They were still sounding the car horns on the streets of Roscommon some two hours after Gerry Lohan scored the goal around which this GAA summer will revolve. They were still in disbelief. For the first time since 1991, Roscommon became Bank of Ireland Connacht champions after a match that ended as a rhapsody, as an entity beyond analysis.

Feel for Mayo. After the tears of the '90s, Pat Holmes' new side appeared to be developing into a county that had forgotten how to lose. This defeat marked a new extreme in their apparently boundless capacity for inflicting the wrath of the gods or some unseen element. Three minutes into injury-time, they were poised for a provincial championship to add to their league silver.

In hindsight, there were perhaps a number of tiny portents of the calamity that awaited them as the contest moved into those suffocating final seconds. David Nestor, Mayo's goal hero, attempted to flick a ball behind him when cradling it might have been the better option. Mayo lost possession.

Just previously, Colm McManaman elected to thump a ball through his marker when the splendid Ciarβn McDonald floated free on his left. After Roscommon won the fateful sideline ball, Holmes could be observed on the sideline, desperately counselling his players to mark tight. He knew that only the threads of a lifeline remained for Roscommon.

But it was all that the home team required. Time seemed to fall into a slower motion as Roscommon worked the ball stealthily, boldly down the field. Alan Nolan's side-line kick was aided by Jonathan Dunning and then Denis Gavin, the attacking corner back was in possession and on open ground. Hyde Park froze for those seconds and what followed - his deft pass to Lohan, the shimmering finish - seemed at the same time inevitable and utterly stunning.

Fans from both sides stood trembling on the concrete bleachers as the final whistle then sounded. There was a delay between witnessing the event and actually registering what it meant. Roscommon were champions. Mayo had lost, again.

Although a classic, this match was far from pretty. The first half was a stuttering and mostly negative affair, as the counties teased each other out and stood solid by virtue of high-octane, bustling defensive units.

After the break, though, the names of summer began asserting themselves. Young SΘamus O'Neill was again immense for Roscommon, toiling well with the work-thirsty Fergal O'Donnell.

Both the home corner backs excelled and as John Tobin pointed out, Roscommon has no lack of forwards. Each of the half-forward trio found the range in the first half while Frankie Dolan and Gerry Lohan stepped up in the white hot minutes of the last period.

Mayo also had fine patches. Ciarβn McDonald was central in most of them and demonstrated his gliding, natural brilliance is a sustained display. The shame was that his colleagues didn't seek him out more often - his two second-half points were sublime and he also isolated Stephen Carolan with a perfect distance-pass early in the second half, a touch of brilliance that deserved a goal.

Although beaten twice, goalkeeper Peter Forde made a great stop off Nigel Dineen after 20 minutes. Trevor Mortimer was full of industry. Maurice Sheridan shook off a pair of sinful first-half misses with a worthy second half and his bravely chipped point after 52 minutes, putting Mayo 0-10 top 0-8 ahead, would have been identified as a foundation for victory on ordinary days.

But this day, of course, was not quite earthly. Despite seeing Cliff McDonald red-carded on 42 minutes, Roscommon found that deep well of resolve that has been with them all winter. Dolan and O'Neill levelled the scores. Then, with 12 minutes left, Mayo's Ray Connelly was sidelined after a scuffle that may, when examined, show the defender was harshly censured. Roscommon responded by haring through the exposed defence, John Hanley releasing Gerry Lohan, who buried the score to put them a goal clear.

From there it was a shoot-out. McDonald and Sheridan struck wonderful points to put the minimum between the teams. Holmes threw David Nestor and David Brady into the melting pot with dramatic return. With two minutes to go, Brady, the elegant Ballina lea per, ghosted on to a loose Roscommon hand pass and broke through the last line. He freed Nestor with a precise hand-pass and watched as the forward fired low and true.

Then came the frenzied, endless added-minutes and Lohan's denouement, destined for legend. Maybe Mayo play the game too nobly; so many other counties would have hacked their opponents down rather than let them see them build at that late stage. But those last minutes gave us sport at its most compelling.

Roscommon then, are the first team into the All-Ireland series, the unfashionable quiet county felling the kingpins of western football. They have a quietly serious look about them now.

Around Mayo, they will smile grimly at this. The pale joy of their league splendour will offer no consolation this week. Summer is a treacherous time and the days ahead look complicated now.

So, the first silverware of the new look championship has been won. Roscommon are champions of Connacht for the 19th time. 2001 will be a precious date around these parts.

Croke Park beckons. There will be plenty of time for fond remembrance whenever the football is done.