JUST OVER THREE months on, and the act of Mayo winning the All-Ireland football championship is having the most profound effect on all connected to it.
As their manager and leader, Andy Moran does not know where it is all going. Life-changing is the most commonly-heard description of all this.
It’s not in the least bit fanciful. For anyone involved in a first All-Ireland win, or one that comes after a long drought, you hear that.
Does Jack O’Connor’s life change any time he wins another All-Ireland? Did Jim Gavin’s?
Perhaps. It’s just hard to imagine. But with Mayo, it seems the only reasonable explanation.
“I’m 43 years of age and it’s life-changing for me. It’s a fright, you’re literally catching yourself every day,” says Moran now.
“I’m 43, married with kids and I have a business. I can’t imagine what it’s like for an 18–19-year-old. It’s crazy. Even for 20, 22, 23-year-olds it’s so intense.
“Every place you go, if you’re holding that Sam Maguire and you’re bringing it somewhere, you’re like the Pied Piper. For the young kids, I have thought about them.”
Ah, yes. The Kobe-Darragh-Eoin generation. Their introduction to county football has been unlike anything that anyone in Mayo has experienced. Dangers now lurk for this crew.
“My wife Jennifer asked me how they’re handling it; I said “to be honest I don’t really know.”
“They’re carrying themselves immensely well, I’m so proud of them, the way they’re giving everyone time. But as you said, this is so life-changing. It’s beyond what I could have ever imagined, never mind an 18, 19, 20-year-old.”
Moran with wife Jennifer, daughter Charlotte and son Ollie. Tom Maher / INPHO
Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO
Intensity
Since winning Sam, the trophy hasn’t had time to cool. In his dreamy moments or even when picturing it as a visualisation exercise, Moran often wondered what it would be like to live with Sam.
Even with all that role-play, the intensity of it all keeps knocking him back.
A fortnight ago, they were in America. Businesses that supported them in the lean times needed to be recognised in this time of plenty. Only when they get there, it’s not old hat for these people. They want to truly whoop it up as much as that day on 26 July.
“It was a mad six days of such intense joy. It’s very important that we respect that too and respect those people,” Moran says.
“Last week we were in Chicago, we had three nights. Three celebrations and every one of them as big as the next.
“We went to New York and there were 900 people in a room for us, insane.
“This is second and third-generation American people who are celebrating this with us, I just think that’s amazing. We always knew that the Mayo brand was a big brand. I think we probably underestimated it a tiny bit.”
In the aftermath of winning, he spent a few days following the trophy. But real life took over, and he had a family to rear and a business to check in with. The reception in Belmullet has blown everyone’s minds, but there were also poignant moments in Achill.
When Moran watched the clips coming out of Achill, he immediately felt pangs of guilt that he wasn’t there.
This was something else ... Sam Maguire and All Ireland champions Jack Carney, Donnacha McHugh and Diarmuid O Connor piped onto Achill Island by local pipe bands. The place was heaving. It was emotional and evocative. The gift that keeps on giving 💚❤️ https://t.co/nGlum9FoRb
In the weeks after the All-Ireland final, the county was trying its best to straighten itself up, but there were signs.
In the sports shop in Westport, there wasn’t anything left to buy with a Mayo crest on it.
Around the county in every bookshop, a copy of Andy Moran’s autobiography ‘Lessons Learned’ was propped in the front window display. The front cover is of Moran after an All-Ireland defeat, face set somewhere between stoic and disappointment, with his daughter Charlotte on his shoulders.
Within the pages was a meditation on winning and losing, the margins and what falls in between. As interesting as it was, and Moran is one of the most thoughtful and positive people within the GAA, it naturally lacked the 360-degree perspective.
Winning still doesn’t change his belief system now.
“Even when I reflect on my own stuff, what I’ve written in the past or said in the past, you have to ask yourself did you fully believe it?
“I think I did. We said it for so long, it became a bit pie-in-the-sky stuff really, but I did always believe.
“I’m the sort of person who says if you keep putting yourself in there your luck will change, you’ll get there eventually, and I am that person.”
At the homecoming in his home town of Ballaghaderreen. Tom Maher / INPHO
Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO
After the 2021 final defeat, he felt that Mayo the county – all parties – had lost that sense of themselves.
