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The 42
3 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Paddy Durcan returns to inspire Mayo to a victory that keeps their dreams alive
Mayo 2-0-17 (23) Tyrone 1-2-9 (16) IN A WEEK when they lost their manager and a fortnight since what was expected to be their 'gimme' win of their group 1 round robin, Mayo reached deep into themselves to revive hopes they would go deeper into the All-Ireland race by comprehensively dominating Tyrone. They jumped into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead in the first dozen minutes; two Ryan O'Donoghue frees, a debut point for Conal Dawson and one of two first half points from Rory Brickenden. Tyrone looked to be going through the hangover horrors of the Ballybofey win. After half an hour they had just two points. Defensively they fell for all the traps Mayo set, allowing Peter Teague to carry the ball out of defence, only to strip him with a pincer movement. From Niall Morgan's 13 kickouts, they lost six. Without Brian Kennedy in the middle they were struggling to find options. Mayo brought the best version of themselves. When Tyrone were attacking, they threw up a heavy cordon of bodies and invited them on. That left one on one duels inside, but again they backed themselves with Sean Morahan handling Mark Bradley and Enda Hession on Darren McCurry, neither of whom scored in the first half. Stephen Rochford speaks to the Mayo team. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO Gaining so much possession meant Mayo were rampant. In a couple of minutes they had two goal chances; Jack Carney producing a backdoor cut that invited Aidan O'Shea to hoke a ground shot wide, while O'Shea returned the compliment to Carney who was blocked down by a retreating Seanie O'Donnell, bringing a converted 45 from goalkeeper Colm Reape. Having gone 0-9 to 0-2 down, Darragh Canavan attempted to fashion a Tyrone comeback with a free worked with a give-go and then shot from play, followed by him converting his own free after being fouled by Jack Coyne. As the half wore down, Mayo held the ball for the last two minutes. Eventually Bob Tuohy floated in what appeared a rash shot after all that effort, but it was spilled by Niall Morgan into the arms of Darren McHale to plant to the net at the maximum emotional effect. Tyrone staged a comeback that brought a sumptuous goal from Darragh Canavan and came to within two points. It was noticeable how their biggest performers were being leaned on heavily. For all the talk of a conveyor belt in Tyrone with another U20 All-Ireland, a lot of this game showed up how you need your seasoned men. Darren McCurry grabbed himself two points before Niall Morgan lamped a two-point free over. Two in it. But that merely got Mayo going again. They reeled off an unanswered 1-4. The win was sealed a successful Ryan O'Donoghue penalty, burying some ghosts of his miss against the same opposition in the 2021 final. This result means that Mayo's championship season lives, but there is still some work left to do. Advertisement Scorers for Mayo: Ryan O'Donoghue 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-5 frees), Paddy Durcan 0-3, Darren McHale 1-0, Conal Dawson 0-2, Rory Brickenden 0-2, Aidan O'Shea, Jack Carney, Jack Coyne 0-1 each, Colm Reape 0-1 (1 x 45) Scorers for Tyrone: Darragh Canavan 1-3 (0-2 frees), Niall Morgan 0-4 (2 x 2point frees), Darren McCurry 0-2 (0-1 free), Michael McKernan, Kieran McGeary, Ben McDonnell, Mattie Donnelly 0-1 each Mayo 1. Colm Reape (Knockmore) 2. Jack Coyne (Ballyhaunis) 16. Seán Morahan (Castlebar Mitchells) 4. Rory Brickenden (Westport) 5. Stephen Coen (Hollymount Carramore) 6. David McBrien (Ballaghadereen) 7. Enda Hession (Garrymore) 23. Paddy Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels) 9. Matthew Ruane (Breaffy) 10. Jack Carney (Kilmeena) 11. Darren McHale (Knockmore) 17. Bob Tuohy (Castlebar Mitchels) 13. Aidan O'Shea (Breaffy) 18. Conal Dawson (Westport) 15. Ryan O'Donoghue (Belmullet) Subs: 12. Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina) for Tuohy (52 mins) 14. Davitt Neary (Breaffy) for McHale (52 mins) 20. Fenton Kelly (Davitts) for Dawson (55 mins) 21. Fergal Boland (Aghamore) for Ruane (64 mins) 25. Sam Callinan (Ballina) for Durcan (68 mins) Tyrone 1. Niall Morgan (Edendork) 2. Cormac Quinn (Errigal Ciaran) 3. Peter Teague (Dromore) 4. Niall Devlin (Coalisland) 5. Michael McKernan (Coalisland) 6. Rory Brennan (Trillick) 7. Kieran McGeary (Pomeroy) 8. Brian Kennedy (Derrylaughan) 9. Conn Kilpatrick (Edendork) 10. Seanie O'Donnell (Trillick) 11. Mattie Donnelly (Trillick) 12. Ciarán Daly (Trillick) 13. Darren McCurry (Edendork) 14. Mark Bradley (Killyclogher) 15. Darragh Canavan (Errigal Ciaran) Subs: 20. Shea O'Hare (Ardboe) for Brennan (HT) 26. Liam Gray (Trillick) for O'Donnell (HT) 24. Peter Harte (Errigal Ciaran) for Bradley (47 mins) 25. Ruairí Canavan (Errigal Ciaran) for Daly (47 mins) 22. Aodhan Donaghy (Loughmacrory) for McDonnell (62 mins) Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
