You don't often see Mickey Moran laugh. He is as solemn as his partner in crime John Morrison is jovial. For men who drive 300-mile round trips together they are chalk and cheddar. They both had big sloppy grins pasted on their faces yesterday though. The road will be shorter for the next three weeks.

"One of the greatest days?" asked Moran of himself. "You're own home county is your love but this, this is something else."

"We didn't take a week to prepare," said Morrison. "We've been doing that all year. We have built character. We have a mantra on the wall: You only lose if you quit. The boys are sick of looking at that."

This was one of the great miracles. If any team have a right not to believe in themselves it is Mayo. Losing All-Ireland finals is what they are famous for. To the big whales of the championship they are plankton.

"Yeah, we were written off," said Moran. "You know what, we didn't talk about it for this last week. All-Irelands are won on your own merit. The team talk this morning came down to one word: faith. That bunch of fellas and their management team and staff - we all believe in ourselves and believe in the training we do."

It was a day when Mayo grew tall. The players, not management, opted for the high-risk tactic of going to kick around at the Hill 16 end. In doing so they raised the bar for themselves. Had they lost heavily they would have been dismissed as fools.

"We have faith in each other," said Moran. "The players decided that. It was their call. As part of the family I stood by them. We got off to a good start. We were out first and we occupied that space. That was it."

"We let the players plan the day," said Morrison. "Management didn't say to go to the Hill. I had to run with it. I didn't want it but there you go."

They spoke of faith and belief and knowing they could win. The language of victory. We're not used to such words from Mayo, the province of could have, would have, should have.

Seven points down though, Mickey. Was panic setting in?

"No. Slight rigor mortis was setting in."

This was a win hewn out of adversity. Billy Joe Padden was passed fit at tea-time on Saturday, David Heaney at noon yesterday. Ronan McGarrity didn't make it to half-time.

"Ronan was crying in there at half-time and he wanted back on again and the doc said no. He's such a fantastic player for us. As David Brady said at half-time, there's a cub there crying and he can't get on - we'll do it for him. If one of us is down we are all down. If one is up we are all up. We're a family."

Out in the corridor linking Croke Park to the outside world the team buses sat one behind the other. The Dubs' bus filled quickly, some players staring balefully out the window at the ashes of another season. Dublin are in the throes of famine themselves now. The Mayo bus was a long time from the road, players lingering at the scene.

Heaney stood with his back to the wall. Happy man for now.

"We had a team meeting there, just after. We spoke about how we'd played in 1997 and 2004. We don't want to let it go this time. We'll do our utmost in the next three weeks to prepare properly. Supporters get excited. There was great support there today. There was a bad rush for tickets down in Mayo. They clawed and got as many as they could. It was great."

There's always somebody of course with the "what about" question. What about global warming? What about the Middle East? What about Kieran Donaghy? Another smile.

"He's excellent. It'll be a challenge. People get the impression that they just lorry the ball in high on him. He got a few balls on the wing though and he left Derek Kavanagh for dead. It's the same with Ronan McGarrity. basketball players have great hand-eye co-ordination. I'll have the work cut out."

And, erm, what about history?

"Well Mayo people will talk about revenge. If you focus on revenge too much you lose focus though. We just want to win the next game. Kerry, Tyrone or Armagh, whoever. We want to get over that line. We've been here three times in the last nine years. That's a huge incentive to us. We have strong belief, a great bond and great resilience. Great character. Hopefully it will bounce our way."

James Nallen has been through the mangle with this team also. He was sanguine but cautiously so. Kerry loom after all.

"We played them last year in a quarter-final, the year before in a final. Kerry. What can you say? They've only become a form team since their quarter-final win. Maybe we would be considered more of a form team after today. It doesn't matter. It's three weeks' time. How we perform then.

"When it comes to the final we have to show our attributes and characteristics."

Finally, Paul Caffrey looking, oddly, more relaxed then he has done all summer. Even in the trauma of defeat you can see the pressure easing. No consolation, Pillar, that is was a great game.

"First things first. Great credit to Mayo. I think any keen observer of football would say they played awesome. We put in a real good 15 minutes at the start of the second half but great credit to Mayo - the quality of the long-range points they got out there today was fantastic and the respect and good wishes of the Dublin dressingroom goes with them."

When Dublin were seven ahead did ye take the foot off the gas?

"Look, We got beat by a point. We didn't stop trying out there. We have given great value for money this year. I'm very proud of them. They've turned into a great battling team but I think the credit should be given to Mayo."

Sufficient unto the day was the graciousness thereof.