1. Mayo’s remarkable comeback
When Jack McCaffrey clipped over a 61st minute point, minds in Croke Park drifted to the prospect of a Dublin-Kerry showdown on 20 September. This semi-final looked a done deal, Dublin were a commanding seven points in front and their confidence was soaring.
But then Mayo, hitherto struggling to hit the perfect performance pitch, exploded into life. They shut up shop at the back to keep Dublin scoreless and attacked relentlessly in waves. The Connacht champions picked off three points, then received the oxygen surge of Cillian O’Connor’s goal from a penalty and regained parity through Andy Moran.
They might have won it at the finish courtesy of Mickey Sweeney but might have lost it courtesy of Stephen Cluxton. The most salient point though is Mayo’s remarkably brave comeback preserves their 2015 interest.
2. Dublin let final place slip from their grasp
Spin the tale of this finale around and Mayo’s resurgence is equally as striking as Dublin’s slip. Jim Gavin’s side had one foot in the decider, Kevin McManamon’s goal appearing to be the final nail in Mayo’s coffin.
But instead of sprinting across the line, Dublin stumbled. They didn’t score for the last 14 minutes of action and indeed Stephen Cluxton’s late free was their single scoring opportunity in that time frame.
Losing Michael Darragh MacAuley and Denis Bastick to black cards in the second-half hurt Dublin at midfield, they were already without a defensive lynchpin in Rory O’Carroll and Diarmuid Connolly’s red card compounded their woes.
Dublin were stretched in the closing stages with Mayo possessing all the momentum. There was some relief for Dublin at the final whistle that this late collapse didn’t prompt their summer exit.
3. Tempers flare between Dublin and Mayo
If the 2013 All-Ireland final was regarded on both sides as an intensely physical encounter, today did not deviate from that trend. Dublin and Mayo hurtled into each other from the start with the action frequently boiling over. Joe McQuillan may have made some suspect calls yet a game unfolding at such a fast pace was hugely difficult to officiate.
The fallout could be interesting. Diarmaid Connolly saw red and as of now is suspended for next week but Dublin may appeal. Philly McMahon allegedly head butted Aidan O’Shea while Rory O’Carroll was carted off early on with a blood injury but never
returned to the fray.
It was tempestuous stuff and the second instalment next Saturday is likely to be just as frenetic.
4. Dublin’s attacking sparkle from open play
Dublin may have floundered on the scoreboard in the closing stages but at times their attacking sequences were a joy to behold. Paul Flynn produced his best display of 2015 with form that indicated why he has been a serial Allstar winner. His kick passing was magnificent.
In the first-half Ciaran Kilkenny and Paddy Andrews were shining lights, demonstrating the art of kicking a point from play as they shared five between them. That paled in contrast to Mayo’s solitary opening half point from play.
Dublin hit rough patches in trying to mine scores both directly after half-time and in those last few plays of the game. But they also showed the attacking potential they have in the toughest environment they have encountered this summer.
5. Andy Moran leaves his mark
One of the elder statesman in the Mayo panel made a decisive impact here. Andy Moran is 32 in November but demonstrated what he has to offer when introduced in the 45th minute.
Certainly it wasn’t a flawless showing by the Ballaghaderreen man. He fired wide off his right in the 51st minute and then dropped a shot off his left into the arms of Cluxton. He had a goal chance as well after robbing Cluxton of the ball but John Small repelled him on the goal line.
However those misses did not deter Moran as he kept showing for the ball and nailed two points in the finale, including the levelling score. Mayo were devoid of spark up front at stage, reliant on Cillian O’Connor’s ice-cool freetaking style to keep them in the hunt. Moran provided impetus that was central to their comeback.
6. Round two is packed with intrigue
So Croke Park next weekend won’t be the preserve of hurling with Sunday’s Kilkenny-Galway showdown preceded by a second football instalment on Saturday. After such a bruising encounter, there’ll be aching bodies that need to get ready for a six-day turnaround.
Donal Vaughan and Rory O’Carroll are injury worries for both to contend with while Dublin have a suspension headache as well after that red card was brandished towards Connolly.
Jim Gavin will pore over that late Dublin collapse while Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes will examine why Mayo left it so late to hit full speed. Plenty to consider before deciding who will advance to face Kerry.
