Mayo have bridged the seventy-five year gap to secure Sam Maguire today against Kerry in an exciting showpiece. This final was incredibly emotive even before throw-in.
The playlist before throw-in was emotive. The Mayo supporters in full voice as the Saw Doctors ‘To win just once’ filtered through every corner of the stadium. Today just felt different.
Kerry will be disappointed. Their opening quarter platform on another final would have seen another Kingdom triumph but they faced a Mayo side without fear who were relentless throughout.
Both sides started the final in nervous fashion. Unforced errors and turnovers the prevalent theme in the opening five minutes but Kerry then started to assert dominance.
O’Shea creating space to score along with Paudie Clifford and then the opening goal for Kerry. The goal was executed with precision. David Clifford with a superb run and shot against Livingstone.
A seven point gap established by Kerry. Past Mayo sides would have crumbled to the goal but Mayo composure hugely impressive. It started from the goalkeeper onwards.
Livingstone was getting zero success from long range restarts and then instinctively switched to shorter restarts with elevated risk. It provided Mayo with middle third platform and then the work rate took over.
Mayo relentlessly went after Kerry with their work rate without possession. The Mayo tackling and high press causing Kerry massive issues. Turnover ball and then the Mayo midfield of Carney and Tuohy started to dominate the Kerry restarts.
From a position of struggle, Mayo now had all the momentum. Mayo won the second quarter seven points to three. Kerry engineering a quality score from Joe O’Connor right on the hooter but it was now hard work for Kerry to create scoring opportunities.
How did Mayo win this final? Andy Moran and management trusted their young players. Hession, McBrien and Callinan providing attacking threat from deep. Carney was excellent, his two pointer after the Kerry goal was a pivotal score.
1-8 to 0-10 at the break for Kerry but Mayo reasserted midfield dominance. Beirne playing with swag which belied his youthful age slotted a fine point to level the final. Kobe McDonald then slotted over a forty-five with minimal fuss. Mayo ahead.
Ryan O’Donoghue instrumental in Mayo’s goal. His pass from deep setting McBrien free causing Kerry more defensive headaches. Beirne with the shot that beat Murphy and Foley on the line. 1-12 to 1-8 five minutes into the second half.
Keith Evans’ response for Kerry saw yet another Mayo defiant response. Carney nailing a two pointer to open up the gap to four points yet again but Kerry refused to die. .
Graham O’Sullivan, Paudie and David Clifford were immense and drove Kerry onwards. Paudie Clifford with three points. David Clifford with 1-4 but Kerry will rue misses in the second half.
Mayo were not to be denied. Jordan Flynn slotted over a good score and then his clubmate Kobe McDonald with another point to create a three point cushion. Kerry though still a live threat.
Ryan O’Donoghue was yet again to the fore for Mayo. A superb two point score to create the five point gap. Paudie Clifford still looking to probe. David Clifford with a two pointer.
Nerves were fraught but Mayo defiant defensively and yet another turnover ball. The ball moved up the pitch away from Mayo’s goal. The insurance point ensued. The long wait for Sam Maguire over.
Kerry fought to the end but Mayo’s middle third posed problems at key stages. The Kingdom will be back next season but they came up against a team and supporter base who today were not to be denied.
Andy Moran has had his critics within Mayo. The Roscommon loss in the Connacht SFC raised questions for management and players but the response has been incredible since that setback. This final win feels different. A momentum sporting occasion.
I am not from Mayo but the emotions started to run as the hooter sounded. Jack Coyne’s emotive speech on teams of the past, the people of Mayo no longer with us, the people of Mayo who are living all around the world.
Let the party begin from Ballindine to Castlebar, from Ballina to Belmullet. Seventy-five years of hurt and heartache smashed with euphoria and relief. The hugs and the tears from Mayo will live long in the memory
Scorers for Mayo: Darragh Beirne 1-3 (2fs), Ryan O’Donoghue 0-5 (2 2pt, 1f), Jack Carney 0-4 (2 2pt) Kobe McDonald 0-3 (1 45), Tommy Conroy 0-2, David McBrien, Jordan Flynn, and Sam Callinan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kerry: David Clifford 1-6 (1-2pt), Seán O’Shea and Paudie Clifford (1 45) 0-3 each, Joe O’Connor, Dylan Casey, Graham O’Sullivan, Keith Evans, and Tom O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
Mayo: Jack Livingstone; Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Eoin McGreal; Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Enda Hession; Bob Tuohy, Jack Carney; Diarmuid O’Connor, Paul Towey, Jordan Flynn; Darragh Beirne, Ryan O’Donoghue, Kobe McDonald.
Subs: Tommy Conroy for Towey (24), Mattie Ruane for Tuohy (53), Rory Brickenden for McGreal (53), Conor Loftus for O’Connor (58), Paddy Durcan for Callinan (65).
Kerry: Shane Murphy; Dylan Casey, Jason Foley, Paul Murphy; Graham O’Sullivan, Mike Breen, Gavin White; Mark O’Shea, Seán O’Brien; Joe O’Connor, Seán O’Shea, Tom O’Sullivan; Paudie Clifford, David Clifford, Dylan Geaney.
Subs: Evan Looney for Casey (28-30), Keith Evans for T O’Sullivan (HT), Tomas Kennedy for Geaney (51), Brian Ó Beaglaíoch for White (59), Evan Looney for Murphy (61), Micheál Burns for O’Brien (63).
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).