GAA: All this evening's action as it happened
LIVE | It's been another bumper day of GAA action with the All-Ireland SFC series and Tailteann Cup continuing in football and the Christy Ring, Lory Meagher and Nickey Rackard Cups reaching their conclusion at Croke Park. Here's how the action unfolded. All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Cork 0-20 Kerry 1-28 (Full-time) Down 0-25 Louth 0-24 (Full-time) Roscommon 2-15 Meath 0-21 (Full-time) Tyrone 1-13 Mayo 2-17 (Full-time) Tailteann Cup Westmeath 0-18 Limerick 0-19 (Full-time) Offaly 3-16 Laois 3-18 (Full-time) Wicklow 3-29 Waterford 0-21 (Full-time) Christy Ring Cup final Derry 1-24 London 1-27 (Full-time) Lory Meagher Cup final Cavan 2-17 New York 4-17 (Full-time) Nickey Rackard Cup final Mayo 1-21 Roscommon 3-16 (Full-time) All-Ireland U-20 Hurling Championship final Kilkenny 1-16 Tipperary 3-19 (Full-time) All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Tier 3 final Wicklow 1-08 Longford 2-13 (Full-time) All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Derry 0-5 Galway 4-25 (Full-time) Kilkenny 0-10 Waterford 0-17 (Full-time) Limerick 1-10 Wexford 0-10 (Full-time) Tipperary 1-9 Cork 3-21 (Full-time) 2 minutes ago "It came from a bedrock of hard work, it probably wasn't there two weeks ago." "We knew we had to get back to brass tacks today, it was work rate, working hard for each other, the simple facets of the game that don't take much talent." "With Kevin having to step back, it was difficult for the group. He needs to look after himself and get himself right. Health is most important for anybody. We've been a united group all year." Man of the Match Paddy Durcan speaking to GAA+ at the full-time whistle. 7 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship FULL TIME - Tyrone 1-13 Mayo 2-17 It's fitting that Jack Coyne points for Mayo with the last action of the game. A worthy victory for the Westerners, who were value for a win at the end of a couple of weeks where everything was thrown at them. They bounce back from defeat to Cavan to lead Group 1 now. Cavan face Donegal at Kingspan Breffni Park tomorrow. 12 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 67' - Tyrone 1-11 Mayo 2-15 "Vigour, verve, purpose, belief," is how GAA+ commentator David McIntyre is describing Mayo's display in Omagh and it is hard to disagree. Ryan O'Donoghue points again and Mayo lead by eight, as they did at half-time. Tyrone can't keep up. 13 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 62' - Tyrone 1-10 Mayo 2-14 GOAL! - Breaffy's Davitt Neary is taken down by Liam Gray, having run onto Aidan O'Shea's pass. It's a clear penalty and Ryan O'Donoghue brings his tally for the day to 1-6. A seventh championship goal for the 25-year-old and surely, that is that. 16 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Tyrone 1-10 Mayo 1-14 62' - Tyrone came out of the traps impressively after half-time but their threat has waned significantly. Mayo have found some drive once again and look fairly comfortable. 21 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Tyrone 1-10 Mayo 1-14 57' - Tyrone substitute Shea O'Hare has had a tough few minutes. Some lax play allows Carney in to point and then he is yellow carded and Ryan O'Donoghue's routine free raises the white flag. Then Jack Carney kicks Mayo's eighth wide of the game via a free from hands. 25 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 56 ' - Tyrone 1-10 Mayo 1-13 Mayo respond to Niall Morgan's free for two-points with well-taken scores from Jack Carney and Paddy Durcan. Those can be categorised as settlers for the Westerners. Still a one score game though. 