Dublin 0-17
Mayo 0-17
SUSPEND DISBELIEF AND THE cynicism that surrounds this competition format, and you could have been transported right back to the middle of the last decade when these two dominated September Sundays.
After an insane effort to come from behind and overtake Dublin in the last ten minutes – after surviving a rasper from Eoin Murchan that clipped the crossbar on the way over on the hour mark – Mayo took the lead for the first time since the 13th minute.
The order of events of how that play unfolded, summed up the chaotic sense of an dizzying afternoon. Dublin’s Cormac Costello lofted in a thrilling high ball to leave Paul Mannion isolated against the only Mayo back, Sam Callinan.
Not the sort of play you see too often in Gaelic football nowadays, coming like an unexpected gift.
Callinan won the flick. Mayo won the break. Rory Brickenden gambled with a long ball that the sizzling Ryan O’Donoghue gathered before being bundled over by Michael Fitzsimons.
It wasn’t a scoreable free for most right-footers. But the Belmullet man had come through a second half of flinging over shots from distance and was in tune with the wind.
The same wind denied him a 21-metre free in the first half, Stephen Cluxton reaching those venerable bones up to catch the ball above his own crossbar.
This time, O’Donoghue was not to be denied, splitting the posts and sending the fans into delirium.
There were two dozen seconds left on the clock when Cluxton addressed the restart.
They went old school. A long thump and a high jump, from Ciaran Kilkenny, who had been off-colour. But he caught it and they built an attack.
Naturally, Jack McCaffrey was knitting stuff together and naturally, they weren’t for turning back and switching wings. They went straight for the D with everyone getting ahead of the ball, adding depth to the move.
Mayo defenders were heart-scared of fouling but shadowed excellently.
Eventually, Cormac Costello got free and took possession. He swivelled his hips. He sent himself to the floor with his own elasticity but sprung up instantly to punch over. It was the eleventh time the sides were level.
McNally had seen enough. He blew his whistle and Mayo’s Jordan Flynn sunk to his knees. Tommy Conroy bent over on his. If ever a draw felt like a defeat, well…
Take it out of Croke Park, and this pair still have so much to serve up; a mixture of the same old failings and thrillings, metronomic efficiency and devil-may-care raids doomed to end in glorious failure.
The significance of the game was not lost on official Ireland, with former Taoiseach Enda Kenny in attendance, a couple of rows ahead of the two most recent former Presidents of the GAA; Larry McCarthy and John Horan.
There was no point Mayo attacking this game like every other one against Dublin, so Kevin McStay threw something unexpected at them; the late inclusion of Rory Brickenden to pick up Cormac Costello, but a better success story in Donnacha McHugh hanging out of the regal Brian Fenton.
It had the effect of subduing Fenton in the first half. His most significant contribution provoked furious protests from the Mayo fans in the 25th minute.
An Aidan O’Shea handpass released Ryan O’Donoghue and, not for the first time, his feet flummoxed Eoin Murchan and he headed for goal. Just as he pulled the trigger, Fenton got across him.
It was a block, but his hands weren’t the only limbs in on the action. On another day it might have been a penalty.
Mayo looked for a spell as though they might over-rely on O’Donoghue to take their shots. On numerous occasions, Matthew Ruane turned back when he should have made a few more strides and had a dig.
Aidan O’Shea preferred to barge his way through a forest of Dublin defenders rather than get his shot off in space.
Though there has to be some sympathy reserved. Shooting into the town end in the first half there must have been a strong breeze. An O’Donoghue free held up in it once and allowed Stephen Cluxton to catch over his own bar.
Despite the overwhelming Mayo pressure, Dublin had Cormac Costello. He was imperious here, getting Dublin off the mark after being fouled by Brickenden, following it up with carrying the threat of serious danger.
All over, Mayo looked organised while out of possession. They were unlucky to cough up a non-free for an imagined foul on Colm Basquel, and they still could be relied upon to make a hamse of things when trying to build from the back, as evidenced by Sean Bugler’s point.
For Dublin, this is exactly what they needed. They won’t grow bored of winning in Leinster, but they can’t feel thrilled all the same. This kind of game brings them to different places. Mayo don’t give a damn for their reputation or standing. So what if they head to head is lop-sided? They at least give the sporting public the games to watch.
The second half brought big changes. Matthew Ruane was now floating points over at leisure.
Dublin reached for their bench. On came Jack McCaffrey and Paul Mannion in a double sub, both would score, and James McCarthy added authority.
But Mayo played their part, didn’t blink, and went under for the crocodile rolls. It was gripping and exhausting.
Now Dublin have been tested.
A loss here would have left the champions in a vulnerable spot with three games in 14 days, and possibility meeting Kerry at the end of it.
That they survived it means they deserved it. Mayo might have been the more engaging team, but Dublin continue to find the ways.
Scorers for Dublin: Cormac Costello 0-7 (0-3f), Colm Basquel 0-2, Eoin Murchan, Sean Bugler, Niall Scully, Ciaran Kilkenny, Paddy Small, Paul Mannion, Jack McCaffrey 0-1 each, Con O’Callaghan 0-1f.
Scorers for Mayo: Ryan O’Donoghue 0-7 (0-5f), Tommy Conroy 0-3, Matthew Ruane 0-2, Stephen Coen, Jordan Flynn, Conor Loftus 0-1 each, Colm Reape 0-1 (1x’45’), Aidan O’Shea 0-1f.
Dublin
1. Stephen Cluxton (Parnells)
2. Eoin Murchan (Na Fianna) 3. Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala) 20. Sean MacMahon (Raheny)
5. Brian Howard (Raheny) 6. John Small (Ballymun) 7. Sean Bugler (St Oliver Plunketts)
8. Brian Fenton (Raheny) 19. Tom Lahiff (St Jude’s)
10. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street) 11. Cormac Costello (Whitehall Colmcilles) 12. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock)
13. Paddy Small (Ballymun) 14. Con O’Callaghan (Cuala) 17. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden)
Subs:
9. Killian McGinnis (Skerries Harps) for Lahiff (HT)
21. Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf) for Scully (51m)
15. Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes) for Paddy Small (51m)
24. Ross McGarry (Ballyboden) for McGinnis (63m)
22. James McCarthy (Ballymun) for Bugler (67m)
Mayo
1. Colm Reape (Knockmore)
2. Jack Coyne (Ballyhaunis) 3. David McBrien (Ballaghadereen) 17. Rory Brickenden (Westport)
5. Sam Callinan (Ballina) 6. Stephen Coen (Hollymount Carramore) 7. Eoghan McLaughlin (Westport)
8. Jack Carney (Kilmeena) 9. Matthew Ruane (Breaffy)
10. Tommy Conroy (The Neale) 11. Darren McHale (Knockmore) 12. Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina Deel Rovers)
13. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy) 4. Donnacha McHugh (Castlebar) 15. Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet)
Subs:
20. Conor Loftus (Crossmolina Deel Rovers) for McLoughlin (30m)
14. Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber) for McHale (55m)
21. Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber) for Coen (59m)
26. Bob Tuohy (Castlebar) for Ruane (63m)
25. Paul Towey (Charlestown) for Carney (67m)
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)
