Dublin 2-12
Mayo 1-15
Fintan O’Toole reports from Croke Park
MAYO PRODUCED A dramatic late rally to score 1-4 without reply and claim a draw against Dublin in a pulsating All-Ireland senior football semi-final this afternoon.
Cillian O’Connor’s 69th minute goal from a penalty after Colm Boyle was fouled was a crucial score before Andy Moran hit the levelling point.
Dublin finished the game with 14 men after Diarmuid Connolly received a straight red card following an off the ball incident involving Lee Keegan.
Connolly netted in the 5th minute from the penalty spot after Paul Flynn was fouled to help Dublin lead 1-7 to 0-7 at the break.
Their place in the final looked assured when Kevin McManamon grabbed their second goal in the 58th minute as he booted home a rebound after Rob Hennelly had smothered an initial shot from Brian Fenton.
McManamon’s goal pushed Dublin ahead 2-9 to 0-10 and despite Cillian O’Connor kicking a ’45 soon after, Dublin’s spirits soared as they clipped over three neat points courtesy of Bernard and Alan Brogan, and Jack McCaffrey.
A 2-12 to 0-11 lead had Dublin’s fans dreaming of a September final date with Kerry but they didn’t score for the remaining 14 minutes of action – nine of normal time and five in injury-time.
Moran, Keith Higgins and Alan Freeman nailed points to give Mayo hope with six minutes left and then they nearly netted through Moran only for John Small to stop his shot on the line after Cluxton was turned over in possession.
The green flag was raised soon after to leave Mayo fans in full voice and Moran then brought the teams level.
A pulsating period of injury-time saw Connolly dismissed, McCaffrey produce a heroic block to deny Mayo substitute Mickey Sweeney from pointing and Cluxton miss the chance to land a match-winning free in front of Hill 16.
Dublin will wonder how they conspired to draw a game after playing some lovely football in the first-half with Flynn, Ciaran Kilkenny and Paddy Andrews all excelling.
Mayo were reliant on Cillian O’Connor for scoring inspiration in the first-half as he bagged six points from frees. Lee Keegan’s point in the opening minute was Mayo’s solitary first-half score from play.
Dublin accelerated clear in the third quarter but couldn’t close out the match as a drama-laden finale delivered a replay next Saturday.
Scorers for Dublin: Diarmuid Connolly 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-1f), Kevin McManamon 1-1, Ciaran Kilkenny 0-3, Bernard Brogan, Paddy Andrews 0-2 each, Alan Brogan, Jack McCaffrey 0-1 each.
Scorers for Mayo: Cillian O’Connor 1-9 (0-8f, 0-1 ’45, 1-0 pen), Andy Moran 0-2, Alan Freeman, Keith Higgins, Lee Keegan, Diarmuid O’Connor 0-1 each.
Dublin
1. Stephen Cluxton (Parnells)
3. Rory O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes)
4. Philly McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams)
2. Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna)
5. James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams)
6. Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes)
7. Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf)
8. Brian Fenton (Raheny)
23. Michael Darragh MacAuley (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
10. Paul Flynn (Fingallians)
14. Paddy Andrews (St Brigids)
11. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock)
15. Bernard Brogan (St Oliver Plunketts/ER)
12. Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincents)
13. Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams)
Subs
21. Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala) for O’Carroll (blood sub) (4)
24. Kevin McManamon (St Judes) for Rock (half-time)
26. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams) for Cooper (43)
