'My father never believed in the ‘curse’ and neither did I'... Navan pharmacist and proud Mayo man on ending the hurt

Joe Staunton snr played in 1951 All-Ireland

As Mayo continues to celebrate a famous and historic All-Ireland senior football championship title win this week, Navan pharmacist Joe Staunton, whose father Joe was a member of the last Mayo team to win the title, is delighted with the result after such a long wait.

“We are celebrating a huge win after 75 years of waiting. Since 1951, we were knocked many times but this time we crossed the line after a great match. The team my father was on was the last Mayo team that won, they were a great team at the time. The legends of ‘51 are gone now and dad, who was from Louisburgh, passed away about 15 years ago.

Joe says his father never believed in that infamous ‘curse’ which was supposed to have befell the Mayo team when they allegedly crossed paths with a funeral in Foxford on the trip home with Sam Maguire in 1951.

“He never believed in the ‘curse’ and neither did I. To win any final it takes a lot of hard work, effort and sometimes a bit of luck as well. There have been some great teams over the years but they just failed to get it across the line for one reason or another. This time they did and the team was very hungry for the game.”

“All of the teams over the years since the last win for Mayo were legends that came back year after year and they just keep coming back. They’re the giants the current legends are standing on. They’ve all been fantastic teams to support.”

Tommy Dowd captained the Meath team who beat Mayo in the 1996 final and was tuned into the match on Sunday from home on the Mayo Road, Gibbstown, with his wife Geraldine.

“We beat Mayo in 1996 and truth be told we should have probably been beaten in the two games. We came back and drew the game through a late point. I think Mayo thought they were very unlucky in both games but I think the motto for the Meath team at the time was to play until the very end, until the referee blows the final whistle.”

“The win on Sunday was absolutely fantastic,” he continued. “Nobody in Kerry would begrudge Mayo that win. The atmosphere was electric at the match and their day had to come at some stage. Everyone in the country is delighted for Mayo. Even when we won ourselves, I never saw it celebrated like it is now. It was a great occasion and fair play to the Mayo people.

“We were glued to the television on Sunday as I’m sure many people were. The 1996 Meath team were brought up on the Friday before the match by the GPA to Croke Park for dinner and speeches and we had a great day. It’s great to catch up with lads you don’t see too often even though we should see more of each other. There was a great buzz around the place.”