Mayo coach Paddy Tally explains why Kerry goal did not cause panic
Paddy Tally can see Mayo challenging for future All-Irelands because of their average age of 24. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
An acceptance that Kerry were going to score a goal and that it came early were key factors for Mayo, says their coach Paddy Tally.
The 15th minute goal by David Clifford was almost budgeted for by the Mayo management. “You get David going one-on-one and the ball over the top, Seánie (O’Shea) put him in and the next thing David's gone, bye,” recounts Tally.
“Yes, it’s going to happen. We knew they were going to score a goal, David’s going to score. If it happens, it happens. You just have to get back at it. The key was by half-time we'd got it back to being a one-point game and then playing with the breeze in the second half. So, we always knew that this game was going to go down to the last straight.”
Tally was convinced Mayo would “be able to hold it out” in the final moments. He put much of it down to how awkward they made it for Kerry in possession.
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“It was built on our intensity in the tackle, our turnovers of the Kerry players coming out. We never let them get comfortable on the ball, which Kerry need to play that type of game. There was a great intensity in Mayo and I’m just delighted, delighted for everyone involved.”
The press carried risk but Mayo were prepared to take the gamble. “There’s a reward for it,” points out the Galbally man. “I think that’s the difference – Mayo are brave enough to go and do it. Lots of teams don’t.
“Ryan (O’Donoghue) is fantastic, but he is backed up by Jordan Flynn and Enda Hession and Sam Callinan and Jack Carney and they all put their shoulder to the wheel. When you get a player turned over in the right area, you can do it.
“There was a massive turnover in the first half on Paul Murphy coming out and we got the ball moving forward. Psychologically, that does two things. Number one, it gives your team a great lift, but it also makes the Kerry players think coming out ‘Jesus, I need to move this ball a bit quicker’ or that ‘these boys are really on it today’.
“I think some of those statement tackles in the first half laid the foundation for the performance. It wasn’t the prettiest performance in the world, but it was effective and it got the job done.”
According to Jack Coyne from the steps of the Hogan Stand, Tally said he had only come to Mayo to win the All-Ireland but the man himself denies that.
“I never said that. That wouldn’t be something I would say, but I just knew in my head ‘there’s only one reason I’m coming down here’ and that was to win the All-Ireland.
“As the year goes on, what’s the point otherwise in being involved in a team if you’re not going to be successful with them? The point was always to win it. It took a bit of time getting the team right as a new management team in place, a lot of young players to be blooded into it.”
As for the reaction to the victory, Tally likened it to Tyrone’s first All-Ireland SFC title 23 years ago.
“The last time I experienced that (noise) was in 2003 when we won it for the first time with Tyrone. We had never won an All-Ireland, we didn’t know what it was about.
“That’s probably similar to the Mayo people, but the thing was, they have lost 11 finals. The pain and the hurt of losing 11 finals. We never had that in Tyrone – we lost two in 1986 and 1995. I think there’s an outpouring of emotion there. It was special and I’m just so privileged to be a part of it.”
Tally can see Mayo challenging for future All-Irelands because of their average age of 24.
“There's no reason why this team can't compete for the next number of years at the highest level.
“But in saying that, we know that now it changes. For years you're hunting and hunting and hunting. Now you've achieved it. Have they hunger and the bite and the attitude? I think these fellas just enjoy this one and see where it takes them.”
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