32 minutes ago There's plenty of GAA reading on for you today and over the weekend. Read our Christy Ring Cup final report below. London bridge 13-year gap to lift Christy Ring Cup after dramatic final joust with Derry London claimed their first Christy Ring Cup success in 13 years as they overcame Derry by three points at Croke Park on Saturday afternoon. 34 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 45' - Tyrone 1-07 Mayo 1-10 GOAL! - Where would Tyrone be without Darragh Canavan? The full-forward takes full advantage of hesittant Sligo defending to drive towards goal and lash in. A clipped point was there for him, but he has dragged the Red Hand back into this. Ryan O'Donoghue, for Mayo, and Darren McCurry, have since swapped points. 37 minutes ago It's not often two managers in the heat of the battle's immediate end find themselves in agreement with eachother. John Cleary and Jack O'Connor, however, were united in their dismay at referee Derek O'Mahony's decision making at Páirc Uí Chaoimh tonight. Their frustration stemmed from the official's decisions to bring the ball forward into two-point territory. Read more below. Kerry and Cork managers united against 'ridiculous' 50m advantage rule for impeding mark Cork boss John Cleary and Kerry boss Jack O'Connor found themselves in furious agreement with each other after their sides clashed in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening. 40 minutes ago Down condemned Louth to a second straight All-Ireland series defeat this evening. Their storming finish was something to behold but even it, inspired by Sam Mulroy and Tommy Durnin, wasn't enough. David Mohan reports from a dramatic evening Newry. Down give Louth another All-Ireland SFC wake-up call with dramatic win in Newry As Tommy Durnin looked certain to kick the equaliser for Louth after the hooter had sounded, Adam Crummins came flying in to make a match-winning block and ensure Down grabbed a second win in Group 3 in what turned into a stirring game at a packed Páirc Esler on Saturday. 43 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Tyrone 0-6 Mayo 1-9 40' - Darragh Canavan points first in the second half and then Matty Donnelly splits the posts as Tyrone now trail by six. But they were living dangerously when Ryan O'Donoghue smacked a shot against the post after more good setup play by Aidan O'Shea. 47 minutes ago Back underway in Omagh. This is the seventh championship meeting between Mayo and Tyrone, their most recent encounter being the 2021 All-Ireland final. Mayo have won four times (1989, 2004, 2013 and 2016). This, however, is the first time they teams have played each other in a championship outside of Croke Park. 57 minutes ago If you're not near a TV, here's that goal from Darren McHale that has put Mayo in command against Tyrone. Not one Niall Morgan will want to dwell on - or see ever again. GAA+ on Twitter / X 🚨🚨GOAL!! Mayo finish the half strong with this goal from Darren McHale!💪Football clips brought to you by @AIB_GAA #TheToughest GAA+ (@GAAPlusOfficial) May 31, 2025 58 minutes ago Paul Brennan was at Páirc Uí Chaoimh this evening to watch on-song David Clifford help Kerry to victory over their neighbours and fierce rivals. Two comprehensive wins from two outings in Group 2 for Jack O'Connor's side. 'They came, they competed, they – momentarily – rattled Kerry, and then, as inevitable as death and taxes, Cork wilted and fell away to an 11-point defeat.' Read the full match report below. David Clifford leads Kerry chorus in 11-point All-Ireland series win over Cork They came, they competed, they – momentarily – rattled Kerry, and then, as inevitable as death and taxes, Cork wilted and fell away to an 11-point defeat that leaves them in a dog-fight in a fortnight to keep their championship alive when they play Roscommon. Today 02:49 PM Tailteann Cup The 6pm games in the Tailteann Cup have drawn to a conclusion. Wicklow were comprehensive winners against the Déise but there was high drama in Newbridge. A 40th minute Mark Barry penalty turned seemingly certain defeat into an improbable win for Laois. In an entertaining clash that swung this way and that, there was never more than three points between the sides from 30 minutes onwards. Offaly 3-16 Laois 3-18 Wicklow 3-29 Waterford 0-21 Today 02:45 PM All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Roscommon 2-15 Meath 0-21 (Full-time) Elsewhere in the SFC, Billy Hogan's penalty save from Enda Smith was a big moment in the game at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park