Dublin dash Mayo dreams to seal sixth All-Ireland in a row
Dublin captain Stephen Cluxton lifts the Sam Maguire Cup. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Dublin’s desire was all too obvious in the final quarter this evening as they outscored Mayo by four points to claim a sixth consecutive All-Ireland SFC title.
A match for the champions up to the second-half water break when the margin was one, 2-9 to 0-14, Mayo’s will was bent by the strength of Dublin’s, Brian Howard, Ciarán Kilkenny and Niall Scully so prominent in closing this one out.
What was set up for a tense finale transformed into an all too inevitable conclusion when Dublin scored the first three points of that period, Kilkenny followed by substitute Howard quickly followed by a Paul Mannion free won by Niall Scully from Aidan O’Shea who struggled to collect the kick-out directly after the Howard point.
Coming just before Eoghan McLaughlin spilled a ball as a rare goal opportunity looked on, those three scores were the winning and losing of the game. The pace of the game thereafter slackened almost to the point of processional and Dublin had extended their unbeaten SFC run to 42 games and eight against Mayo, in doing so finishing the Championship without conceding a goal.
Mayo manager James Horan acknowledged his side ran out of steam in that closing quarter and they didn’t get the desired bump from their substitutes unlike Dublin.Â
“We did a lot of things right, we were still in it with 12, 13 minutes to go. We ran out of juice maybe a little bit, and a bit loose with some of the possession at times. It cost us as Dublin got stronger and stronger as the game went on. Some of their subs made a big difference and they ran out winners in the end.
“I just think we didn't get the impact that we would like from some of the guys coming on or whatever it was. Brian Howard came on, Paul Mannion came on, some of those subs won a lot of primary possession. They were dangerous and that had an impact on the game.”
Not that Horan made anything of it afterwards but Mayo’s cause may have been helped had Jonny Cooper been black carded for a 45th minute foul on O’Shea. Referee David Coldrick could clearly be lipread insisting Cooper had pulled back O’Shea as opposed to pulling down.
Dublin did go down to 14 men for 10 minutes when Robbie McDaid was black carded just before half-time but it had little effect on them. Dessie Farrell acknowledged the setback came at the right time.
"We spoke about it at half-time, how important it was not to capitulate at that stage because up until half-time we were struggling with their high press," he said.Â
"We knew they were going to go toe to toe, they're very good at bringing that high octane intense type of a game and it was very, very challenging for us.
"It was going to be even more so in the second half, a man down, they were able to get themselves reorganised you would have thought at the half-time break to have a right good go.
"But we banged heads on it as coaches and then turned it over to the players in terms of what we wanted them to do, or how we'd try to manage our way through that and I think getting out the other side of that probably provided us with the platform for victory then."
Losing Patrick Durcan to a quad injury at half-time was a blow for Mayo but they were on level terms in the 50th minute when Cillian O’Connor sent over a free. However, the composure of Kilkenny, who scored twice after the second-half water break, and won another free in the 63rd minute, which Dean Rock converted was crucial to Dublin seeing this one out.
Rock surely broke the record for the quickest goal in an All-Ireland final when he palmed to the net after just 13 seconds, the Ballymun Kickhams man on hand to finish an attack initiated by James McCarthy’s run through the middle.
But what might have appeared ominous turned out to be a blip for Mayo as they had cancelled it out by the third minute, the blistering OisĂn Mullin scoring the first and then teeing up Cillian O’Connor for a point from play after O’Connor had punished a foul on Ryan O’Donoghue.
Dublin were three up again by the 11th minute, a brace of Rock frees followed by a successful Seán Bugler effort. But Mayo once more made that lead disappear and were on level terms by the first water break, 0-6 to 1-3, O’Donoghue looking the part at centre-forward before he ran himself into the ground and retired midway through the second half.
A couple of simple marks by O’Connor sent Mayo two up but that stretch of five scores without reply came to a grinding halt in the 23rd minute when Con O’Callaghan spiked the ball to the net after a one-two with Niall Scully. Cillian O’Connor, finding himself in an unfamiliar spot, had left Scully unmarked inside.
Again, Mayo responded well when O’Connor again took advantage of a foul on O’Donoghue to restore parity and O’Donoghue levelled matters for a fourth time in the 31st minute. However, and not for the last time in this game, Dublin finished the half the stronger with scores from John Small and Kilkenny.
D Rock (1-4, 0-4 frees); C O’Callaghan (1-1); C Kilkenny (0-3); S Bugler, J Small, N Scully, B Fenton, P Mannion (free), B Howard (0-1 each).
C O’Connor (0-9, 5 frees, 2 marks); R O’Donoghue (0-2); O Mullen, C Loftus, S Coen (mark), D Coen (0-1 each).
S Cluxton (c); D Byrne, J Cooper, E Murchan; M Fitzsimons, J Small, R McDaid; B Fenton, J McCarthy; N Scully, C O’Callaghan, S Bugler; P Small, D Rock, C Kilkenny.
