Well, it happened. Mayo finally ended 75 years of pain on Sunday by getting their hands back on the Sam Maguire Cup.
The West Ireland county defeated Kerry 1-20 to 1-17 in what turned out to be a dramatic and historic All Ireland Final, putting to an end an 11-game losing streak in finals.
Kerry looked set to continue Mayo’s misery after racing into a 1-05 to 0-01 lead, with David Clifford scoring an early goal, but the comeback commenced before half time.
Mayo went into the sheds just a point down at 1-08 to 0-10, and bedlam ensued in the second half.
Darragh Beirne scored to give them a four-point lead, and a two-pointer later from Jack Carney put Mayo five clear.
But a late comeback was staged by Kerry, who got themselves to within two points with three minutes remaining.
However, a missed two-pointer was followed by an insurance score from Tommy Conroy, which confirmed that Mayo would finally put an end to the ‘Curse of ‘51’.
Coverage of the game and the winning moment has spread like wildfire, not just in Ireland, but across the UK too.
Hot on the heels of such an historic moment in GAA history, SBC News caught up with BOYLE Sports spokesperson, Lawrence Lyons, to see what the bookmaker made of the 2026 All Ireland Final.
How popular were Mayo compared with Kerry given their long wait for the trophy?
Mayo were very popular at 12/1 when Andy Moran was announced as manager last August, but have been fairly friendless since losing to Roscommon early in the season. They drifted to as big as 33/1 after that loss. But leading up to the final, Mayo were very popular at 11/4 for the match and it ended up a losing result in our book.
Did the “Mayo curse” influence betting in any way?
Maybe some punters thought they were never going to get over the line, but ultimately the most loyal fans like to back the underdog in an All-Ireland final anyway. It was similar in last week’s Hurling final involving Galway.
Where does Mayo ending this 75-year wait rank among the biggest or most memorable sporting betting stories in Ireland?
Sunday’s win for Mayo is right up there with one of the most iconic moments in recent memory. We all love an underdog story, but everyone will remember where they were the day Mayo finally banished the curse! Even the neutrals were riding the wave of an unforgettable atmosphere.
Which player props were popular?
Clifford was very popular for first Goalscorer and Man of the Match at 3/1. Ryan O’Donoghue was the best-backed Mayo player for Man of the Match at 9/1 and those who singled him out were right on the money.
How big is the All-Ireland final for your company, and how much of an uplift in betting does it see compared with other Gaelic football fixtures?
Outside of football and horse racing, the All-Ireland Final is one of the biggest events for us every year, whatever teams are involved. Turnover is always strong for both the Hurling and Football finals and it’s only getting stronger the more exposure the sport gets beyond its traditional fanbase.
Were there any notable long-odds bets that landed?
One lucky punter snapped up the 66/1 about Dylan Casey scoring the first point – we didn’t see that one coming!
Can such wide coverage of a GAA potential spark some growth within the sport and subsequently for your business on GAA markets?
On home turf in Ireland the sport is as popular as ever, but the final provided sporting drama and a romantic storyline that will resonate beyond the ardent following we’re accustomed to. It’ll be no surprise if we welcome some new fans after an occasion like that.
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