with both teams having to settle for a draw at the end of a tight tussle from start to finish. The point is the Rossies first in Group 2. Today 02:42 PM All-Ireland Senior Football Championship) HALF-TIME - Tyrone 0-4 Mayo 1-9 35' - Disaster for Niall Morgan. The experienced goalkeeper drops a seemingly harmless Bob Tuohy high ball and it falls kindly for Darren McHale to fire into the net from a tight angle. It's an absolute gift for a Mayo side who didn't need any help in that first half. They lead by eight points. Today 02:37 PM All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Tyrone 0-4 Mayo 0-9 32' - Superb play from Darragh Canavan to draw the free from Jack Coyne and he has a tap over for Tyrone's fourth point of the evening. Another score before the hooter would be satisfactory for Tyrone given how this opening 35 minutes has gone. Today 02:35 PM All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 31' - Tyrone 0-3 Mayo 0-9 Momentum well and truly behind Mayo now. They have tacked on three scores in a few minutes, including a 45 from goalkeeper Colm Reape and one from play from Conal Dawson.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
GAA: Follow all this evening's football action as it happens
LIVE | It's been another bumper day of GAA action with the All-Ireland SFC series and Tailteann Cup continuing in football and the Christy Ring, Lory Meagher and Nickey Rackard Cups reaching their conclusion at Croke Park. We'll keep you up to date on this evening games in our GAA blog below. All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Cork 0-20 Kerry 1-28 (Full-time) Down 0-25 Louth 0-24 (Full-time) Roscommon 2-15 Meath 0-21 Tyrone 0-2 Mayo 0-6 Tailteann Cup Westmeath 0-18 Limerick 0-19 (Full-time) Offaly 3-15 Laois 2-17 Wicklow 2-28 Waterford 0-21 Christy Ring Cup final Derry 1-24 London 1-27 (Full-time) Lory Meagher Cup final Cavan 2-17 New York 4-17 (Full-time) Nickey Rackard Cup final Mayo 1-21 Roscommon 3-16 (Full-time) All-Ireland U-20 Hurling Championship final Kilkenny 1-16 Tipperary 3-19 (Full-time) All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Tier 3 final Wicklow 1-08 Longford 2-13 (Full-time) All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Derry 0-5 Galway 4-25 (Full-time) Kilkenny 0-10 Waterford 0-17 (Full-time) Limerick 1-10 Wexford 0-10 (Full-time) Tipperary 1-09 Cork 3-21 (Full-time) one minute ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Tyrone 0-2 Mayo 0-6 24' - Big goal chance for Ryan O'Donoghue who is played through by Aidan O'Shea but his shot on goal is blocked brilliantly by the retreating Seanie O'Donnell. Low scoring stuff so far, with Mayo, whilst in front, mainly culpable for wastage in front of the posts. 5 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship FULL TIME - Down 0-25 Louth 0-24 From 11 points adrift, Louth end up on the losing end of a single point defeat to Down in Newry. Two defeats in two now for the Leinster champions. Ultimately, they left themselves with too much to do. First half performances need to improve, surely. Down follow up their big win over Clare with a win of a different kind. Patrick Havern and Danny Magill produced 0-6 each. 14 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Down 0-24 Louth 0-22 68' - Four of Louth's last five scores have been two-pointers - all from the boots of important players Sam Mulroy (twice), Craig Lennon and Tommy Durnin. Louth have not been this close to Down since the opening minutes. An extraordinary comeback. 18 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Down 0-23 Louth 0-15 With 12 points between them, Sam Mulroy and Ryan Burns are leading the Louth charge but Down have a comfortable enough lead with around 10 minutes to play. Donal McKenny has had a goal-bound effort come off the upright in the last few minutes too. A point by Shay Miller has Down up by a surely unassailable eight. 21 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 46' - Roscommon 2-9 Meath 0-18 Roscommon trail Meath by just three points but they have passed up a major opportunity to draw level as Enda Smith's penalty is saved by Billy Hogan. 