1. David Clarke – Safe between the Mayo sticks, bar one shaky moment in the first half. Made the right decision to punch clear on occasion and his short kick-outs provided Mayo with plenty of possession. 7
2. Brendan Harrison – Picked up Ciaran Murtagh from the start and did well on the Roscommon captain, who was withdraw in the second half. Solid display from the corner back. 7
3. Ger Cafferkey – One of Mayo’s most experienced players didn’t do too much wrong on the day, but Diarmuid Murtagh won some good possessions close to the Mayo goal. 7
4. Keith Higgins – Normally seen more as an attacking option but Roscommon had Niall Kilroy pushing up on him. Higgins attended well to his defensive duties, and made one excellent first half block on Sean Mullooly. Yellow carded deep in stoppage time. 7
5. Lee Keegan – Brilliant first half from the 2016 Footballer of the Year, who registered 1-3 and kept his side in it. But Roscommon moved Enda Smith to full-forward for the second half, and Keegan went with him, which nullified his attacking threat. 8
Oisin Keniry / INPHO
Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO
6. Chris Barrett – Did fine around the middle third but bar one or two forays forward, he was more concerned with defensive duties and happy to hold his position. 6
7. Colm Boyle – Curiously withdrawn in the second half, having been a useful attacking outlet for Mayo in the first with his bombing runs forward. Got forward for a first half point. 7
8. Seamus O’Shea – Very quiet outing from O’Shea, who was replaced by Tom Parsons in the second half. Mayo needed more from the midfielder. 5
18. Paddy Durcan – Two points from Durcan in the second half, after he was a late inclusion in the starting line-up. Looked like his point late on might be the winner before Donie Smith’s stunning free. 7
10. Kevin McLoughlin – Put in his usual hard-working shift but not one of McLoughlin’s better games. Shuttled up and down the pitch but a frustrating afternoon in general for the versatile Knockmore man. 6
11. Aidan O’Shea – Hugely important interception in the closing minutes but Mayo needed more from O’Shea in a general sense. Didn’t get on the scoresheet but his second half was better. 5
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
12. Diarmuid O’Connor – Taken off in the second half and struggled to exert an influence. Was booked too and looked a tired player throughout for Mayo. 5
22. Jason Doherty – Scored a point and was often seen deep inside his own half to offer an extra body. Dropped another effort short, a cameo moment that summed up Mayo’s struggles in front of goal. Taken off in stoppage time. 6
14. Cillian O’Connor – Mixed bag from the captain. Kicked a couple of frees and a second half leveller from a Donal Vaughan assist was a crucial score. Missed a couple late on to win it. 5
15. Andy Moran – Point in each half for the veteran attacker, who gave his all for the cause as usual. Would have hoped to get on the ball more and trouble the scoreboard more but was still solid. 7
Subs –
Donal Vaughan – Replaced Colm Boyle in the second half and provided a superb crossfield pass which allowed O’Connor to level in the closing stages. 6
Conor Loftus – Came on for Andy Moran in the second half but didn’t have a huge amount of time to get involved. 5
Stephen Coen – A replacement for Diarmuid O’Connor in the final quarter. 5
Tom Parsons – Replaced Seamus O’Shea and made a big impact. Will be pushing for a start in the replay. 7
Roscommon
1. Colm Lavin – Nervy under a Cillian O’Connor shot in the first half and helpless for Keegan’s first half goal, which flew into the net off Niall McInerney. Did well late on to clutch one under his crossbar. 7
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2. Sean McDermott – Tenacious display from the veteran Roscommon defender. Taken off late on but had given his all for the Rossies. Took the opportunity to get forward whenever he could. 7
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
3. John McManus – One excellent first half interception when Mayo threatened, and McManus was solid all through for Roscommon. A real leader in the full-back line. 7
4. David Murray – Probably the least prominent of the Roscommon full-back line, and happy to slip into the shadows and get about the bread and butter of defending. 6
5. Niall McInerney – Unfortunate when his attempted block on Lee Keegan’s shot resulted in the Mayo goal. Booked for a foul on Aidan O’Shea but a good display nonetheless. 7
6. Sean Mullooly – Punched holes in Mayo time and time again in the first half with driving runs forward. Having expended so much energy in that opening half, his influence on the game faded. 7