What changed was the buy-in that Moran got. There were many examples, but the act of Enda Hession leaving his teaching post in Dublin to move back down to Mayo was a standout.
If he could make that sacrifice, then it had a domino effect.
Moran is not the type to show a vulnerable side, but there’s little doubt that the 10-point tanking against Roscommon in the Connacht semi-final left him ‘shook.’
Support
When he needed a friend, county board chairman Seamus Tuohy reached out to offer his support. Within two months of the final, Tuohy passed away after an illness.
“Seamus, what he did for me after the Roscommon game, he literally just had a quiet word, silent leadership again. That’s the way he led. It was quiet and he didn’t want to be part of it.
“Just a really, really good fella. I can’t talk highly enough of Seamus. Humility, pride of Mayo, just wanted to work, get stuck in and was willing to.
“I went to the county board with some crazy ideas, there’s no point lying about it. Some of them were crazy. The ones that he thought were good, he’d advise and lead. We miss him. We’ve missed him every day since.
“He probably had three weeks of enjoying it after the All-Ireland, and then was out of commission just with illness. We missed him along the way. To be able to pick up the phone, ring, get a bit of advice. Great guy. Comes from a great club and great family. He’s left a great legacy behind him.”
Onwards
At some point, and they have a fair bit of grace yet, but the Mayo senior football team will turn a page and leave 2026 behind them.
Cillian O’Connor has announced his retirement. Moran will not be asking anyone else to make a dignified exit. The worth of the veterans was too great around the place.
As the season wore on, Rob Hennelly and Aidan O’Shea lost their places. O’Connor never quite made it fully back from injury.
Their roles did not end there. Anyone that thinks a team is just a matter of training and playing does not understand the thousands of interactions behind the curtain that can change anything.
“Look at Aidan and Cillian – and what I mean by this is – they were the 18, 19-year-old superstars and for them to be there when Eoin (McGreal) comes through, Darragh (Beirne) comes through, Cian (McHale) comes through, Colm Lynch comes through…when they’re there to educate and help, I think it made a huge difference. It’s a silent difference.”
With Cillian O'Connor after the All-Ireland final win. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
How so, exactly?
They act as Sherpas for those that are treading new ground. They will show them around Johnstown House when Mayo are decamped in Dublin. They will warn them about a trick, fair means or foul, by an opponent.
All in, they will use their knowledge and give of it freely, rather than sulk.
If Kobe McDonald wants to leave a room to go wandering and stretch his legs, someone will come with him. Not in a controlling sense, but just making sure he’s not caught for an hour, standing in for selfies.
“Little tricks like that, because I was never that guy. I wasn’t the fella that came in at 18, 19 and needed a bit of help along the way,” explains Moran.
“But Aidan and Cillian were both those people, and to have them there at the time of young fellas coming through, I just thought was a huge help to all three of them young lads.
“We have a couple more young lads that I think are going to do great things in the game. Even for them to advise them; I heard Cillian talking to Hugh O’Loughlin coming up to the final just showing him little things, little shimmies, little turns.
“One of the best calls I’ve ever made in my life was the few calls I made to Cillian to get him back this year. He made such a difference to the young lads behind the scenes. It’s a silent leadership that no one sees.”
There are no secrets now, and Mayo have to deal with being the hunters who are now the hunted.
It can be a common trait among previous champions that they become a little too edgy in their title defence. Some imagined sleights on their All-Ireland win is often the fuel they are powered by, but that burns out too fast.
“Anyone that plays us next year, even though we’re the All-Ireland champions, they’ll come up here thinking they have a chance. In the championship, Roscommon knew they had a good chance against us. Tyrone knew they had a good chance against us,” says Moran.
“Are you telling me next year they’re not going to be a team fighting for that? If you don’t think like that, there’s no point being here. To be honest, I wouldn’t have taken the job if I didn’t think we had top-class players.
“But what happened during the year is those 26, 27, 28-year-olds took control of the dressing room and they made an amazing sacrifice to the team.
“We went in against Kerry. Did I think we were going to win? You can’t say that, but I think we had a really good chance of winning, yes we did.”
Yes, we can. Yes, we did.
