Tyrone 2-14
Mayo 0-15
THE TEAM THAT looked on the verge of withdrawing from the championship four weeks ago, have been crowned the best football side in the land as the 2021 season draws to a close.
Tyrone’s fourth Sam Maguire triumph, their first since 2008, has arrived after a remarkable revival this summer. They were too clinical and ruthless in this decider for Mayo, second-half goals from Cathal McShane and Darren McCury proving critical in swinging the game their way.
It was another harrowing final experience for Mayo, all the more so due to the bunch of goal opportunities that they failed to convert, Ryan O’Donoghue seeing his second-half penalty brush against the upright before going wide, at a juncture when they trailed 0-10 to 0-8.
Robbie Hennelly banged over a free shortly after in the 44th minute to cut the gap to one, a Kevin McLoughlin score in the 57th minute left them two adrift. Mayo were within touching distance during that second half but could not get close enough to land a telling blow on Tyrone.
In contrast the Ulster champions pounced for goals when it mattered most. They responded to that Hennelly point with Cathal McShane, fresh on the pitch, punching a perfectly-judged delivery from Conor Meyler to the net.
Then after that McLoughlin score, they registered their second goal. Conor McKenna cut through the rearguard and played a fist pass across for Darren McCurry to palm to the net. They were 2-10 to 0-11 clear in the 58th minute, a commanding position that this Tyrone team were in no mood to relinquish and that was the advantage they held on the scoreboard when Joe McQuillan blew the final whistle.
Mayo’s woes were compounded when Matthew Ruane was shown a red card late on. They pounded the Tyrone defence in the last quarter yet the goal they craved never arrived and they had spurned too many chances earlier in the match.
Tyrone edged the first-half exchanges, creating a 0-10 to 0-8 advantage by the interval. That was founded on the back of their second quarter control, the teams tied at 0-5 apiece by the 21st minute before the Ulster champions outscored Mayo by 0-5 to 0-3 for the remainder of the half.
Darren McCurry was a thorn in the side of the Mayo rearguard, picking off 0-3 and causing problems with his sharp movement. They also registered points from play that were from the top drawer – Pádraig Hampsey, Mattie Donnelly, Niall Sludden and Kieran McGeary all splitting the posts in style into the Davin End.
Mayo were left to rue a glaring lack of poise in front of goal. They had three clearcut chances in the first half to hit the net. Bryan Walsh was thwarted by Niall Morgan in the 15th minute, Conor Loftus saw his rebound effort diverted on the line by Sludden and then in the 26th minute Aidan O’Shea was prevented from netting by a diving lunge from Ronan McNamee.
They were thankful at the other end though for Hennelly sticking out his boot to deny McCurry from adding a goal to his scoring collection. Ryan O’Donoghue’s free-taking was impressive early on as he weighed in with 0-5.
Mayo needed an injection of hope early in the second half but saw a Tommy Conroy shot for goal flash wide and then O’Donoghue’s penalty brought no reward. Tyrone didn’t score with regularity in the second half but the timing of their goals were critical.
Despite the outstanding Lee Keegan trying hard to rouse Mayo, there were points for Tyrone from Peter Harte, Darragh Canavan, McCurry and Niall Morgan in the finale as they stayed in the ascendancy.
A remarkable All-Ireland triumph for Brian Dooher and Feargal Logan’s men, but more final misery for James Horan’s charges.
Scorers for Tyrone: Darren McCurry 1-4 (0-2f), Cathal McShane 1-0, Niall Morgan 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 ’45), Niall Sludden 0-2, Pádraig Hampsey, Peter Harte (0-1 mark), Kieran McGeary, Mattie Donnelly, Darragh Canavan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Mayo: Ryan O’Donoghue 0-8 (0-7f), Tommy Conroy 0-2, Robbie Hennelly (0-1f), Lee Keegan, Patrick Durcan, Stephen Coen, Kevin McLoughlin 0-1 each.