23 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 6' Tyrone 0-1 Mayo 0-1 It's taken over five minutes but we have scores on the board in Omagh. Michael McKernan bursts though the lines and fires over before Rory Brickenden scores a first Championship point for Mayo. 27 minutes ago This is how Malachy O'Rourke is lining out his Tyrone team tonight. Only three days ago, the Red Hand enjoyed a stunning All-Ireland victory at Under 20 level. Eoin McElholm scored 2-4 on Wednesday night and is in reserve here. Incidentally, David Coldrick of Meath is the referee. 32 minutes ago There are four changes to the Mayo XV previously advertised as they face Tyrone at O'Neills Healy Park in Omagh tonight. The teams are on the field and throw-in is just moments away. Mayo GAA on Twitter / X Changes to the Mayo senior football team. Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) May 31, 2025 37 minutes ago All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Down 0-17 Louth 0-10 Sam Mulroy - who else? - has cut Down's lead from 10 points to seven in no time at all. Can Louth get back into the game in Newry? 38 minutes ago In the Tailteann Cup this evening, Offaly hold a narrow lead over Laois and Waterford are beating Wicklow. Both of those games are at half-time. Earlier in the day, Limerick booked their place in the quarter-finals. Read the match report below. Limerick advance to Tailteann Cup quarter-finals with first-ever win over Westmeath Limerick senior footballers recorded their first-ever competitive win against Westmeath in Portlaoise, thereby advancing directly to the quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup. 40 minutes ago Look away if you're of a Cork persuasion - but this is worth looking at again. A brilliant double save from Shane Ryan and then a fantastic block from Brian Ó Beaglaoich keeps Mark Cronin at bay three times. Had that been scored, Cork might have sensed a comeback was on the cards in front of a home crowd. GAA+ on Twitter / X BIG MOMENT! 😮👀Cork miss a penalty and Kerry keep them out!Football clips brought to you by @AIB_GAA #TheToughest GAA+ (@GAAPlusOfficial) May 31, 2025 43 minutes ago A big moment for the Big Apple. New York captain Johnny Glynn, left, and James Breen lift the Lory Meagher Cup at Croke Park earlier this afternoon. 48 minutes ago Big news line coming out this evening. Davy Fitzgerald has been handed an eight-week suspension after his comments aimed at match official Johnny Murphy earlier this month. Read the full story below. Davy Fitzgerald banned for eight weeks for post-match comments after Antrim's loss to Galway Antrim manager Davy Fitzgerald has been suspended for eight weeks by the GAA for 'misconduct considered to have discredited the Association'. 51 minutes ago Christy Ring Cup final FULL TIME - Derry 1-24 London 1-27 Cahal Murray went for goal from a 20 metre free deep into injury time, but he couldn't find the net. From the subsequent 65, Derry sent goalkeeper Sean Kelly forward and he had an effort blocked down. High drama with Derry chasing only a goal to force extra-time but they couldn't fin it. It would be unkind to begrudge London the victory after that performance. 13 hours after their last victory in this competition, they've repeated the trick. Cormac O'Doherty hit nine points, eight from frees, with his consistency and accuracy from the boot proving crucial in the end. 59 minutes ago Christy Ring Cup final 70' Derry 1-24 London 1-25 Almost over at Croker and Derry trail by one. Unanswered scores by Ryan McGill, Richie Mullen, Ruairi O'Mianain and Eamonn Conway have given them a glimmer of hope. Today 01:28 PM All-Ireland Senior Football Championship FULL TIME - Cork 0-20 Kerry 1-28 David Clifford has just been named the GAA+ Man of the Match, with 1-8 to his name. In the last few minutes, Tony Brosnan and Tom O'Sullivan have added two-pointers - bringing the team's tally to six in the match. The hooter is followed soon by the whistle and Cork's championship woes go on. Kerry beat their great rivals again. Today 01:25 PM All-Ireland Senior Football Championship HALF TIME - Down 0-16 Louth 0-7 Derry have racked up a very sizeable 16 points in the first half against Louth - including two two-point scores. Louth have been a second half team for the most part this year but Ger Brennan will need a orchestrate a major turnaround to get back into contention at Pairc Esler. Ryan Burns' point on the whistle keeping them in it, just. Today 01:21 PM Christy Ring Cup final 60' Derry 1-20 London 1-23 London continue to lead Derry in the Christy Ring Cup final but it remains a one-score game. Too close to call at this stage. Derry have lost this game four times in the last decade and they need to find something soon to end that dire record. 2012 champions London are 10 minutes from another success. Today 01:19 PM All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 64' - Cork 0-18 Kerry 1-23 Such drama! Mark Cronin fails to beat Shane Ryan with a penalty as the goalkeeper dives to his left to help it onto the post. Then he saves again from Cronin and a third effort from the full-forward is blocked. Amazing. Cork fail to reduce the arrears as the clock ticks down. And Kerry - still - having conceded a goal in this year's Championship. Live Blog Software