*****
The Gaelic Writers’ Association awards, sponsored by Clayton Hotels recognise the extraordinary contribution of current players and managers and Andy Moran is the 2026 GWA Football Personality of the Year.
In a year when Mayo landed an All-Ireland title after a 75-year gap, it’s fitting that he is recognised with the GWA’s football award for creating the positive environment as manager in his first year that allowed Mayo to flourish as they did. His enthusiasm, honesty and coaching acumen were the perfect ingredients to lead from the front in 2026.
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'I'm 43 years of age, and it's life-changing for me' - Andy Moran on life with Sam
JUST OVER THREE months on, and the act of Mayo winning the All-Ireland football championship is having the most profound effect on all connected to it.
As their manager and leader, Andy Moran does not know where it is all going. Life-changing is the most commonly-heard description of all this.
It’s not in the least bit fanciful. For anyone involved in a first All-Ireland win, or one that comes after a long drought, you hear that.
Does Jack O’Connor’s life change any time he wins another All-Ireland? Did Jim Gavin’s?
Perhaps. It’s just hard to imagine. But with Mayo, it seems the only reasonable explanation.
“I’m 43, married with kids and I have a business. I can’t imagine what it’s like for an 18–19-year-old. It’s crazy. Even for 20, 22, 23-year-olds it’s so intense.
“Every place you go, if you’re holding that Sam Maguire and you’re bringing it somewhere, you’re like the Pied Piper. For the young kids, I have thought about them.”
Ah, yes. The Kobe-Darragh-Eoin generation. Their introduction to county football has been unlike anything that anyone in Mayo has experienced. Dangers now lurk for this crew.
“My wife Jennifer asked me how they’re handling it; I said “to be honest I don’t really know.”
“They’re carrying themselves immensely well, I’m so proud of them, the way they’re giving everyone time. But as you said, this is so life-changing. It’s beyond what I could have ever imagined, never mind an 18, 19, 20-year-old.”
Intensity
Since winning Sam, the trophy hasn’t had time to cool. In his dreamy moments or even when picturing it as a visualisation exercise, Moran often wondered what it would be like to live with Sam.
Even with all that role-play, the intensity of it all keeps knocking him back.
A fortnight ago, they were in America. Businesses that supported them in the lean times needed to be recognised in this time of plenty. Only when they get there, it’s not old hat for these people. They want to truly whoop it up as much as that day on 26 July.
“It was a mad six days of such intense joy. It’s very important that we respect that too and respect those people,” Moran says.
“Last week we were in Chicago, we had three nights. Three celebrations and every one of them as big as the next.
“We went to New York and there were 900 people in a room for us, insane.
In the aftermath of winning, he spent a few days following the trophy. But real life took over, and he had a family to rear and a business to check in with. The reception in Belmullet has blown everyone’s minds, but there were also poignant moments in Achill.
When Moran watched the clips coming out of Achill, he immediately felt pangs of guilt that he wasn’t there.
Realisations
Some day soon, it might sink in.
In the weeks after the All-Ireland final, the county was trying its best to straighten itself up, but there were signs.
In the sports shop in Westport, there wasn’t anything left to buy with a Mayo crest on it.
Around the county in every bookshop, a copy of Andy Moran’s autobiography ‘Lessons Learned’ was propped in the front window display. The front cover is of Moran after an All-Ireland defeat, face set somewhere between stoic and disappointment, with his daughter Charlotte on his shoulders.
Within the pages was a meditation on winning and losing, the margins and what falls in between. As interesting as it was, and Moran is one of the most thoughtful and positive people within the GAA, it naturally lacked the 360-degree perspective.
Winning still doesn’t change his belief system now.
“Even when I reflect on my own stuff, what I’ve written in the past or said in the past, you have to ask yourself did you fully believe it?
“I think I did. We said it for so long, it became a bit pie-in-the-sky stuff really, but I did always believe.
“I’m the sort of person who says if you keep putting yourself in there your luck will change, you’ll get there eventually, and I am that person.”
After the 2021 final defeat, he felt that Mayo the county – all parties – had lost that sense of themselves.
What changed was the buy-in that Moran got. There were many examples, but the act of Enda Hession leaving his teaching post in Dublin to move back down to Mayo was a standout.
If he could make that sacrifice, then it had a domino effect.