Tyrone
1. Niall Morgan (Edendork)
2. Michael McKernan (Coalisland), 3. Ronan McNamee (Aghyaran), 4. Pádraig Hampsey (Coalisland – captain).
6. Peter Harte (Errigal Ciarán), 7. Kieran McGeary (Pomeroy), 5. Frank Burns (Pomeroy)
8. Brian Kennedy (Derrylaughan), 9. Conn Kilpatrick (Edendork)
12. Niall Sludden (Dromore), 11. Michael O’Neill (Ardboe), 10. Conor Meyler (Omagh)
13. Darren McCurry (Edendork), 14. Matthew Donnelly (Trillick), 15. Conor McKenna (Eglish).
Subs
24. Cathal McShane (Eoghan Roe O’Neills) for Donnelly (44)
18. Darragh Canavan (Errigal Ciarán) for O’Neill (53)
22. Ben McDonnell (Errigal Ciarán) for Kennedy (56)
19. Paul Donaghy (Dungannon) for McKenna (66)
21. Tiarnan McCann (Killyclogher) for Kilpatrick (73)
Mayo
1. Rob Hennelly (Breaffy)
2. Padraig O’Hora (Ballina Stephenites), 6. Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore), 3. Lee Keegan (Westport)
5. Paddy Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels), 19. Oisín Mullen (Kilmaine), 4. Michael Plunkett (Ballintubber)
8. Matthew Ruane (Breaffy), 10. Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber)
12. Bryan Walsh (Ballintubber), 13. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore), 9. Conor Loftus (Crossmolina)
15. Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet), 11. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy – captain), 14. Tommy Conroy (The Neale)
Subs
7. Enda Hession (Garrymore) for Plunkett (half-time)
21. Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina) for O’Hora (52)
24. Darren Coen (Hollymount-Carramore) for Walsh (58)
25. Aidan Orme (Knockmore) for Loftus (65)
26. James Carr (Ardagh) for McLoughlin (74)
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
Brilliant Tyrone, heros all over the pitch. Nobody gave them a chance at the start of the year (myself included). Absolutely delighted for them. Mayo, no words!
So just come on now Tyrone, you can now admit that the whole COVID Postponement thing was a dodge. You pulled a fast one, and it worked. As for Mayo, time to stop trying. Settle for mediocrity like the rest of us.
@Pat Mangan: great mind games from Tyrone. No one gave them enough respect for being the best team jn ireland this year.
@Pat Mangan: No don’t believe they had Covid but that’s irrelevant now. They are all Ireland champions and deservingly so.
@Pat Mangan: Spillane is that you
@Pat Mangan: NEVER!!
@Pat Mangan: very sad comment, congratulations Tyrone, well played.
@Sam Murray: I’m delighted for good old mutton head Pat ;-)
@Pat Mangan: I bet you never kicked a ball in earnest…and I’m no Mayo fan.
@Frank Cauldhame: Spillane, not you Pat Mangan !
The Fishing was good here.
Thoroughly deserved from Tyrone. As for Mayo.. all hype, not good enough today. Another final bottled.
Aiden O’Shea is just a waste a space. Great against poor teams but has he ever had a good game against a top team in the championship? It’s like mayo are playing with 14 men because he just gets marked off the pitch!
@Punts & Race Discussion: We shouldn’t slate individuals on a public forum Aidan has represented his County proudly and should be respected for it.
@Punts & Race Discussion: bit harsh. Up to management to make decisions.
@Lorcan Quinlan: Can’t question his loyalty and commitment to his county but his inclusion is at odds with the hard running game mayo apparently play! Management need to grow a set and drop him next year.
@Lorcan Quinlan: agree
@Punts & Race Discussion: totally agree … manager afraid to replace O’Shea … did the replacement in semi and was told by the powers not to do again … Mayo again found out … poor and pathetic
@Punts & Race Discussion: totally agree … manager afraid to replace O’Shea … did the replacement in semi and was told by the powers not to do again … Mayo again found out … poor and pitiful
@Punts & Race Discussion: yep from a cowardly anon ac
@James Gorman: How is it cowardly its just glaringly obvious he doesn’t show up when it comes to the big games. He was anonymous against Dublin same with Tyrone and hasn’t shown up in previous seasons post connacht final. I don’t think he has ever kicked a score in a all Ireland final! The sooner mayo fans and management realise this the sooner they will achieve an all Ireland. He offers nothing against the big teams as he is to slow to break the tackle and his accuracy has alot to be desired. Is he a good footballer and should he be commended for his commitment to county yes but it doesn’t make him a great player or excuse him from ridicule.