Irish Times
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Conor McManus: Leaders emerge for Galway, but Mayo lose their way again
I lost a couple of provincial finals before I won one, and it is debilitating for a team. In those days it was, if anything, worse because it meant you had an extra game to play whereas now it's more like two separate championships. Province is over and move on to All-Ireland. It makes no difference whether you've won or lost in practical terms. Sunday was a bit different in that it won't be as easy for Mayo to recover from losing. Galway already had three Connacht titles. If they hadn't won, they'd still have the likes of John Maher as well as Shane Walsh and Damien Comer to come back in the coming weeks. They could build themselves up nicely going into the All-Ireland series, whereas Mayo probably needed that bit of a springboard going into the rest of the season. Galway deserved to win and even if they would have been in a better position to process defeat this fourth provincial title is a huge achievement for them. It's an uncomfortable truth for Mayo that when it came to clutch moments in the contest, they were found wanting. READ MORE It has to be all the more devastating for them that they had worked so hard to rescue the situation after half-time. Eight points down at half-time, but with a strong breeze to come, and Ryan O'Donoghue gets a two-pointer nearly straight away. Everyone watching is thinking, 'We have a game here.' They level at 1-13 each and there's probably a quarter of the match to go. At that point you could really see only one winner. Galway captain Seán Kelly lifts the Nestor Cup on Sunday. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho That's what makes it all the more impressive from a Galway point of view. They were fit to grind that out and close the match. In those circumstance, teams need leaders whether in Mayo's case to drive it on and refuse to fall away after levelling the match or in Galway's to find somehow a way of disrupting and turning momentum. That wasn't really there for Mayo and they shot those wides when chances arose to take the lead. This was like oxygen for Galway, who also did have leaders. Cillian McDaid stepped up for them big time with that unbelievable run in the second half up along the stand side, which ended in him being fouled. That relieved the pressure by giving his team time to set up, regroup and just take an easy score. Connor Gleeson, last year's Connacht final hero, also stood up by stopping Enda Hession's point-blank goal shot. Then there was Dylan McHugh and his block on Paul Towey. There was also the disastrous kick-out that Rob Finnerty intercepted, forcing Rory Brickenden to bring him down at the cost of a black card, reducing his team to 14 for the last 10 minutes. You could sense the anxiety in Mayo. Having scored an equaliser by the end of the third quarter and with the wind to back them, they had gone in search of a winner, but scores dried up for them as they failed to take chances. Galway's Johnny McGrath and Ryan O'Donoghue of Mayo. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho I know O'Donoghue had bad luck from the free from outside the arc that Gleeson did or didn't touch, but he also had another chance that was dropped short. To be honest, I'd be more interested in stopping two-pointers being awarded for frees, full stop, rather than fiddling with the rest of the rule. I'd have loved to be playing under these rules, which have created a very forward-oriented game that suits kickers, but long-range frees shouldn't be worth two points any more than 45s are. It's too routine a skill. That anxiety was all too evident at the end when Mayo were chasing the two-pointer needed to equalise. They could still be there for all the