'I am stopping this bus': Limerick-based Mayo fan grabs moment of a lifetime
‘Mayo Mick’ admits he was in tears at full time of his country’s epic All-Ireland final win
AFTER waiting a lifetime to see Mayo lift the Sam Maguire Cup, Mike Murphy or ‘Mayo Mick’ as he is known, wasn't about to let the team's victory bus pass him by.
Mike, who lives in Thomondgate, but hails from Kilmaine in the south of Mayo, was, like many fans of the green-and-reds, in tears as the buzzer marked full-time at Croke Park on Sunday.
In the aftermath of Mayo's first senior football championship win since 1951, like many jubilant fans, he headed to the Croke Park Hotel.
Unable to get a drink though due to it being so busy, he walked to Delahunty’s Bar at Dublin’s Dorset Street, where friends were.
“When we got there, we randomly saw motorbikes, and outriders. We didn’t know if it was the Kerry or Mayo team bus. But as it got closer, it became clear it was Mayo. And I decided - I am stopping this bus,” Mike laughed.
“Obviously the bus had no problem stopping.”
Mike positioned himself in front of the windscreen, where he was greeted with the sight of Mayo football manager Andy Moran holding aloft the Sam Maguire Cup.
His sister Eileen Murphy was on hand to capture the memorable sight.
“From everything that happened yesterday, this was the most amazing thing,” said Mick.
Speaking to Limerick Live on the coach returning to Shannonside, he said: “My voice is nearly gone, but I don’t care! For once in my life, I am leaving Dublin happy.”
Asked how he felt in the closing stages of the epic three-point win, Mike said: “We were just screaming, don’t give it back to them, don’t give it back to them. Then Kobe [McDonald] went on to score a point, and it was game over. I was crying, I’m still crying now about it.”
“We couldn’t believe we actually did it. I didn’t leave Croke Park for another hour. No-one else left either. We stayed long after the cup was awarded. We’ve never had the chance to stay before. Oh my God,” he added.
Mike sat in the Canal End, apart from the rest of his family, due to the scramble for tickets.
But there was a special moment that evening when relatives gathered under the same roof, at his niece’s home in Harold’s Cross, on Dublin’s southside.
There, they all watched The Sunday Game together.
“Two of my nieces have gone back to the USA. One of my sisters went back to London. But we were all together for that one moment in time. I’m so delighted they all came home to see it. We have had 75 years. So many people have died in the meantime. I’ve friends my own age who are not around any more, and never got to see this,” said Mike.
Mike - who is known by pals in Limerick as ‘Mayo Mick’ - will not be heading to his homeplace for any celebrations.
He is back at work, at Titan Sports in Ballysimon Road, first thing on Tuesday morning.
“But my heart will always be happy,” he smiled.