Beautiful scenes as older generation of long-suffering Mayo fans celebrate

Incredible stuff!

Many of the older generation who witnessed the scenes in 1951 probably thought that they would never live to see another title come the way of the Green and Red.

But their dreams came true, and the scenes that followed did justice to the enormity of the occasion.

The most widely shared footage of an older Mayo fan was that of Shane Fitzgerald, who was shown on RTÉ blessing himself and falling to the ground in tears after the full-time whistle in Croke Park.

A farmer by trade, Fitzgerald is also known as the 'The Mayo Bandit' when he dons a mask and his Mayo colours.

Speaking with the Irish Times, he described the moment which has immortalised him.

He said: “The emotions broke. The heavens opened and that was it. I was looking at the Sam Maguire and thinking: ‘you’re coming home’.

“That 70^th minute, I don’t know how to describe it. It was just a weight off my shoulders. We just couldn’t believe it.

“We do our best as Mayo people.

“We always passionately follow, but I can’t praise the players enough ... My hat’s off to all the players over the years that have given Mayo people so much joy. And a bit of heartbreak, but do you know what? We’re just so proud.”