The dream Mayo just won’t let die

Dublin 2-12 Mayo 1-15: Seven electric minutes at the end couldn’t overshadow the caution and cynicism that preceded it, but Mayo may well have saved something of football’s soul — not to mention their season and sanity — by clawing back a seven-point deficit to claim a replay from this tempestuous All-Ireland semi-final.

For over an hour, this eagerly anticipated meeting of two counties routinely praised by the purists for their attacking verve was mired in controversy and speckled with spite, with Dublin having Diarmuid Connolly sent off with six minutes left and two men black carded.

Jim Gavin’s side made few friends with some of their antics, off the ball and on, with Connolly seeing the line, and Mayo’s Lee Keegan a yellow, after the pair engaged in some prolonged wrestling away from play. What Connolly did for the harsher censure was uncertain.