Mayo 2-16
Kerry 0-17
Kevin O’Brien reports from Croke Park
MAYO’S SUMMER VOYAGE continues and on this viewing, they’re only getting better.
Stephen Rochford’s men outplayed Kerry in almost every sector to seal their in their fourth All-Ireland final in six years. It was Mayo’s first championship victory over Kerry since 1996 as they exacted revenge for the replay defeat in Limerick three years ago.
Mayo made a mockery of the tired cliches that have accompanied them throughout this summer campaign. Aidan O’Shea frustrated his marker Kieran Donaghy to such a degree that the Austin Stacks man lashed out at the 27-year-old in second-half stoppage-time.
‘Star’ was sent-off to the delight of the Mayo-dominated 53,032 crowd in what may be his last outing in a Kerry jersey.
Kerry had earlier lost Peter Crowley to a second yellow, while Paddy Durcan was dismissed for Mayo after picking up a second booking late on in the heated affair. The sides shared 14 yellows between them, while Darran O’Sullivan and Cillian O’Connor were both black carded in the space of seven minutes shortly after half-time.
Andy Moran once again gave a heroic display for the Connacht side. Everything that went into him stuck, he bagged 1-1 and saw his man Shane Enright hauled off after 39 minutes.
Paul Geaney (0-10) was a rare bright spark in the Kingdom attack, while James O’Donoghue (0-3) looked dangerous after coming in at the interval, but otherwise their forward line looked lifeless.
Mayo had the smarts to sit deep and block out the space in front of Donaghy in the final quarter, and reel off scores on the counter.
Mayo appeared to be rotating their full-back early on, with Donal Vaughan and Seamus O’Shea spending time there in the opening 10 minutes, before Aidan O’Shea moved inside on Donaghy and held him scoreless in an outstanding display.
The big pre-game move was Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s decision to bring in Jonathan Lyne, Jack Barry and debutant Tom O’Sullivan in place of Mark Griffin, Anthony Maher and O’Donoghue.
Paul Murphy lined out as a sweeper for Kerry, but it only served to invite Mayo’s running game and gave them an extra man in midfield.
Murphy was pushed up as a wing-forward after half-time, but the damage was done.
Mayo crucified Kerry’s kick-outs in the first-half, while David Clarke was able to go short with considerable ease.
Mayo retained every single one of Clarke’s kick-outs in the first half, while Colm Boyle made two outstanding fetches from as Mayo pressed Brian Kelly’s kicks and forced him to go long at the far end.
Kerry led by 0-4 to 0-3 after the opening 11 minutes, with Geaney looking lively, but the cracks were beginning to show. By the 25th minute, Cillian O’Connor had five converted frees to his name Kerry continued to foul the Mayo runners.
Diarmuid O’Connor fisted into the net two minutes later, after Donal Vaughan’s attempt for a point dropped invitingly in front of the goalmouth. It was a ball Kerry stopper Kelly should have dealt with, but his caution under the dropping ball was emblematic of his team.
Mayo led by five at half-time but had that lead stretched to eight after Moran slotted past Kelly for a second consecutive game. O’Donoghue looked eager to make up for lost time and edged Kerry back into the game after his arrival off the bench.
The Legion man and Geaney hit 0-5 between them in a productive spell for the Kingdom, leaving them 2-12 to 0-14 behind on 60 minutes. Crowley, Donaghy and Enright were dismissed as scores from Doherty (45) and O’Loughlin settled the Mayo nerves.
Scorers for Mayo: Cillian O’Connor 0-6 (0-6f), Andy Moran 1-1, Jason Doherty 0-3 (0-1 45, 0-1f), Diarmuid O’Connor 1-0, Kevin McLoughlin and Conor Loftus 0-2 each, Paddy Durcan and Chris Barrett 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kerry: Paul Geaney 0-10 (0-8f), James O’Donoghue 0-3 (0-1f), Johnny Buckley, Jack Barry, Fionn Fitzgerald and Jonathan Lyne 0-1 each.