9. Denis Bastick (Templeogue Synge Street) for MacAuley (black card) (51)
18. Alan Brogan (St Oliver Plunkett’s-Eoghan Ruadh) for Andrews (54)
17. Tomás Brady (Na Fianna) for Fenton (58)
22. Eric Lowndes (St Peregrines) for Bastick (black card) (68)
Mayo
16. Rob Hennelly — Breaffy
6. Chris Barrett – Belmullet
2. Ger Cafferkey – Ballina Stephenites
4. Keith Higgins – Ballyhaunis (Capt.)
3. Donal Vaughan – Ballinrobe
5. Lee Keegan – Westport
7. Colm Boyle – Davitts
9. Tom Parsons – Charlestown Sarsfields
11. Aidan O’Shea – Breaffy
10. Diarmuid O’Connor – Ballintubber
8. Seamus O’Shea – Breaffy
15. Jason Doherty – Burrishoole
19. David Drake – Ballaghaderreen
12. Kevin McLoughlin – Knockmore
14. Cillian O’Connor – Ballintubber
Subs
20. Patrick Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels) for Vaughan (10)
21. Andy Moran (Ballagahderreen) for Drake (45)
26. Alan Freeman (Aghamore) for Doherty (61)
13. Barry Moran (Castlebar Mitchels) for Seamus O’Shea (65)
25. Mickey Sweeney (Kiltane) for Diarmuid O’Connor (70)
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
Come on you boys in blue!
Up da dubs.
Jesus, looks like just saying you support the Dubs is enough to get you red thumbed. Anyway, everyone hates us but we don’t care. COYBIB!!
CHAMPIONS!!!!!!
Come on Kerry. Anyone But Dublin
Fantastic display from the Dubs,welcome home Sam!
Come on the dubs!!!
Come on you boys, come on you boys in blue!!!
Who are the 4 muppets on RTE 2 arguing over nothing?
I know!! Everybody wants to see the best play in a final and a Kerry v Dublin is like The Spanish El Clasico!!!
Did they lube the pitch up with baby oil before this match? Shlippin’ and shlidin’ all over the place
Come on Dublin.
Tis a slipping and sliding match.
When I seen the photograph of the woman and baby accompanying this article I thought it was going to be another migrant/refugee story!
It’s a refugee free day!! Beer and maybe a leg over later if Dublin win!!
I’m off the drink but I’ll take you up on the offer of the leg over.
Might be some consolation after the hiding Tipperary got in the minor game
worst allireland final in my living memory. Very very poor.
Puke.
The boys on RTE just after mentioning how both teams have played limited division 1 opposition,to put that into perspective Donegal who were knocked out of the championship in the Q/F have played more Div 1 teams than both Kerry and Dublin combined.
They won’t get any all-stars either despite the lop-sided draw they came through. Perhaps Durcan – had a terrific year.
It’s a very unfair system. Ulster teams get a raw deal there’s no disputing that
Best team won in the end.
Dublin have the better squad, Kerry have the better management. Kerry by 2.
Jack Kerry are not that strong !!!
…Stick to the day job Michael
Na I work nights
Looking like the Dubs having the better on the sideline as well so far, cooper bring dragged up and down the field and o Sullivan getting in on the scoring Gooch too far out from the goals
Wouldn’t completely agree, Kerry’s shooting has been absolutely woeful. When playing Dublin you have to take your chances. 8 wides(?) in 35 minutes is inexcusable in an AIF,
Congrats Dublin, the better side on the day
They should get rid of them clowns up in the studio and stick O’se and Whelao up there.
Come on utd
Carney already has O’Donoghue as his man of the match..
Never understood why they call it football. It should be called handball.
Because the foot kicks the ball? Derp!
Because it’s played on foot! The same reason Association Football is called football, American football is called football and rugby is called rugby football. The more you know *spreads hands in star motion*
Good game so far considering the conditions.
A.B.D
Deserved victory for Dublin, adapted to the conditions better and were unquestionably the better team on the day..faif pay to them..poor quality final..poor championsip.. (from the perspective of a neutral)
Well done best team won in the end to be honest it should hav been a bigger margin and they really should have three in a row by now by far the best team over the last three to four years.
Well done boys!! Up the Dubs!!
Martin carney is getting worried that Dublin might actually win
Dublin being a bit wasteful early on when they’re in shooting distance of a goal
Looks like donaghy is togged to start?????. Let the games begin
Get Paul Flynn off the pitch and this game would be put to bed.
I must have been at a different match . Paul Flynn was my man of the match