Mayo's Andy Moran joined Tuesday's Off the Ball to reflect on the disappointment of losing to Dublin in this year's All-Ireland final.
The men from the west lost by a point for the second successive year to the Dubs and speaking to Joe Molloy, he said: "It's been an unusual week really in terms of, we lose the final on Sunday, we have our function which was always going to be really tough, the Mayo fans were really good, we come home to a homecoming on Monday and again thought it was going to be really tough.
"You know you get to the stage where you say 'how many more homecomings can you have?' But the Mayo fans turned out in their numbers again - MacHale Park was full and it ended up being a really good day.
"We had a good night's craic on the Monday and I went home on the Tuesday."
Asked about the difference this time around compared to the losses against Kerry in 2004 and 2006, he said: "I was part of the '04 and '06 team as well so it's a lot different. Like '04 and '06, we got to All-Ireland finals and were playing against a Kerry team who were just streets ahead of us.
"Like in '04, Darragh O'Sé and Seamus Moynihan didn't even play - they were both injured. I agree with David (Brady) to be honest with you - it was hard to look people in the eye because we brought them to Croke Park.
"Did we have a chance of winning? We probably did if we preformed but they were streets ahead of us.
"Since 2012, we've played Donegal, they were on the crest of a wave. We were two new teams on the block. Donegal were probably just better than us on the day and in the last three finals, we've lost each of them by a point to a Dublin team who have won three in a row.
"And do I think we feel any shame in that? Absolutely not," he added.
When asked if he thinks this Mayo group can win an All Ireland he said that he believes that with a number of prospects maturing and the core of the team ready to play on, he thinks they are set to mount another serious challenge to capture Sam.
"My belief is still there," he concluded.
The full interview can be heard here - or wherever you get your pods:
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