Mayo
1. David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites)
2. Brendan Harrison (Aghamore)
3. Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe)
4. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)
6. Chris Barrett (Belmullet)
11. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy)
7. Colm Boyle (Davitts)
8. Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy)
9. Tom Parsons (Charlestown)
12. Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber)
5. Lee Keegan (Westport)
10. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)
13. Jason Doherty (Burrishoole)
14. Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber – captain)
15. Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen)
Subs
18. Paddy Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels) for Vaughan (35+2)
20. Conor Loftus (Crossmolina) for Diarmuid O’Connor (ht)
24. Conor O’Shea (Breaffy) for Cillian O’Connor (52, black-card)
19. Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore) for Seamus O’Shea (60)
22. Danny Kirby (Castlebar Mitchels) for Boyle (68)
Kerry
1. Brian Kelly (Killarney Legion)
2. Shane Enright (Tarbert)
6. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe)
4. Killian Young (Renard)
7. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
20. Jonathan Lyne (Killarney Legion)
5. Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers)
23. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)
8. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys)
17. Jack Barry (Na Gaeoil)
12. Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane)
11. Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes – captain)
10. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare Shamrocks)
13. Paul Geaney (Dingle)
14. Kieran Donaghy (Austin Stacks)
Subs
22. Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar) for Buckley (ht)
15. James O’Donoghue (Killarney Legion) for Walsh (ht)
18. Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes) for Enright (39)
21. Jack Savage (Kerins O’Rahillys) for Darran O’Sullivan (44, black-card)
3. Mark Griffin (St Michaels-Foilmore) for Young (50)
23. Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahillys) for Tom O’Sullivan (62)
9. Anthony Maher (Duagh) for Barry (65-, blood-sub)
Referee: David Hough (MeathG
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Really enjoyed watching the documentary with the ex Utd players becoming owners of Salford, at lot of work/investment involved behind the scenes,, especially from Gary Neville, never liked him as a player, found him very cold and he always seemed aloof, but with his work on the TV since I’ve become a fan, I find his opinions on the game are some of the best around. Best of luck to Salford, if they make it to the championship in the next few years it will be a magnificent achievement to all involved. IMO.
@devils avacado: he was an average player in a great team , a complete failure as a coach and now makes a living criticising better coaches along with the spitting idiot fromLiverpool
@Martin: so,,,, not a big fan then Martin??? That’s ok, you do know how to use a remote control,, don’t you??? ;)
@Martin: gary neville an average player? Lol!
@Martin: take them lemons out of your mouth chap, it ain’t good for u!
@Martin: I agree with ya about him as a player, I thought he was average too ability wise. He was strong mentally and worked hard to hit the levels he did. Always find it hard to understand when pundits are picking the greatest Premiership team he always gets in. Wouldn’t lace Denis irwins boots in my opinion. As for the punditry stuff you don’t have to take it too seriously. It’s interesting because himself and carragher are so invested in their clubs as fans so we can all relate.
@devils avacado: cold and aloof? Interesting way to describe a player?
@Martin: not a Utd fan but calling him an average player is just crazy. He was the best right back for about a decade and one of the best in the premier league era. Very Solid defender and not bad going forward. Wen he lost yard of pace his game suffered cos he was never the fastest to begin.
@Derek Trotter: he’s also a person,, that did interviews when he played…….:)
@Brian Dunne: Jesus I’m a chelsea fan and no love for Utd but Neville average player??? His brother Phil yes he was pants but Gary was a superb full back rarely gotten the better of, and have to say also my fav pundit, can’t listen to carragher his voice goes thru me.
@Dougal67: just to be clear i was laughing at the guy who said neville was average. Phil neville wasn’t “pants” either. Hundreds of games for man utd and captain of everton.
@Brian Dunne: Apologies about Gary, but Phil was pants….
What a waste of a career, was a solid premier league player but pissed it all away. If he wasn’t too fond of the drink and took care of himself he’d easily be in the Ireland squad if not first team and have another few years at a high level.
@simplysuperman69: such a waste. No one ever say to these lads. You have a short career. You can make lots of money if you look after yourself and go on the lash afterward when the shillings are in the bank
@Red wine and chocolate cake: I think it was Rafa Benitez that said, “I don’t want to see any of my players in the pubs or nightclubs,, when they are finished their careers they can buy one”. :)
What an utter waste of a talent