@Punts & Race Discussion: I would love to give a very hard slap in the face in the hope it would make you cop on! Aidan O’shea and the rest of the squad train so hard and despite being humiliated each time him and rest of team come back with goal to win it for us. Mayo footballers have added pressures that other Gaa teams don’t have. They fail and they really don’t deserves grief from the likes of you.
You’d feel for Mayo but at the same time they just weren’t good enough. Didn’t take their chances and got cleaned all day on any ariel dual. Great to see Tyrones style of play.
@t: what style…hand passing and palming in goals? Not football (and Mayo guilty of the same). Has to be stopped or don’t call it football any more
@alan: came from a long kick pass which they used time and time throughout the came ya clown
@Stanley: the majority of passes from both teams were hand passes. Fact. The two Tyrone goals were palmed. Fact. All I am saying is that the rules have to be addressed. Otherwise all you will get is incessant hand passing. For the record, I thought Tyrone deserved their win.
@alan: yes but what created the goals? Both long kick passes… it’s not soccer, your meant to use your hands.
@alan: they tried to get rid of the incessant hand passing a few yrs ago in the league. it was the managers of ‘lesser counties giving out about it that stopped the change
@alan: Tyrone executed long kick passes well all game
@alan: were you looking at a different game? Too many “palm” merchants on the Mayo team. If a ball arrives to you close to goal, you are allowed and entitled to divert it to goal via your hand, fist palm knee head chest todger or any other part of your anatomy. Suss out a rule book. Sat’s a lot about Mayo if one can’t get a
point or a goal from a penalty
@t: Mayo thought they had it won after beating the Dubs.
A senior member of the Dublin back room team that I’m friendly said to me a few months ago that Mayo won’t win an All Ireland with Aidan O Shea in the team. Not that he’s a poor player. He just dosen’t suit the team tactics. They are a fast ball, running team. He slows the pace of play. He said when he’s dropped you will see a different team. How right he was in the semi final and how right he is today.
@a: they took over against Dublin when he was taken off
Mayo for sambos
@Chris OB: they must be getting sick of eating them at this stage.
@Tom kenny: they’re egg aren’t they mrs doyle?
@Paddy Kennedy: they can’t even wash them down with wine as father jack has nicked it
@Paddy Kennedy: there’s cocaine in them.
I always go back to Lee Keegan throwing the GPS at Rock. Hallmark of bitter, serial losers. Sums up Mayo. Tyrone were better from the first minute and fully deserved the win. Aidan O’Shea must be the most overrated player of the modern era. 8 all Ireland finals now and no scores. Shouldn’t have started today. Liability. Horan has no b4lls
@Marina Out: ah jaysus let’s leave Dublin out of this for this year. And get over the gps thing. From a dub. Well done to Tyrone today.
Mayo can have no complaints, the better team won and if anything the ref gave some soft decisions their way (and no black cards).
@Marina Out: Agree O’Shea is a liability and can’t understand why he gets on the team
@Augustus hoop: i was watching the OTB preview and brady was on and the first thing he did was have a go at alan brogan with a ‘not this year leds (sic)’
whats the point of that? for him i guess it’s ‘not this century leds’
anyway zero sympathy for mayo until they lose the entitlement…i mean in my lifetime offaly have more titles than mayo ffs
@Paddy Kennedy: my point is that none of what has happened In past has anything to do with today and Dublin have nothing to do with today.
Look at times Ive found the comments on here by Mayo fans after other games hard to take – it’s always the ref, the other team cheating, often personal Comments about lads etc….
But leave them to it.
Mayo players are savage and to come back year after year is amazing. They can’t control their fans comments
@Paul Crowley: politics and strong branding
@Augustus hoop: they come back year after year only to lose again. Nothing admirable about that. They’re savages
@Marina Out: look at all these faceless o shea bashing keyboard warriors. Probably spent the match downing cans of bud and doritos. These are amateur players who have access to these forums… be nice…
@Marina Out: is that the same game that the great and they were great Dublin team thought it was fair to wrestle down mayo defenders on the following kick out??? Be fair
Tyrone were just so much more clinical in everything they did today. Mayo definitely didn’t do themselves justice but fair play to Tyrone
Forget about a curse. Forget about the what ifs. Football is no place to be sentimental. The reality is Tyrone were mighty on that pitch today. Very much a case earlier that my heart was saying Mayo but deep deep deep down I knew Tyrone are a ferocious team and once again the proved it. They massively Excel when everyone is against them. Some outfit.