Moran is not the type to show a vulnerable side, but there’s little doubt that the 10-point tanking against Roscommon in the Connacht semi-final left him ‘shook.’
Support
When he needed a friend, county board chairman Seamus Tuohy reached out to offer his support. Within two months of the final, Tuohy passed away after an illness.
“Seamus, what he did for me after the Roscommon game, he literally just had a quiet word, silent leadership again. That’s the way he led. It was quiet and he didn’t want to be part of it.
“Just a really, really good fella. I can’t talk highly enough of Seamus. Humility, pride of Mayo, just wanted to work, get stuck in and was willing to.
“I went to the county board with some crazy ideas, there’s no point lying about it. Some of them were crazy. The ones that he thought were good, he’d advise and lead. We miss him. We’ve missed him every day since.
“He probably had three weeks of enjoying it after the All-Ireland, and then was out of commission just with illness. We missed him along the way. To be able to pick up the phone, ring, get a bit of advice. Great guy. Comes from a great club and great family. He’s left a great legacy behind him.”
Onwards
At some point, and they have a fair bit of grace yet, but the Mayo senior football team will turn a page and leave 2026 behind them.
Cillian O’Connor has announced his retirement. Moran will not be asking anyone else to make a dignified exit. The worth of the veterans was too great around the place.
As the season wore on, Rob Hennelly and Aidan O’Shea lost their places. O’Connor never quite made it fully back from injury.
Their roles did not end there. Anyone that thinks a team is just a matter of training and playing does not understand the thousands of interactions behind the curtain that can change anything.
“Look at Aidan and Cillian – and what I mean by this is – they were the 18, 19-year-old superstars and for them to be there when Eoin (McGreal) comes through, Darragh (Beirne) comes through, Cian (McHale) comes through, Colm Lynch comes through…when they’re there to educate and help, I think it made a huge difference. It’s a silent difference.”
How so, exactly?
They act as Sherpas for those that are treading new ground. They will show them around Johnstown House when Mayo are decamped in Dublin. They will warn them about a trick, fair means or foul, by an opponent.
All in, they will use their knowledge and give of it freely, rather than sulk.
If Kobe McDonald wants to leave a room to go wandering and stretch his legs, someone will come with him. Not in a controlling sense, but just making sure he’s not caught for an hour, standing in for selfies.
“Little tricks like that, because I was never that guy. I wasn’t the fella that came in at 18, 19 and needed a bit of help along the way,” explains Moran.
“But Aidan and Cillian were both those people, and to have them there at the time of young fellas coming through, I just thought was a huge help to all three of them young lads.
“We have a couple more young lads that I think are going to do great things in the game. Even for them to advise them; I heard Cillian talking to Hugh O’Loughlin coming up to the final just showing him little things, little shimmies, little turns.
There are no secrets now, and Mayo have to deal with being the hunters who are now the hunted.
It can be a common trait among previous champions that they become a little too edgy in their title defence. Some imagined sleights on their All-Ireland win is often the fuel they are powered by, but that burns out too fast.
“Anyone that plays us next year, even though we’re the All-Ireland champions, they’ll come up here thinking they have a chance. In the championship, Roscommon knew they had a good chance against us. Tyrone knew they had a good chance against us,” says Moran.
“Are you telling me next year they’re not going to be a team fighting for that? If you don’t think like that, there’s no point being here. To be honest, I wouldn’t have taken the job if I didn’t think we had top-class players.
“But what happened during the year is those 26, 27, 28-year-olds took control of the dressing room and they made an amazing sacrifice to the team.
“We went in against Kerry. Did I think we were going to win? You can’t say that, but I think we had a really good chance of winning, yes we did.”
Yes, we can. Yes, we did.
*****
The Gaelic Writers’ Association awards, sponsored by Clayton Hotels recognise the extraordinary contribution of current players and managers and Andy Moran is the 2026 GWA Football Personality of the Year.
In a year when Mayo landed an All-Ireland title after a 75-year gap, it’s fitting that he is recognised with the GWA’s football award for creating the positive environment as manager in his first year that allowed Mayo to flourish as they did. His enthusiasm, honesty and coaching acumen were the perfect ingredients to lead from the front in 2026.
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All-Ireland GAA Gaelic Football handy andy Mayo Sam Maguire