Brolly Tells Great Story About Why Mayo Defeat Was Particularly Cruel To Him

A foregone conclusion it was called. But on Sunday, Cavan shocked Ireland with a first Championship win over Mayo since 1948, defeating Kevin McStay's men by three points in MacHale Park of all places.

The 1-17 to 1-14 coup, which was kind to Mayo if anything, now has Mayo's hopes of reaching the All-Ireland Championship knockout stages on thin ice after just one round, while the prospect of Cavan playing knockout football has increased exponentially.

It was a truly humbling day for Mayo fans, many of whom feared Sunday's low might be signalling the end of an era for a team that has spent the best part of the last decade competing for the top prize.

It's now Mayo's second defeat on the bounce, having also lost to Galway in the Connacht SFC final. While it was a difficult weekend for Mayo fans, who are no strangers to heartbreak, few were as hard hit as Joe Brolly, who placed all his hopes on a Mayo win, not daring to consider that Cavan could deliver a first Championship win over the side in 77 years.

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Speaking on his Free State Podcast, the Derry man and former RTÉ pundit revealed that the prospect of Mayo succumbing to a defeat to Cavan had never even crossed his mind.

In fact, so confident was he that he banked the best part ofhis and his friend's 'sizeable' betting kitty on an accumulator, padded out by none other than Mayo's supposed dead-set win over Cavan.

At 11/1 odds, Brolly and his friend staked all their risk on backing Limerick to beat Cork, simply padding the bet out with the Mayo result. As the results rolled in Brolly thought he was in the money, then trickled through the dreaded news from MacHale Park.

We had a kitty, we'd been really careful with the kitty and I'm the GAA guy, he's the horses guy. We're really careful and built up a lovely kitty.

I said 'I am telling you every fibre of my being is screaming to me that the Limerick hurlers are going to beat Cork. I said I know this in the way that a man knows when he is in love. I said they're going to beat Cork, great odds.

I said why don't we pad it out, fire in a few more certs he said. We brought the whole package up to 11/1 with Down to beat Clare...Tipp to beat Waterford and then the fourth one. I said come on, there's absolutely no way that Cavan can beat Mayo in MacHale Park.

I said it to him, and he said 'even I know nothing about football and you're right'. Tick the box off. There they came rolling in, Down slaughter Clare, Tipp beat Waterford, he said 'fair play to you Brolly'. Limerick are already 1-3 to no score up against Cork, then word comes through from MacHale Park. Cavan are stuffing Mayo. Bloody Mayo.

I didn't even tune into Midwest radio for the Mayo game so certain was I.

It's been a tough weekend for the followers of Mayo football, but spare a thought for the man who has suffered more than most...Joe Brolly

New episode of #FreeState coming tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/n34w9Q4orL

— Free State with Joe Brolly & Dion Fanning (@freestateirl) May 19, 2025

While Joe Brolly may have been delighted for the Cavan boys that he is so fond of, it'll do little to repair the 'sizeable' damage Mayo's loss inflicted on his kitty.

Next up for Mayo are crucial games against Tyrone and Ulster champions Donegal, where they'll need to muster a win if they're to extend their season into the knockout stages. For Brolly, it's unlikely he'll be staking on the prospect, though.