B Howard for S Bugler (h-t); P Mannion for P Small (51); C Basquel for J Cooper (inj 54); C Costello for N Scully (inj 70); P McMahon for E Murchan (70+5).
R McDaid (35+2).
D Clarke; P Durcan, C Barrett, L Keegan; S Coen, O Mullin, E McLaughlin; M Ruane, C Loftus; K McLoughlin, R O’Donoghue, D O’Connor; T Conroy, A O’Shea (c), C O’Connor.
M Plunkett for P Durcan (h-t); J Carr for T Conroy (49); D Coen for R O’Donoghue (58); J Flynn for C Loftus (62); J Durcan for E McLaughlin (70+1).
D Coldrick (Meath).
Those three points in a row from Dublin at the start of the final quarter. What was a contest became a crowning for the champions.
The hunger of this Dublin group. For all the talk of their might, their advantage, and their entitlement, to show that appetite is not just down to their pool of resources but the character of their players.
In taking over from Jim Gavin just over 12 months ago, Dessie Farrell seemed to be on a hiding to nothing. Not having a proper pre-season and the pandemic then appeared to create a perfect storm for the Na Fianna man but he was able to steer his team to victory.
Ten times Mayo have now reached the All-Ireland final since 1951 and 10 times they have failed to win. They will be back - as they have said so often, what else are they supposed to do - and this was not as bad a day as some predicted it would be for them. Still, defeat is defeat and with each one to Dublin, the distance to the holy grail seems to grow.
Patrick Durcan suffered a quad injury going for his first ball and had to retire at half-time. Jonny Cooper also pulled up in the second half with an issue following an entanglement with Cillian O’Connor. Niall Scully also made way towards the end looking lame.
Some of the Dublin match-ups early on were surprising and David Byrne on Cillian O’Connor and Mick Fitzsimons on Diarmuid O’Connor didn’t seem to work. When Fitzsimons switched back O’Connor’s influence lessened. The introduction of Brian Howard at half-time gave Dublin a foothold in midfield that they had been lacking and it empowered Brian Fenton.
Con O’Callaghan was excellent but was a slightly surprising choice as RTÉ man of the match given OisĂn Mullin had given him a difficult time in the first half. Niall Scully was a factor throughout and was the best in our eyes while Ciarán Kilkenny yet again came to the fore when it mattered most in the final quarter.
David Coldrick wouldn’t be known as a laissez-faire referee but he let a lot go here, players on both teams able to amass as a series of personal fouls without seeing a card. He missed the foul by Mick Fitzsimons on Lee Keegan although he seemed to make the right call in not black-carding Jonny Cooper.
Dublin return to action in late February when they are in the Division 1 South group with Galway, Kerry, and Roscommon. Mayo start 2021 in Division 2 South with Down, Meath, and Westmeath.
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13 seconds are on the clock when James McCarthy bursts through and sets up Dean Rock to palm the ball into the net. OisĂn Mullin replies with a Mayo point.
DUB 1-0 MAYO 0-1Â
Cillian O’Connor converts a free to move Mayo within a point of the Dubs. Next, O’Connor collects a long diagonal and fires over from an acute angle to level matters.
DUB 1-0 MAYO 0-3Â
Paddy Small is pulled down and Dean Rock floats over the resulting free. Play settles after a frenetic start as the Dublin defence turns Mayo over twice in quick succession.
DUB 1-1 MAYO 0-3Â
Mayo’s man-to-man marking frustrates their opponents for a spell. Dublin continue to probe and are rewarded for their patience with a second Dean Rock free.
DUB 1-2 MAYO 0-3Â
Aidan O’Shea begins to make his presence felt around the middle of the pitch. Mayo are being made to work for every opening until two consecutive turnovers end with Seán Bugler scoring.
DUB 1-3 MAYO 0-3Â
Cillian O’Connor punishes an unforced error to kick his third point. Castleknock’s Ciarán Kilkenny misses a free as Mayo continue to go stride for stride with the defending champions.
DUB 1-3 MAYO 0-4Â
A fisted Conor Loftus score keeps Mayo within a point of the All-Ireland champions. Diarmuid O’Connor prevents a Con O’Callaghan goal-bound shot from troubling his goalkeeper at the opposite end.
DUB 1-3 MAYO 0-5Â
Mayo press once again but a Matthew Ruane attempt drops short. Belmullet’s Ryan O’Donoghue shows his team-mate how to do it, landing a superb long-range equaliser.
DUB 1-3 MAYO 0-6Â
Brian Fenton kicks Dublin’s second wide of the opening quarter. The first water break arrives with the teams level but Mayo well in the game and edging possession from kick-outs.
DUB 1-3 MAYO 0-6Â
A beautiful Conor Loftus pass finds Cillian O’Connor for an advanced mark. The Ballintubber player’s fourth point hands Mayo their first lead of a cracking All-Ireland final.
DUB 1-3 MAYO 0-7Â
O’Connor repeats his previous feat, collecting another mark and floating over his fifth score. Two behind, Dublin are struggling to respond and have now gone over 10 minutes without a score.