interest most of them showed in taking on the kick. Matthew Ruane deserved credit for taking that responsibility, but was that how they had war-gamed a situation like that? Contrast that with Galway. When they had the wind, they worked their attack and you could just see Paul Conroy waiting for somebody to get the ball over to him. As soon as he got it, it was kicked. Conroy's an excellent long-range kicker, one of the best in the country. With the wind at your back, it's just about getting the ball in the air and letting it float over the bar from there. It wasn't a difficult kick for him and you could see that quality kickers are the people who are just good at that. Instead, Mayo anxiously flung the ball around and if the plan was that Ruane should pull the trigger – to be fair, he had already scored a two-pointer – the shot selection wasn't great and it didn't work from a difficult enough angle on the right. Manager Kevin McStay acknowledged the problems after the game, more or less saying that if we can't find a way of closing these games out and closing out positions like that then we ain't going anywhere. He's right. My view on the split season has always been that the inter-county calendar needs another couple of weeks, particularly when you look at all of the speculation about All-Ireland groups and how it cut across counties' preparation last week. Those draws shouldn't have happened. They're a distraction and disrespect the provincial finals. It's not fair on those teams to have that hanging over their heads when their full focus should be on the provincial final. A couple of weeks extra in the season would sort out that. Counties would still get the fixtures in time and we could give the provincial series the due respect that it deserves, because a lot of the talk this week was about who's going to want to be in this group and who's not going to want to be in that group. The teams were preparing for a big challenge. Galway obviously set a lot of store by winning it and made no secret of that choice. Mayo were going all out to win it because they hadn't been champions for four years. I don't buy suggestions that teams were focusing on their All-Ireland groups instead of winning their province.
Irish Times
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Galway show their steel as Mayo come up just short once again
Connacht SFC final: Mayo 1-15 Galway 1-17 In a game of inches, fingertips made the difference to secure Galway a fourth consecutive Nestor Cup after a gripping Connacht final at sun-drenched MacHale Park in Castlebar. Mayo will have regrets, when do they not? They chose to play against the wind in the first half, trailed by eight at the interval, got back level inside 20 minutes of the restart but failed to take the lead at any stage. And when the game-defining moments arrived, Galway seized them. Mayo had reduced the gap to the minimum in the 53rd minute when Ryan O'Donoghue stood over a central free just outside the 45-metre line in two-pointer territory. Having all but wiped out Galway's lead and at that stage dominating the contest, the home fans had the smell of Galway blood in their nostrils. READ MORE With the wind at his back, and Mayo in the ascendancy, O'Donoghue sent his effort towards its intended target – but crucially Galway goalkeeper Connor Gleeson launched himself skyward and managed to get his fingertips to the ball as it dropped over the crossbar. That touch reduced the score from a two-pointer to just one point. It was enough to bring Mayo level at 1-13 apiece but it had denied the home side the oxygen of taking the lead in front of a raucous 27,137 crowd. They still had the momentum, but they hadn't got the lead. And it never came. Mayo registered three wides in the four minutes that followed. They were hammering on the door but just couldn't kick it open. Matthew Tierney made a brilliant catch from a kick-out just before the hour mark and after a sweeping move Cillian McDaid nudged Galway back in front again. Mayo's gallop to the podium was starting to veer off course. O'Donoghue pulled them back level with a free on the hour mark but moments later the home side were down to 14 men for the remainder of the game. Colm Reape undercooked a short kick-out to Rory Brickenden and Rob Finnerty capitalised, stealing inside to snatch possession. Brickenden was left with a hopeless set of choices, bundle Finnerty to the ground or allow the Galway forward a one-on-one goal chance. He took the hit, opted for the former. Black card. Finnerty pointed the resulting free. As Mayo tried to sort out how best to counteract the numerical disadvantage, the outstanding Paul Conroy raced forward and popped over a point to put Galway two in front. Galway's Sean Mulkerrins is tackled by Mayo's Ryan O'Donoghue during the Connacht final at Hastings MacHale Park, Castlebar. