Shane Fitzgerald, a Mayo fan who went viral following his county's historic All Ireland win on Sunday, has said that he "kissed the ground" following the Green and Red's long awaited Sam Maguire cup decider triumph.
During the RTÉ broadcast of the final, Mr Fitzgerald, who has witnessed every final that Mayo have appeared in since he was alive, can be seen falling to the ground at full time, as Mayo won their first All Ireland Senior title since 1951.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio, Mr Fitzgerald offered an insight into the sheer emotional rollercoaster he has been on as a Mayo supporter.
"I’m just pulling myself together slowly but surely," he told Oliver Callan. "It's a dream, and it's just unbelievable".
He continued: "We've pilgrimaged to Croke Park for years and years, and it's just a great honour".
"I’m delighted for everybody with Mayo connections and those that have gone in the past that weren’t there to see it, but we had them with us to see that Sam Maguire is coming home to Mayo.
"I got a call about an hour before the game yesterday; I'm a sheep farmer and a neighbour told me ‘There's a few sheep after getting into the farm’, and I said ‘Ah, sure they’re probably trying to see the match’".
Elsewhere, Mr Fitzgerald who works as a florist, revealed that last Friday he took flowers to the top of Croagh Patrick, which is part of a ritual ahead of the All Ireland final.
"Croagh Patrick is our pride and joy in the county and I supply flowers for the altar on Reek Sunday," he said. "It's just a token and complimentary and it's my gift, so [on Friday] we carried them up".
In the wake of Mayo's success, Mr Fitzgerald said he fully intends to return to Croagh Patrick with the Sam Maguire Cup in hand.
"I’d have had a feeling for years, I’ve had feelings that were still there until the horn blew yesterday, but this was a great journey, a great story and hopefully this week we will have a pilgrimage to the top of the Reek with Sam Maguire," he said.
"I came down on Friday and I said ‘I'm not coming up here again', but now I think I’ll have to turn around and go back up".
Mr Fitzgerald also said he experienced every emotion possible as the minutes ticked down in Croke Park.
"I was watching the 60 minutes gone and it came to 62 and we were moving quite well and then we were dropping back and Kerry were coming into it," he said.
"Then it was 65 and I said to the person beside me ‘Am I right in saying we've only five minutes left?’.
"We were so close. I said ‘Is this it?’ and I got nervous and it just got to 68 and then two minutes and next thing we knew whistle went and it was over, and I'm standing beside the Sam Maguire and I'm saying ‘Gosh, it's coming home!’
"That's when the emotion broke and I just had to thank God for that. I went to ground and I kissed Croke Park, I kissed the ground", he added. "I kissed the ground because for once in my life, and for so many people following Mayo, it just took a weight off our shoulders that has been there for years and years and years". (All quotes in this piece according to RTÉ).
Mr Fitzgerald stated that the celebrations could carry on for weeks to come.
Yesterday, the Mayo team were met with a heroes welcome at Castlebar following their heroic exploits in Croke Park on Sunday. Find out more on this here.