7. Brian Stack – One good mark in the first half, and found himself in advanced positions on more than one occasion. Goal-scorer in the Connacht final, Stack will hope for an improved performance in the replay. 6
8. Fintan Cregg – Did he mean to lob David Clarke for that first half goal? Only Cregg will be able to answer that question. Known more for his left-footed prowess, Cregg found the net with his right peg. Added a point. 7
Tommy Grealy / INPHO
Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO
9. Enda Smith – Good start but was quickly on the back foot in his battle with Lee Keegan. Went into full-forward for the second half, and Keegan went with him. 6
10. Tadhg O’Rourke – Required treatment for a facial injury in the first half, before returning to the fray. His momentum seemed to stall after that. 6
11. Cian Connolly – In and out of the game in the first half, but his influence faded and he was withdrawn in the second period, having picked up a yellow card. 5
12. Conor Devaney – Brilliant point to kick-start the second half for Roscommon. Much better second half display from Devaney, who made way before the end. 6
13. Ciaran Murtagh – Scored a first half goal after taking a pass from his brother Diarmuid. Taken off in the second half and will hope for a better replay outing. 6
14. Diarmuid Murtagh – Lovely offload for Ciaran’s goal but Diarmuid registered four first half wides. Levelled the scores early in the second half and added a point from play but was called ashore later. 6
Brian Stack tackles Paddy Durcan. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
15. Niall Kilroy – Emptied the tank for Roscommon in a roving commission. Swept up well for the Connacht champions at the back, while also pushing forward to apply pressure on Keith Higgins. 7
Subs –
Donie Smith for Connolly – Scored a point shortly after coming on and nailed that brilliant equalising free deep in stoppage time. 7
Colin Compton – Came on for Ciaran Murtagh in the second half, but didn’t gain many possessions. 6
Cathal Compton – Replaced Diarmuid Murtagh to join his brother Colin on the pitch. 6
Ian Kilbride – Came on as a blood sub in the first half and was introduced again in the second period, for Sean McDermott. 6
Ronan Stack – A late replacement for Conor Devaney. 5
Who should take the man-of-the-match award?
Poll Results:
Lee Keegan - Mayo (1312)
Niall Kilroy - Roscommon (447)
Sean McDermott - Roscommon (204)
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Player Ratings: how we judged the players as Mayo and Roscommon draw at Croker
Mayo 1-12 Roscommon 2-9
Mayo
1. David Clarke – Safe between the Mayo sticks, bar one shaky moment in the first half. Made the right decision to punch clear on occasion and his short kick-outs provided Mayo with plenty of possession. 7
2. Brendan Harrison – Picked up Ciaran Murtagh from the start and did well on the Roscommon captain, who was withdraw in the second half. Solid display from the corner back. 7
3. Ger Cafferkey – One of Mayo’s most experienced players didn’t do too much wrong on the day, but Diarmuid Murtagh won some good possessions close to the Mayo goal. 7
4. Keith Higgins – Normally seen more as an attacking option but Roscommon had Niall Kilroy pushing up on him. Higgins attended well to his defensive duties, and made one excellent first half block on Sean Mullooly. Yellow carded deep in stoppage time. 7
5. Lee Keegan – Brilliant first half from the 2016 Footballer of the Year, who registered 1-3 and kept his side in it. But Roscommon moved Enda Smith to full-forward for the second half, and Keegan went with him, which nullified his attacking threat. 8
6. Chris Barrett – Did fine around the middle third but bar one or two forays forward, he was more concerned with defensive duties and happy to hold his position. 6
7. Colm Boyle – Curiously withdrawn in the second half, having been a useful attacking outlet for Mayo in the first with his bombing runs forward. Got forward for a first half point. 7
8. Seamus O’Shea – Very quiet outing from O’Shea, who was replaced by Tom Parsons in the second half. Mayo needed more from the midfielder. 5
18. Paddy Durcan – Two points from Durcan in the second half, after he was a late inclusion in the starting line-up. Looked like his point late on might be the winner before Donie Smith’s stunning free. 7
10. Kevin McLoughlin – Put in his usual hard-working shift but not one of McLoughlin’s better games. Shuttled up and down the pitch but a frustrating afternoon in general for the versatile Knockmore man. 6
11. Aidan O’Shea – Hugely important interception in the closing minutes but Mayo needed more from O’Shea in a general sense. Didn’t get on the scoresheet but his second half was better. 5
