experts including journalists and former players.[58] It was chosen as part of the Gaelic Athletic Association's centenary year celebrations. Two Mayo players were chosen on the team. These were Seán Flanagan at left-corner-back and Tommy Langan at full-forward.

Similarly The Team of the Millennium was a team chosen in 1999 by a panel of GAA past presidents and journalists. The goal was to single out the best ever 15 players who had played the game in their respective positions, since the foundation of the GAA in 1884 up to the Millennium year, 2000. Both Flanagan and Langan were also selected on this team, occupying the same positions.

Competitive record

[edit]

This is Mayo's record in All-Ireland SFC finals. Bold denotes a year in which the team won the competition.

Year Date Winner Score Loser Score Venue Attendance Winning Margin
1916 17 December Wexford 3-4 Mayo 1-2 Croke Park 3,000 8
1921 17 June 1923 Dublin 1-9 Mayo 0-2 Croke Park 16,000 10
1932 25 September Kerry 2-7 Mayo 2-4 Croke Park 25,816 3
1936 27 September Mayo 4-11 Laois 0-5 Croke Park 50,168 18
1948 25 September Cavan 4-5 Mayo 4-4 Croke Park 74,645 1
1950 24 September Mayo 2-5 Louth 1-6 Croke Park 76,174 2
1951 23 September Mayo 2-8 Meath 0-9 Croke Park 78,201 5
1989 17 September Cork 0-17 Mayo 1-11 Croke Park 65,519 3
1996 15 September Meath 0-12 Mayo 1-9 Croke Park 65,898 n/a (Draw)
1996 29 September Meath 2-9 Mayo 1-11 Croke Park 65,802 1 (Replay)
1997 28 September Kerry 0-13 Mayo 1-7 Croke Park 65,601 3
2004 26 September Kerry 1-20 Mayo 2-9 Croke Park 79,749 8
2006 17 September Kerry 4-15 Mayo 3-5 Croke Park 82,289 13
2012 23 September Donegal 2-11 Mayo 0-13 Croke Park 82,269 4
2013 22 September Dublin 2-12 Mayo 1-14 Croke Park 82,274 1
2016 18 September Dublin 2-9 Mayo 0-15 Croke Park 82,257 n/a (Draw)
2016 1 October Dublin 1-15 Mayo 1-14 Croke Park 82,249 1 (Replay)
2017 17 September Dublin 1-17 Mayo 1-16 Croke Park 82,243 1
2020 19 December Dublin 2-14 Mayo 0-15 Croke Park 0[note 1] 5
2021 11 September Tyrone 2-14 Mayo 0-15 Croke Park 41,150 5

Honours

[edit]

National

[edit]

Provincial

[edit]
  • Connacht Senior Football Championship
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winners (48): 1901, 1903, 1904, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1924, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1967, 1969, 1981, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012[59] 2013,[60] 2014,[61] 2015,[62] 2020, 2021
    • 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runners-up (34): 1903, 1905, 1913, 1917, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1940, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1952, 1953, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1991, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008
  • Connacht FBD League
  • Connacht Junior Football Championship
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winners (30): 1907, 1913, 1914, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1930, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1963, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2012,[64] 2015,[65] 2016[66]
  • Connacht Minor Football Championship
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winners (40): 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013,[67] 2014,[68] 2019
  • Connacht Under-21 Football Championship
    • 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winners (24): 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016[69]

