The key link: How the half-forward is more important than ever

70% of the points in that Kerry vs Mayo clash were created or scored by a player who started in the half-forward line.

MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER: Kerry's David Clifford in action against Rory Brickenden of Mayo during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

A frantic finale concluded with the last sensational kick of the game. Writer Tony Hillerman once said in the middle of the storm, the rain always feels random. It’s only when we stand somewhere else that we see the order in it.

That is Gaelic football now. At first glance, a mix of inaction, then chaos and randomness. In reality, there are patterns all over. How did Kerry engineer the winner against Mayo last weekend? Watch closely and look at how history repeats itself. Kevin McStay’s outfit had clawed their way back with consecutive points. The first was a Fergal Boland wonder score. They pressed the subsequent kick-out, Jordan Flynn won a free and Ryan O’Donoghue converted the equaliser.