@Sean Kelly: Word!
@Sean Kelly: There were a few PowerPoints from McCurry today.
When I saw some of the mayo player’s wearing pink boots they were done.mayo froze at the big stage again.
Mayo are just a disgrace when it comes to finals. How can one team lose so many finals. 11 since 1989. No pity for them at all.
@John O’ Dowd: Take a break. They are amateurs , the sacrifices needed to pull on a county Jersey are huge. They make those sacrifices year after year. What have you ever sacrificed?
So they have lost finals. Usually against a better team like today. But they keep coming back for more. I for one respect that.
The only disgrace is your comment.
@Jimmy Roughneen: Well Done Tyrone.
@John O’ Dowd: because they are in a sh ite province. If they were in any other province they would have played in half the finals they played in
@John O’ Dowd: a disgrace? How many games have YOU played in Croker?
@John S: are you serious? What’s inLeinster or Munster aside from Dublin and Kerry.
@John S: have another beer John
@Mike Kennedy: you missed my point. They wouldn’t have even won the province half as often. So they wouldn’t have made half the AI Finals that they have if they were in any other province because they would have been beaten in the province.
@John O’ Dowd: and you’re just a mouth who never kicked a ball!
I have absolutely no words
@mel roberts: congrats to ye Mel. Fully deserved. Great performance. Enjoy the celebrations now.
@mel roberts: just those five! One more than your all Irelands now! Enjoy your celebrations, covid is called off for the week!
@mel roberts: enjoy!
@mel roberts: Tyrone were superb. Enjoy the celebrations.
@mel roberts: Congrats Mel. Best team all year. Great to see an ulster team coming back with Sam. Enjoy the celebrations
@mel roberts: Congratulations Enjoy the Celebrations
@mel roberts: Well done to Tyrone today Mel They were mighty.
We had our little differences in the past.
But this year has been great for both our counties
@mel roberts: have to give it to them. They came with a plan and executed it to perfection. Delighted for them. We will be back. Hopefully……….
@mel roberts: that’s a first
@mel roberts: enjoy well done
@mel roberts: a great win in fairness . No one gave Tyrone a prayer . Mayo will come back again but you would wonder are they ever going to get over the line at this stage
Well done Tyrone,the better team on the day,took their chances while mayo didn’t, congrats from a mayo man,absolutely no excuses or complaints
I take no real pleasure in saying this but Mayo are the ultimate chokers. It was like they had the All Ireland in the bag after the Dublin game. The hype and column inches around a team who are specialists in failure is actually sad to see. Today was the day to deliver. Kerry and Dublin will be back, they’d never have an opportunity better than today.
Forever the bridesmaid, never the bride..
Mayo, the Spurs of the GAA World.
@Kevin O’Brien: spurs wish they could get to that many finals…
@Paddy Kennedy: Maybe more like Benfica. Both supposedly are crushed and can win the big prize. All Ireland for Mayo and European titles for Benfica.
@Mehall: Meant Can’t win the big prize that want. Just stupid mistakes at times cost them and not taking their chances. O’Donoghue’s poor penalty and Hennelly caught in no man’s land for the first goal, when he should have stayed on his line.
Tyrone were brilliant today and fully deserve the victory, I say it through gritted teeth as a Monaghan man but it can’t be denied how brilliant a squad of players they are. A word of praise for the joint managers too, excellent game plan and use of the bench. Where would one start with Mayo?!
O Shea the laziest player ever. Slowed down the play every time. Should’ve been taken off at half time
Split Tyrone in two
But at least Mayo won the “we beat Dublin” Cup… oh no wait!
Well done to the Covid team ! I think Sligo were hard done by last year, would have won it !
@Gary O: Still bitter?
I Don’t support pat Spillane saying we hate Tyrone – as a Kerry woman myself Tyrone Abu – well done best team on the pitch
I know it all sounds simple, but the game was all about chances, Tyrone took theirs, and Mayo didn’t, if they did they would have been champions.
