‘I did believe in the curse. Today, they got the cure’ – Mayo fans’ share their joy and thoughts of loved ones as 75-year wait ends

sympathy appeal: The phrase 'those who never lived to see it' evokes emotional weight and nostalgia, framing the victory through personal loss.

“those who never lived to see it”

sympathy appeal: The phrase 'countless fans' is vague and emotionally charged, amplifying the sense of collective longing without quantification.

“countless fans”

narrative framing: The narrative centers on emotional legacy rather than the sporting achievement itself, shaping reader perception around grief and memory.

“As the county finally ended a 75‑year wait for Sam Maguire”

sympathy appeal: The phrase 'would have bawled with pride' personalizes loss and heightens emotional resonance, steering reader sentiment.

“would have “bawled” with pride”

sympathy appeal: The image of 'flags all over his grave' is a powerful emotional symbol, designed to elicit pathos.

“There are flags all over his grave”

sympathy appeal: Repetition of emotional language like 'massively emotional' and 'he would be bawling' intensifies the sentimental tone.

“It’s massively emotional without his father”

decontextualised statistics: Introduces the 'curse' narrative without immediately clarifying its contested status, potentially misleading readers.

“The losses have been put down to a myth”

narrative framing: Presents the curse narrative as a causal explanation without immediate skepticism, giving it undue weight.

“It is said this led to a curse being placed on Mayo”

framing by emphasis: The concession that the curse is disputed comes only after it has been narratively established, minimizing its impact.

“Claims of a so-called curse have been criticised”

loaded verbs: The phrase 'they got the cure' uses metaphorical language that dramatizes the victory as supernatural redemption.

“Today, they got the cure”

sympathy appeal: Describing it as 'the best day of my life' elevates personal emotion over objective reporting.

“it’s the best day of my life”

sympathy appeal: Phrases like 'still startled by the glory' romanticize the emotional experience, steering reader sentiment.

“Still startled by the glory”

sympathy appeal: Describing him as 'beaming' adds emotional color, shaping reader perception of the moment.

“A beaming Mr O’Mahony”

sympathy appeal: The mention of 'first year married' and 'son at home' personalizes the story, emphasizing emotional significance over sport.

“And this is our first year married”

loaded verbs: The phrase 'that’s dead now' dramatizes the end of the curse as a symbolic death, reinforcing the mythic narrative.

“but that’s dead now”

sympathy appeal: The phrase 'They can all rest in peace' invokes the deceased in a sentimental way, linking victory to spiritual closure.

“They can all rest in peace”

sympathy appeal: Comparing the win to a wedding day amplifies emotional significance, framing the event as deeply personal.

“almost as happy as they were on their wedding day”

sympathy appeal: Describing fans as 'elated' adds emotional color, shaping reader response.

“were elated”

sympathy appeal: Phrases like 'over the moon' and 'not real' heighten emotional tone, steering reader sentiment.

“We’re over the moon”

sensationalism: Describing cheers as 'so loud, it was just incredible' uses hyperbolic language to amplify atmosphere.

“The cheers were so loud, it was just incredible”