ONE OF THE great quests in Irish sport and life has reached a joyous conclusion. Mayo have been crowned All-Ireland senior football champions after a long and painful wait of 75 years.
Andy Moran’s side have confounded football wisdom all summer, and they did it once again on the biggest stage, overcoming a seven-point deficit after 16 minutes to stun favourites Kerry. Mayo belied the pre-match consensus that cast them as outsiders as they coped with a struggling start. This season has seen them lose twice in championship, yet they have coped with those setbacks and enjoyed remarkable improvements.
Mayo trailed 1-8 to 0-10 at the break before Darragh Beirne’s early second-half goal ignited their charge to claim a famous triumph. Moments of two-pointer magic were supplied by Jack Carney and Ryan O’Donoghue to leave Mayo daring to believe. They were in front 1-14 to 1-9 when Carney scored in the 44th minute and clear by 1-19 to 1-14 when O’Donoghue was on target in the 62nd minute.
Mayo's Enda Hession is pursued by Kerry's Paudie Clifford. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
And yet the finale was still fraught with tension for the new champions. Perhaps it was always destined to be that way. Kerry were largely inspired by the Clifford brothers on an afternoon when they could not locate their free-flowing state. David swung over a majestic two-pointer with his right and Paudie clipped a one with his left.
Suddenly Mayo were only in front by 1-19 to 1-17 with just three minutes on the clock. It was time to hang grimly in there. Kerry tried to conjure a two-pointer to force extra-time. David Clifford kicked one wide and Seán O’Shea dropped one short, both shots unleashed under extreme pressure as the Mayo defence scrambled to cover the gaps.
Eventually the play was recycled and Mayo moved downfield. It fell to Tommy Conroy to fist over the point that moved Mayo three clear and the confirmation had arrived. Mayo’s pursuit of Sam Maguire had reached an ecstatic conclusion, the hooter blaring moments later to spark a wild green and red eruption.
Kobe McDonald celebrates after the match with Keith Higgins. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
It was difficult to envisage that outcome earlier in the day. Kerry knocked over the opening three points of the game, David Clifford settling quickly to the tempo. In the 15th minute a game-breaking moment occurred, Clifford swapping passes with O’Shea to dance in from the right wing, neatly sidestep Jack Livingstone, and plant the ball in the net. O’Shea tacked on a point soon after and Kerry were cruising with their 1-5 to 0-1 advantage.
Yet Mayo refused to crumble. Carney and O’Donoghue swung over superb two-pointers into the Hill to ignite their charge. Sam Callinan got forward from defence for a point, Tommy Conroy came off the bench to hoof over another. The last scoring act of the half fell to Joe O’Connor, nudging Kerry ahead 1-8 to 0-10 at the interval, but Mayo were full of positive vibes.
Sean O'Shea and David Clifford dejected after the game. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
They kept that momentum going through the third quarter. The signature moments were the Beirne goal, fashioned by O’Donoghue and David McBrien, and another Carney two-pointer. Yet Kerry tested their nerve, driven on by Paudie Clifford’s promptings around the middle and the danger that lurked near goal whenever David gained possession.
Mayo saw a Kobe McDonald close-range shot for goal deflected over by a lunging dive from Shane Murphy, while Jordan Flynn palmed another effort against the crossbar.
Those misses may have caused the Mayo faithful to fear another day of heartbreak was in store, but this time was different.
Their moment of Croke Park glory had arrived at last.
Advertisement
Andy Moran and his wife Jennifer, daughter Charlotte and son Ollie celebrate with the Sam Maguire Cup. Tom Maher / INPHO
Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO
Scorers for Mayo: Darragh Beirne 1-3 (0-2 frees), Ryan O’Donoghue 0-5 (2 2pt play, 0-1 free), Jack Carney 0-4 (2 2pt play), Kobe McDonald 0-3 (0-1 ’45), Tommy Conroy 0-2, Sam Callinan 0-1, David McBrien 0-1, Jordan Flynn 0-1.
Scorers for Kerry: David Clifford 1-6 (1 2pt play), Paudie Clifford 0-3 (0-1 ’45), Seán O’Shea 0-3, Keith Evans 0-1, Tom O’Sullivan 0-1, Joe O’Connor 0-1, Dylan Casey 0-1, Graham O’Sullivan 0-1.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
63 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Mayo stun Kerry to end 75-year wait for All-Ireland senior football glory
Mayo 1-20 (1-4-12)
Kerry 1-17 (1-2-15)
ONE OF THE great quests in Irish sport and life has reached a joyous conclusion. Mayo have been crowned All-Ireland senior football champions after a long and painful wait of 75 years.
Andy Moran’s side have confounded football wisdom all summer, and they did it once again on the biggest stage, overcoming a seven-point deficit after 16 minutes to stun favourites Kerry. Mayo belied the pre-match consensus that cast them as outsiders as they coped with a struggling start. This season has seen them lose twice in championship, yet they have coped with those setbacks and enjoyed remarkable improvements.