Further reading

[edit]
  • Clune, M. A. (1954) Mayo's Football Triumphs. Dublin: Pearse Press

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The game was played behind closed doors due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Paddy Durcan to captain Mayo for 2023 as McStay names team for league opener". IrishExaminer. 27 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Mayo". Lexico.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b Sweeney, Eamonn (23 September 2012). "Despair cannot last forever". Sunday Independent.
  4. ^ Jackson, Lyle (23 September 2012). "Donegal 2-11 0-13 Mayo". BBC Sport.
  5. ^ O'Keeffe, John (24 September 2012). "Donegal's bite was early, deep and fatal". The Irish Times. …But it was, yet again, a nightmare start comparable to 2004 and 2006… You also must commiserate with Mayo. Yet another All-Ireland final defeat… My only concern for them [Mayo], going into next season, would be that they have a lot of similar forwards and none of them are in the mould of Murphy or McFadden.
  6. ^ Crowe, Dermot (26 June 2022). "Mayo must alter a losing formula". Sunday Independent. pp. 6–7 (Sport). McStay, an All Star inside forward in 1985, agrees. The 1989 All-Ireland final team was choc-a-bloc with midfielders playing out of position, like TJ Kilgallon at centre-back and Greg Maher at wing-forward.
  7. ^ "Old habits stand to Tyrone in the endgame". The Irish Times. 8 August 2008.
  8. ^ "Dublin beat Mayo by a point in All-Ireland football final". BBC Sport. 22 September 2013.
  9. ^ "Dublin's second-half class powers them past Mayo and into All-Ireland final". The42.ie. 10 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Mayo relegated to Division 2 for the first time in 23 years by Tyrone defeat". The42.ie. 25 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Rock smashes fastest goal record in All-Ireland SFC final". Hogan Stand. 19 December 2020.
  12. ^ "GAA season ends for London". RTÉ Sport. 15 March 2001. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  13. ^ "'Why is he going for the top right hand corner?' — The GAA Hour break down Ryan O'Donoghue's penalty miss". 13 September 2021.
  14. ^ "James Horan resigns as Mayo boss following quarter-final loss". RTÉ. 27 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Kerry glide past Mayo in humdrum quarter-final". RTÉ. 26 June 2022.
  16. ^ a b c Crampsie, Arlene (9 September 2017). "The people of Mayo know the All-Ireland curse is a contrived nonsense". The Irish Times. Sports p.2. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  17. ^ "Mayo All-Ireland winner in 1950 and 1951 passes away". The Irish Times. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  18. ^ "The Curse of County Mayo: The story of the 72-year-old Gaelic football hex". BBC Sport. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  19. ^ Davis, Thomas Osborne (1845). "The Green above the Red". The Spirit of the Nation: Ballads and Songs by the Writers of "The Nation". Dublin: James Duffy. pp. 264–5.
  20. ^ "History Around You: Crests and Coats of Arms". teachnet.ie. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  21. ^ "MacHale Park pitch to be resurfaced and extended: The pitch in MacHale Park has often been criticised going back to 2011 when former Down footballer Martin Clarke referred to it as 'one of the worst grounds I've ever played at'". Irish Examiner. 9 March 2021. MacHale Park will be out of bounds from this summer until early 2022 as the much-maligned pitch is being resurfaced.
  22. ^ "Sam Maguire is coming home to Mayo". YouTube. 15 September 2012.
  23. ^ "Mayo Anthem 96 - Mayo All Ireland Football Final Song". YouTube. 25 April 2015.
  24. ^ "The Mayo Song - Fight for Sam 2006". YouTube. 13 September 2012.
  25. ^ "Mike Denver - Mayo Are Back". YouTube. 3 September 2012.
  26. ^ a b "Move over Mike Denver, there's a new Mayo song in town". Joe. 2012.
  27. ^ "The weirdest, and most factually incorrect, Mayo All-Ireland song yet". Joe. 2012.
  28. ^ "The Dream Has Never Died by Michael S. Togher Belmullet Co. Mayo". YouTube. 12 September 2012.
  29. ^ "Declan Nerney Mayo Get Up and Go". YouTube. 15 September 2012.
  30. ^ "Mayo GAA song: Mayo, Here We Go by Arís". YouTube. 25 August 2013.
  31. ^ "The Mayo Man". YouTube. 31 August 2013.
  32. ^ "This Is Our Year by Nicole and Elisha Gannon". The Mayo News. 6 September 2013.
  33. ^ "Chris and Dave - Mayo For Sam". YouTube. 9 September 2013.
