The winning was so Dublin, the losing so Mayo

Dublin 3-15 Mayo 1-14: It lacked the deliriousness of the All-Ireland semi-final replay 12 months earlier, when Mayo and Kerry set Limerick alight, but this last four second act wanted for little else, save the sort of dramatic ending that seemed a given for so long.

As it was, a week that had begun with Dublin criticised for their inability to turn a seven-point lead into victory, and castigated for failing to play the game in the sort of sporting spirit expected, ended with them restoring people’s faith in not just themselves but the game as a whole.

Mayo played their part, of course. For over 40 minutes they traded blows – metaphorical rather than literal this time – before falling behind to a rat-ta-tat run of scores from their opponents. There was no Lazarus on the bench this time.