"It kind of gives every other county that hope"
July 30, 2026
Mayo manager Andy Moran and Jack Coyne celebrate with the Sam Maguire Cup ©INPHO/James Crombie
Westmeath star John Heslin reckons that other counties can be buoyed by Mayo’s remarkable feat this season.
Having exited the Connacht championship at the semi-final stage after a 10-point defeat to Roscommon in April, Andy Moran’s men bounced back to reach the knock-out stages of the Sam Maguire race which concluded with them upsetting Kerry on Sunday at Croke Park.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's Inside Sport, Heslin, who returned to help Westmeath to Leinster SFC glory in May, says that other counties, including his own, can take inspiration from the new All-Ireland champions’ achievement.
"Yeah, of course, and I think that's probably one thing that's gone under the radar a little bit with Mayo winning is that, I think Mark (McHugh) might have said it himself on ‘The Sunday Game’, that it kind of gives every other county that hope and as a sportsperson you just want to have that hope and that chance.
“The hunger is still there for sure.”
On his own plans for next season, the 34-year-old added: "(I'm) still a current Westmeath footballer anyway. I was golfing with Mark McHugh a couple of weeks ago and he didn't tell me to retire yet, so current for now.”
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