  34. ^ "The 10 best moments from the '#MayoforSam' campaign". Irish Independent. 11 September 2013.
  35. ^ "Horan's Men". YouTube. 10 September 2013.
  36. ^ "Seven Mayo Finals - By Wavelength (2015 Mayo Song)". YouTube. 6 August 2015.
  37. ^ "Mayo Cup Song". YouTube. 4 September 2016.
  38. ^ "This Year Is For Mayo - Barry Staunton". YouTube. 9 September 2016.
  39. ^ "In the name of Mayo". YouTube. 11 September 2016.
  40. ^ "Bring SAM Home - Mayo 2017". YouTube. 7 September 2017.
  41. ^ "Fight for Sam 2020 - Dave Howley". YouTube. 9 December 2020.
  42. ^ "Mayo's shot to nothing in a strange year". RTÉ Sport. 17 December 2020.
  43. ^ McGrath, Pat (26 August 2018). "Jersey signed by Pope Francis to be displayed at Knock Airport". RTÉ News. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  44. ^ "Chicago gets behind 'Mayo for Sam' ahead of All-Ireland final". RTÉ. 15 December 2020.
  45. ^ "Chicago backs 'Mayo for Sam'". Hogan Stand. 16 December 2020.
  46. ^ "Dublin Castle lit up in Mayo colours". Hogan Stand. 19 December 2020.
  47. ^ "Mayo Senior Football Team Announced". 25 June 2024.
  48. ^ a b "Corofin's Joe Canney set to join Mayo senior football management team=Irish Examiner". 9 October 2023.
  49. ^ a b "Kevin McStay: Everybody should strap in and come for the spin". RTÉ. 14 September 2022. Rochford is assistant manager along with coaching contributions, Buckley will be head coach and selector, while Mulligan and McHale are also coaches and selectors with additional responsibilities for club liaison and Mayo Under-20s liaison respectively.
  50. ^ Keys, Colm (21 October 2022). "Mayo manager Kevin McStay bringing in goalkeeping coach who worked with Stephen Cluxton for seven years". Irish Independent. He worked extensively with Stephen Cluxton for a number of years, after being brought into the Dublin set-up by Paul Caffrey in 2006 and remained in place until Davy Byrne took over the role in 2013.
  51. ^ "Cillian O'Connor makes GAA history". The Mayo News. 16 July 2019. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  52. ^ "O'Connor set to overhaul Cooper at top of the charts". RTÉ. 9 July 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  53. ^ "Cillian O'Connor the record-breaker as Tipperary fairytale ends". Joe. 6 December 2020.
  54. ^ "O'Connor breaks All-Ireland scoring record with 4-9". Hogan Stand. 6 December 2020.
  55. ^ a b Roche, Frank (25 June 2022). "Mayo's all-time greatest: When they needed him most, against Dublin, Tyrone, Monaghan and Kildare, their talisman delivered. How does he keep doing it?". Irish Independent. pp. 1–3 (Sport). …and tomorrow will be his 140th appearance in the green-and red… he has five All-Stars in the bag — Mayo's most ever achieved.
  56. ^ "Where are they now? Dermot Flanagan". Irish Independent. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  57. ^ "Team news: O'Connor to make 100th appearance". Hogan Stand. 11 June 2021.
  58. ^ Corry, Eoghan (2005). The GAA Book of Lists. Hodder Headline Ireland. p. 238.
  59. ^ "Mayo find just enough in absence of Mortimer". Irish Independent. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  60. ^ "Connacht SFC final: O'Connor dashes London's dreams". Hogan Stand. 21 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  61. ^ "Three goal Mayo make it four-in-a-row". Irish Independent. 13 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  62. ^ "Connacht SFC final: Mayo maul Sligo to complete five-in-a-row". Hogan Stand. 19 July 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  63. ^ Finnerty, Mike (21 February 2010). "Mayo beat Galway in FBD League Final". The Mayo News. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  64. ^ "Mayo cruise to victory". Irish Examiner. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  65. ^ "Andrew Farrell goal sets up Mayo for first junior title since 2012". Irish Examiner. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  66. ^ "Connacht JFC final: Coen guides Mayo to glory". Hogan Stand. 22 May 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  67. ^ "Connacht MFC final: Mayo hang on". Hogan Stand. 21 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  68. ^ "Rossies run champions close before Reape seals final victory". Irish Independent. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  69. ^ "Mayo's smash and grab win stuns Roscommon U21s". Irish Examiner. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
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