Well done Tyrone, fully deserved your victory
And the curse continues….fair played tyrone well won
@Stephen Fitzgerald: Cur5e? They were just outplayed
@Stephen Fitzgerald: no such thing as curses, from a mayo fan, Tyrone were way better
@Alison Maguire: Tyrone looked more motivated, more driven and never looked in trouble at any stage of the match. Mayo looked like they had their final against Dublin. You have to earn the right to lift Sam, today Tyrone did that. Another year of disapointment for Mayo.
@Stephen Fitzgerald: @Stephen Fitzgerald: id say the remaining player from that team is living under armed guard
Goals win matches
Mistakes lose matches
Penalty was the game changer, if that went win would have fancied Mayo to win. But it didn’t and they didn’t, fair play Tyrone, well deserved in the end, but you’d have to feel for Mayo.
@Ivor O’Sullivan: agree the penalty missed completely changed the tone and directed of the game
No sympathy in the world for Mayo. Well beaten by a fairly average side (in comparison to champs of old). There’s no curse at play here.
Financial doping, or something.
There is only two guarantees in you will at some point die and Mayo will lose an all Ireland final.
Well Done Tyrone
I’m gutted. A meath woman but dad played at senior level for mayo in the 60s and its his wish they win an all irelsnd before he dies. He’s 78 and don’t see it happening now. But well done Tyrone the better team won on the day. It hurts though because watching dad watch the matches is like he’s back on the pitch….Tyrone abú
@Alison Maguire: 78 is a youngster – hope he gets his wish
Well done Tyrone, fully deserved your victory
Mayoooooo my god we lost another final.
Mayo, serial bottlers, lol.
Dear Mayo, I’m not sure how many time this supporter from another county can call for you. Really thought this was their year. Unfortunately the best team won today
I think that match report is kind to mayo. I don’t think they pounded the Tyrone defence at all in the last 15 minutes to be honest though Tyrone were very clinical and deserved the win.
The team that deserved to win won but I’m not sure the better team did. That might be unfair on Tyrone. Their style of play is very effective both from a defensive and attacking perspective. Mayo threw away so many scores though!! Tyrone won midfield which was probably a surprise after the Kerry game. Niall Morgan gave one of the all time great Gk displays in Croke Park. Hard to see where an All Ireland is coming for Mayo now. Dublin, Kerry and Tyrone probably in that order will be very hard to beat next year
M-aybe
O-ur
Y-ear
O-hhh
@Kevin O’Brien: Moyo??
@Kevin O’Brien:
Maybe
Another
Year
O-hhh
Aidan O Fraud
Shouldn’t someone have told the Mayo penalty taker that the Rashford shuffle on the way to taking the penalty guarantees failure
Tyrone are a fine team really. Maybe they should have got rid of Mickey Harte sooner. He brought Tyrone to a great level and brought them to the promise land and kept them competing at a high level for a long time, but Dooher and Logan brought that bit of freshness into the set up that got them over the line. Well Done Tyrone and enjoy it. Mayo look another hard luck story, but they didn’t take their chances and at the end of the day, Tyrone were that bit more composed on the ball and had a bit more of a threat up front and their kicking game was probably better then Mayo’s.
Delighted for Tyrone, Mayo second best and still enjoyed their semi win and will be back again next year no doubt.
Well done Tyrone
Have a feeling Tyrone are going to be around for a few year ..young team and change of management
Best team won today, good performance from Tyrone and were efficient in everything they did, l feel for Mayo as a county for all the supporters that have never stopped believing that they will win the all lreland. As a Kerryman l can honestly say that l have the upmost respect for the Mayo supporters. They have been, in my opinion been faithful
Thoughts are with Jimmy Sloyan at this difficult time
Congratulations Tyrone and of course commiserations Mayo.
Lots of questions asked on why Mayo have not taken that final step in recent years, surely the fact Tyrone played more hardened opponents, more division 1 teams has to be a factor. It’s Galway or Roscommon realistically for a route to a semi final. It stood to Tyrone beating Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan and of course Kerry.
@Gerard McConnell: Dublin didn’t get half a game in Leinster for ten years yet it didn’t stop them winning all Ireland’s.
Cantrell and Cochrane. The best Bottlers in Ireland apart from Mayo. GHU.
Woohoo great game, great team, great result.
Mayo.. Sammy Dodgers
The old curse of mayo continues.
That’s 3 All Irelands Mayo have lost because of individuals getting red carded for indiscipline. Will they ever learn?