1. Dublin power to the finish line
Midway through the second-half, Dublin’s season hung by a thread. After the collapse in last Sunday’s drawn game, they were staring at a four-point deficit and looked in trouble.
But Jim Gavin shunted subs into action and they had a revitalizing effect on his team. Michael Darragh MacAuley, Kevin McManamon and Alan Brogan all made their mark as Dublin were transformed.
They powered to the finish line, outscoring Mayo by 3-4 to 0-2. Dublin patiently retained the ball before making the incisive breaks at the key junctures. A third All-Ireland final in five years is a pleasing prospect for Dublin fans.
2. Mayo fail to kick on after goal
A seven-point defeat was their lot at the finish but Mayo were dreaming of an alternative outcome during the second-half. Cillian O’Connor’s goal sent their fans into raptures and it seemed a critical moment that would shape the outcome of the match.
But they only hit three points in the remaining 30 minutes of football after O’Connor raised a green flag. It was a boost for Mayo yet never proved a springboard for success.
They had chances during a phase of control after that strike but could not push on to create a gap on the scoreboard. That proved costly at the finish.
3. McMahon is the main man
The spotlight shone on Philly McMahon last week, the Dublin defender in the eye of a disciplinary storm over an alleged headbutt incident involving Aidan O’Shea. The glare was just as intense on the Ballymun Kickhams man for this replay but he rose to become a dominant figure.
Performing a key role in the Dublin defence blotting out the sizeable threat of O’Shea was one aspect to McMahon’s performance. But his attacking input was essential to Dublin’s success.
McMahon’s upfield forays yielded 1-2 and he wound up Dublin’s joint top scorer. That spoke volumes for his contribution.
4. Stunning first-half action
The cynical current that ran through the narrative of last Sunday’s drawn encounter generated plenty heated debate during the week. But after all the controversy and chaos of appeals, this replay settled down at the start to be a contest with football at the heart of it.
The first-half was the best period of football in the 2015 championship with 20 points distributed evenly between the teams. Some of the point-kicking from players like Paddy Andrews, Diarmuid O’Connor, Ciaran Kilkenny and Barry Moran was exceptional.
The quality and scoring rates may have dipped in the second-half but the start of the game was excellent.
5. More Croke Park pain for Mayo
A familiar season-ending experience for Mayo today but that doesn’t make it easier to absorb. The last four seasons have seen Mayo lose two All-Ireland finals and two All-Ireland semi-final replays. Today was the latest addition to a painful catalogue.
It’s easy to admire their ability to keep coming back to contesting at the business end of the championship. But this loss was another perfect portrait of the shortcomings that hinder the Connacht side – conceding killer goals, poor decision making at crucial times and the lack of a scoring streak to wrap up a game.
It’s another setback and going to the well to come back again for 2016 will be challenging.
