Old highs and new lows as Mayo savour Cork slaying

By day’s end, football delivered the first pair of All-Ireland semi-finalists most believed would fetch up at headquarters in three weeks’ time.

Kerry’s progression beyond Galway was as routine as Kerry tend to make these challenges — which is to say, not routine in any way.

Mayo were strong enough, in the literal sense, to hold off Cork’s late charge in the second quarter-final in front of nearly 38,000 folk. The Connacht champions believed their day’s work was done when they cruised seven points in front after 50 minutes. In the end, they won with a point to spare.