Andy Moran praises late mentor who helped get Mayo over the line

Beautiful.

Despite losses to Roscommon in the Connacht SFC and then to Tyrone in the All-Ireland series, Moran stuck to his guns, and it paid off big time in the final, with their shackles-off style winning out.

After the match, he made sure not to forget a couple of figures who passed away in recent times, including John O'Mahony, who hailed from Ballaghaderreen, the same town as Moran.

Mayo and Kerry managers pinpoint the same game-changing moment in All-Ireland final

Kobe McDonald swerves Australia question after epic All-Ireland win

O'Mahony managed Mayo from 1987-1991 and again from 2007-2010, and he also led the 2001 Galway footballers - whose jubilee year was celebrated at Croke Park today - to the All-Ireland title.

Moran said: "I would be lying if I said that, in the 69th minute, I didn’t say a little prayer to Johnno.

"Johnno’s team was here from 25 years ago. My mentor, my friend.

"In the 69th minute, I looked up."

He also paid tribute to his late friend Aidan Drake, adding: "We had a little friend called Aidan Drake who passed away last year, and Johnno.

"I have to say, I said a little one. I said ‘Johnno, if I need you, it’s now.’

"And he came up with the goods."