DUB 1-3 MAYO 0-8Â
Dublin strike back just as the champions were starting to look vulnerable. Con O’Callaghan and Niall Scully play a neat one-two with the former punching the ball into the net.
DUB 2-3 MAYO 0-8Â
Cillian O’Connor ties the score from a free. Dublin’s kick-out is not functioning to its usual high standard but Mayo are unable to capitalise. Dublin reply with a terrific Con O’Callaghan effort.
DUB 2-4 MAYO 0-9Â
A Cillian O’Connor free floats wide, Mayo’s first miss of the evening. Ryan O’Donoghue evades the attention of two Dublin defenders and raises another Mayo white flag shortly after.
DUB 2-4 MAYO 0-10Â
John Small breaks through and whistles a shot inches over the crossbar to push Dublin back in front. Ciarán Kilkenny tries his luck in front of Hill 16 but misses.
DUB 2-5 MAYO 0-10Â
Con O’Callaghan kicks a sublime point. Then, Robbie McDaid is black carded for a foul on Kevin McLoughlin. Dublin will be down to 14 men for the first 10 minutes of the second half.
DUB 2-6 MAYO 0-10
Dublin’s Brian Howard replaces Seán Bugler and Mayo’s Michael Plunkett is on for Patrick Durcan during the interval. A patient move ends with Con O’Callaghan almost breaking through.
DUB 2-6 MAYO 0-10Â
Niall Scully makes no mistake from the 45-metre line to edge Dublin 3 points ahead. Michael Fitzsimons fouls Aidan O’Shea in front of goal and Cillian O’Connor floats over another free.
DUB 2-7 MAYO 0-11Â
Brian Fenton solos clear after shaking off Diarmuid O’Connor and kicks Dublin’s eighth point. Within a minute, Mayo’s Stephen Coen makes a fine mark before drilling the ball over the bar.
DUB 2-8 MAYO 0-12Â
Aidan O’Shea does well to gather possession before Jonny Cooper drags the Mayo full-forward to the ground. No card is handed out but Cillian O’Connor punishes the indiscretion from a free.
DUB 2-8 MAYO 0-13Â
Michael Fitzsimons executes a crunching challenge on Lee Keegan and is fortunate to avoid a card. Robbie McDaid returns to the field before Mayo’s James Carr comes on for Tommy Conroy.
DUB 2-8 MAYO 0-13Â
Dublin’s Jonny Cooper is yellow carded and Cillian O’Connor’s accrues his ninth point, from a free, to level the score. Paul Mannion replaces Paddy Small on the Dublin team.
DUB 2-8 MAYO 0-14Â
Dean Rock’s converted free pushes Dublin back in front. A scrappy period sees neither side make any headway and each are guilty of turning over the ball in a crowded midfield area.
DUB 2-9 MAYO 0-14Â
Another Dublin change sees Colm Basquel replace an injured Jonny Cooper. Paul Mannion wastes an opportunity to extend his team’s lead by kicking wide prior to the All-Ireland final’s second water-break.
DUB 2-9 MAYO 0-14Â
Ciarán Kilkenny angles over a superb Dublin point. Mayo make another change as Darren Coen comes on for Ryan O’Donoghue. It is a two-point game heading into the closing stages.
DUB 2-10 MAYO 0-14Â
Dublin patiently retain possession and work the ball to Brian Howard. The substitute sends over a marvellous effort to push Dublin three ahead. Paul Mannion adds a left-footed free shortly after.
DUB 2-12 MAYO 0-14Â
Jordan Flynn replaces Conor Loftus on the Mayo team. Dublin’s Brian Howard is dominating midfield and starts a move that ends with Con O’Callaghan being fouled. Dean Rock converts the resulting free.
DUB 2-13 MAYO 0-14Â
Dublin enjoy the cushion of a five-point lead until Mayo hit back through a superb Darren Coen effort. Dublin remain unruffled, however, and patiently keep possession while running down the clock.
DUB 2-13 MAYO 0-15Â
Mayo have little option but to commit additional numbers forward as another All-Ireland appears to be slipping from their grasp. A Darren Coen shot drops short and into Stephen Cluxton’s hands.
DUB 2-13 MAYO 0-15Â
Ciarán Kilkenny continues his excellent second-half display with a third point of the evening. James Carr’s effort once again drops short and allows Stephen Cluxton to begin another Dublin counter-attack.
DUB 2-14 MAYO 0-15Â
Diarmuid O’Connor is yellow-carded for an unnecessary challenge. Cormac Costello comes on for Niall Scully while Mayo’s James Durcan replaces Eoghan McLaughlin. There will be at least five minutes of injury-time.
DUB 2-14 MAYO 0-15Â
Eoin Murchan comes off for Philly McMahon deep into injury-time. Mayo keep pressing right up until the final whistle but Dublin run out deserving All-Ireland winners for a sixth consecutive year.
DUB 2-14 MAYO 0-15
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