12. Diarmuid O’Connor – Taken off in the second half and struggled to exert an influence. Was booked too and looked a tired player throughout for Mayo. 5
22. Jason Doherty – Scored a point and was often seen deep inside his own half to offer an extra body. Dropped another effort short, a cameo moment that summed up Mayo’s struggles in front of goal. Taken off in stoppage time. 6
14. Cillian O’Connor – Mixed bag from the captain. Kicked a couple of frees and a second half leveller from a Donal Vaughan assist was a crucial score. Missed a couple late on to win it. 5
15. Andy Moran – Point in each half for the veteran attacker, who gave his all for the cause as usual. Would have hoped to get on the ball more and trouble the scoreboard more but was still solid. 7
Subs –
Donal Vaughan – Replaced Colm Boyle in the second half and provided a superb crossfield pass which allowed O’Connor to level in the closing stages. 6
Conor Loftus – Came on for Andy Moran in the second half but didn’t have a huge amount of time to get involved. 5
Stephen Coen – A replacement for Diarmuid O’Connor in the final quarter. 5
Tom Parsons – Replaced Seamus O’Shea and made a big impact. Will be pushing for a start in the replay. 7
Roscommon
1. Colm Lavin – Nervy under a Cillian O’Connor shot in the first half and helpless for Keegan’s first half goal, which flew into the net off Niall McInerney. Did well late on to clutch one under his crossbar. 7
2. Sean McDermott – Tenacious display from the veteran Roscommon defender. Taken off late on but had given his all for the Rossies. Took the opportunity to get forward whenever he could. 7
3. John McManus – One excellent first half interception when Mayo threatened, and McManus was solid all through for Roscommon. A real leader in the full-back line. 7
4. David Murray – Probably the least prominent of the Roscommon full-back line, and happy to slip into the shadows and get about the bread and butter of defending. 6
5. Niall McInerney – Unfortunate when his attempted block on Lee Keegan’s shot resulted in the Mayo goal. Booked for a foul on Aidan O’Shea but a good display nonetheless. 7
6. Sean Mullooly – Punched holes in Mayo time and time again in the first half with driving runs forward. Having expended so much energy in that opening half, his influence on the game faded. 7
7. Brian Stack – One good mark in the first half, and found himself in advanced positions on more than one occasion. Goal-scorer in the Connacht final, Stack will hope for an improved performance in the replay. 6
8. Fintan Cregg – Did he mean to lob David Clarke for that first half goal? Only Cregg will be able to answer that question. Known more for his left-footed prowess, Cregg found the net with his right peg. Added a point. 7
9. Enda Smith – Good start but was quickly on the back foot in his battle with Lee Keegan. Went into full-forward for the second half, and Keegan went with him. 6
10. Tadhg O’Rourke – Required treatment for a facial injury in the first half, before returning to the fray. His momentum seemed to stall after that. 6
11. Cian Connolly – In and out of the game in the first half, but his influence faded and he was withdrawn in the second period, having picked up a yellow card. 5
12. Conor Devaney – Brilliant point to kick-start the second half for Roscommon. Much better second half display from Devaney, who made way before the end. 6
13. Ciaran Murtagh – Scored a first half goal after taking a pass from his brother Diarmuid. Taken off in the second half and will hope for a better replay outing. 6
14. Diarmuid Murtagh – Lovely offload for Ciaran’s goal but Diarmuid registered four first half wides. Levelled the scores early in the second half and added a point from play but was called ashore later. 6
15. Niall Kilroy – Emptied the tank for Roscommon in a roving commission. Swept up well for the Connacht champions at the back, while also pushing forward to apply pressure on Keith Higgins. 7
Subs –
Donie Smith for Connolly – Scored a point shortly after coming on and nailed that brilliant equalising free deep in stoppage time. 7
Colin Compton – Came on for Ciaran Murtagh in the second half, but didn’t gain many possessions. 6
Cathal Compton – Replaced Diarmuid Murtagh to join his brother Colin on the pitch. 6
Ian Kilbride – Came on as a blood sub in the first half and was introduced again in the second period, for Sean McDermott. 6
Ronan Stack – A late replacement for Conor Devaney. 5
Who should take the man-of-the-match award?
Poll Results:
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All-Ireland SFC GAA Mayo Ratings Roscommon sponsored by AIB