MAYO BOSS STEPHEN Rochford revealed that it was with kickouts in mind that they drafted Robert Hennelly into goal for today’s All-Ireland final replay.
Hennelly was a late inclusion for David Clarke – who played in the drawn game and was named on the team yesterday – but endured a tough outing with his kickouts.
Then in the 39th minute, Hennelly fumbled the ball after a Paul Flynn delivery and then fouled Dublin’s Paddy Andrews. He was shown a black card and Diarmuid Connolly netted the resultant penalty for Dublin.
“We did our analysis on Dublin,” outlined Rochford.
“They had pushed with a formation in the first game, pushing four guys inside. They were trying to cut off our short kick-out and as the game developed in the drawn game they were getting more comfort or more reward.
“And it was probably something they were going to try and maximise further. Robbie’s kick-out gave us a bit more length, a bit more option and that was the reason behind it.”
Rochford paused when asked if he felt the kickout strategy had worked.
“In some cases maybe it did, but I’m not thinking through every kickout now at this moment in time to wonder about that.”
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The Crossmolina native painted a picture of the devastation the Mayo players were experiencing as the county lost out in their third All-Ireland final in five years.
“Do you know, the majority of that group have been in four All-Ireland finals – now three defeats out of that four. They’re very crestfallen. Devastated.
“I mean, you don’t put the last nine-ten months of your life into an inter-county scene in the way it is at the moment, and take anything out of this year but absolute and utter dejection.
“But they’ve been doing that for a number of years, and we continue to fall short. I’m sure that will be the central point to a lot of column inches over the next couple of weeks, but I couldn’t be prouder of them.
“We had a free maybe to draw the game and we could be still all outside looking at extra-time. But it’s not to be, and we’ll see what the future brings then as regards how we move on and regroup.
“(I’m) extremely proud of all the Mayo players. I thought they left every sinew of energy out there. Obviously, that’s matched with a huge amount of disappointment but when you come out of a battle like that and come second and to lose by the smallest margin makes it hurt a little bit more.
“When you look at a one-point defeat you look at every single play, every single decision, every single moment in it and question what could have been. That’s just the way it is.”
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Feel sorry for the keeper. Mistakes happen. He shouldn’t be blamed.
An inexplicable decision to be fair. Clarke received man of the match in many places in the drawn game only to be dropped. His kickouts would have been better than Hennellys anyway.
@Niall Mcintyre: Absolutely ,Rochford thought he was giving Gavin a curve-ball insofar Dublin had planned for Clarke’s deliveries.Unprecedented & inexplicable decision which lost Mayo the match.
Rochford tried and failed miserably at pulling a rabbit out of a hat !
Clarke’s kickouts were poor the first day. Hennelly was worse but you can’t fault the management for making a change.
They made a call, it backfired but honestly, if they had balls, they would have realised their mistake at half time and put Clarke back in. Hennelly cost them 3 points in the 1st half alone. Didn’t think it was the right call from the minute I heard the rumours earlier in the day.
It’s ironic that the guy that came on for him when he was black carded was super on kick outs.
Dublin put serious pressure on him in the first 5 mins and he cracked. Dublin management deserve some credit for this. Big call changing the keeper for the all Ireland.
Stephen Rochford your system failed. Your bullshit system. Any sign of the great Aiden O’Shea? Dropping one of the top keepers in the country for a lad who hasn’t started in the championship all year ffs enough said. Ye had yere chance the first day when the Dubs were asleep. Better luck next time Mayo
Lack of class present there
Seeing as you referenced class, I’ll point you to your response to my comment above. Hardly oozing class yourself Spodgy.
You’re a parody spoddgy! It’s for people like you was the main reason I was delighted it was a one point win… Give you something extra to moan about!
I’d almost feel sorry for them, but then I think of how much they’d have rubbed it in if they’d won, then that goes away
Where does this come from? We would have been happy to win. You are a classless person.
Pretty classless alright. There were any amount of Dublin fans rubbing it in our faces after the game today and it really started to pi$$ me off after a while. Then of course there was those Dublin fans who were saying to ignore them idiots. To the proper fans I say enjoy the win, I would have. To the others I hope youre puking your ring up tonight
Spodo, as a Dub, I’ve endured many a ribbing from Mayo fans after 2006 and 2012. It’s part and parcel. Roll with it, it makes the good days even nicer.
I don’t doubt it Thomas. I have sat beside dubs and had a good Craic with them before and inevitably congratulated them when they won. The good well outnumber the bad I just thought the original comment was unnecessarily kicking mayo fans while they’re down
I feel sorry for the keeper but at every level as a goalkeeper, when you make a mistake, everybody knows and more often than not it costs your team. The major turning point today came from the keepers error and that’s something he will have to live with. It’s part of being a keeper. Even so, Mayo had chances to equalise and stupid decisions cost them. It was managements decision not to back Clarke and ultimately that’s what cost them.
Completely agree. A strange decision that didn’t pay off in the end. Thought Mayo were trying to be too clever meself.
There was a sense of disbelief among Mayo fans when the rumours of this change started circulating, a crazy decision, the modern game and the extinction of a traditional robust full back mean your keeper need to be dominant in the air.Hennelly has consistently been shown in his Mayo career to be extremely suspect under a high ball and it has ultimately cost his team an all Ireland.
Hoe did he not pick Clarke the stupid bullox!!