Mayo trailed 1-8 to 0-10 at the break before Darragh Beirne’s early second-half goal ignited their charge to claim a famous triumph. Moments of two-pointer magic were supplied by Jack Carney and Ryan O’Donoghue to leave Mayo daring to believe. They were in front 1-14 to 1-9 when Carney scored in the 44th minute and clear by 1-19 to 1-14 when O’Donoghue was on target in the 62nd minute.
And yet the finale was still fraught with tension for the new champions. Perhaps it was always destined to be that way. Kerry were largely inspired by the Clifford brothers on an afternoon when they could not locate their free-flowing state. David swung over a majestic two-pointer with his right and Paudie clipped a one with his left.
Suddenly Mayo were only in front by 1-19 to 1-17 with just three minutes on the clock. It was time to hang grimly in there. Kerry tried to conjure a two-pointer to force extra-time. David Clifford kicked one wide and Seán O’Shea dropped one short, both shots unleashed under extreme pressure as the Mayo defence scrambled to cover the gaps.
Eventually the play was recycled and Mayo moved downfield. It fell to Tommy Conroy to fist over the point that moved Mayo three clear and the confirmation had arrived. Mayo’s pursuit of Sam Maguire had reached an ecstatic conclusion, the hooter blaring moments later to spark a wild green and red eruption.
It was difficult to envisage that outcome earlier in the day. Kerry knocked over the opening three points of the game, David Clifford settling quickly to the tempo. In the 15th minute a game-breaking moment occurred, Clifford swapping passes with O’Shea to dance in from the right wing, neatly sidestep Jack Livingstone, and plant the ball in the net. O’Shea tacked on a point soon after and Kerry were cruising with their 1-5 to 0-1 advantage.
Yet Mayo refused to crumble. Carney and O’Donoghue swung over superb two-pointers into the Hill to ignite their charge. Sam Callinan got forward from defence for a point, Tommy Conroy came off the bench to hoof over another. The last scoring act of the half fell to Joe O’Connor, nudging Kerry ahead 1-8 to 0-10 at the interval, but Mayo were full of positive vibes.
They kept that momentum going through the third quarter. The signature moments were the Beirne goal, fashioned by O’Donoghue and David McBrien, and another Carney two-pointer. Yet Kerry tested their nerve, driven on by Paudie Clifford’s promptings around the middle and the danger that lurked near goal whenever David gained possession.
Mayo saw a Kobe McDonald close-range shot for goal deflected over by a lunging dive from Shane Murphy, while Jordan Flynn palmed another effort against the crossbar.
Those misses may have caused the Mayo faithful to fear another day of heartbreak was in store, but this time was different.
Their moment of Croke Park glory had arrived at last.
Scorers for Mayo: Darragh Beirne 1-3 (0-2 frees), Ryan O’Donoghue 0-5 (2 2pt play, 0-1 free), Jack Carney 0-4 (2 2pt play), Kobe McDonald 0-3 (0-1 ’45), Tommy Conroy 0-2, Sam Callinan 0-1, David McBrien 0-1, Jordan Flynn 0-1.
Scorers for Kerry: David Clifford 1-6 (1 2pt play), Paudie Clifford 0-3 (0-1 ’45), Seán O’Shea 0-3, Keith Evans 0-1, Tom O’Sullivan 0-1, Joe O’Connor 0-1, Dylan Casey 0-1, Graham O’Sullivan 0-1.
Mayo
1. Jack Livingstone (Breaffy)
2. Jack Coyne (Ballyhaunis – captain), 3. Donnacha McHugh (Castlebar Mitchels), 4. Eoin McGreal (Garrymore)
5. Sam Callinan (Ballina Stephenites), 6. David McBrien (Ballaghaderreen), 7. Enda Hession (Garrymore)
8. Bob Tuohy (Castlebar Mitchels), 9. Jack Carney (Kilmeena)
24. Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber), 23. Paul Towey (Charlestown Sarsfields), 12. Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina Deel Rovers)
13. Darragh Beirne (Claremorris), 14. Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet), 15. Kobe McDonald (Crossmolina Deel Rovers)
Subs:
Kerry
1. Shane Murphy (Dr Crokes)
2. Paul Murphy (Rathmore), 3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue), 4. Dylan Casey (Austin Stacks)
25. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle), 6. Mike Breen (Beaufort), 7. Gavin White (Dr Crokes)
8. Mark O’Shea (Dr Crokes), 9. Seán O’Brien (Beaufort)
10. Joe O’Connor (Austin Stacks), 11. Seán O’Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks), 5. Graham O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses),
13. Paudie Clifford (Fossa), 14. David Clifford (Fossa), 15. Dylan Geaney (Dingle)
Subs:
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)
*****
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
All-Ireland Champions At Last Kerry Mayo