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Mayo had to try chase the Tribesmen down all over again. Off they went. Aidan O'Shea sent Enda Hession through with a goal chance but Gleeson made himself big to pull off a good save. Reape floated over the resulting 45. One point game again. In the last minute, after working the ball across the pitch in front of the Galway goal, eventually Paul Towey darted through the lines and found himself in a great position to send the game to extra-time. But just as the Mayo sub pulled the trigger, Dylan McHugh made an extraordinary game-winning diving block. The hooter went seconds later but with Mayo in possession they had one last chance to equalise. When Jordan Flynn fed Matthew Ruane out wide on the right, the Breaffy man shouldered the responsibility of trying for a two-pointer. But as soon as the ball left his foot Ruane knew Mayo had fallen short, again. Galway had won their first four-in-a-row since the 1960s. 'Certainly we had chances and it's a sore one to take now obviously,' said Mayo manager Kevin McStay. 'Lost another big game down the stretch that we feel we could have won and until we start taking those chances and putting the pressure on our opponents that's going to be our lot. So, it's a very hard one to take because we know we have the chances to win it.' The decision by Mayo to play against the wind in the first half was certainly a significant plotline in the story of the game. 'We knew this was going to be a big Connacht final,' explained McStay. 'In the first 10-15 minutes there's going to be a lot of sorting out and settling and misses that you wouldn't normally [see] so you know that first 15 minutes sometimes when you're with the breeze can be wasted.' And it didn't go too badly. They led 1-2 to 0-2 after seven minutes thanks to a Darren McHale goal but their next score was not until the closing seconds of the first half. Aidan O'Shea reacts to a missed chance during the Connacht final defeat to Galway in Castlebar. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Conroy was gargantuan during that opening period for the visitors – he kicked Galway's first three scores, all two pointers. They were awarded a rather soft penalty in the 27th minute and Tierney tucked it away nicely to give Galway a 1-11 to 1-3 lead at the interval. The question of whether eight points was going to be enough for Galway playing against the wind seemed to find its answer when Mayo got level in the 53rd minute. But it turned out the winds of change would not be blowing through Connacht football this season. 'It was just a fantastic day, two teams going at it,' said Galway manager Padraic Joyce. 'While I'm elated, we could easily have come out on the wrong side as well. Mayo came back well and it looked like we were in trouble against the wind, under pressure on our kick-out. 'We knew it was going to come down to the wire. It's about making the right decisions in high-pressure situations. We got a bit of luck but sometimes when you work hard enough a bit of luck will come your way. 'This has been a target for the group, we'll enjoy it now and then move on.' It's Dublin in Salthill next for Galway while Mayo must regroup for the visit of Cavan. Two Connacht teams setting off on the same journey but it feels right now one is significantly closer to arriving home with Sam Maguire than the other. MAYO: Colm Reape (0-0-1, a 45); Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Rory Brickenden; Enda Hession, David McBrien, Stephen Coen; Diarmuid O'Connor, Matthew Ruane (0-1-0); Davitt Neary (0-0-1), Jordan Flynn, Darren McHale (1-0-2); Aidan O'Shea, Jack Carney, Ryan O'Donoghue (0-1-7, 6f). Subs: Sam Callinan for McBrien (9 mins); Paul Towey for O'Connor (h-t); Fergal Boland for Neary (61); Fenton Kelly for McHale (66) GALWAY: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, Seán Mulkerrin, Liam Silke; Paul Conroy (0-3-1, 1 tpf), Seán Kelly (0-0-1); Cein Darcy, John Maher, Cillian McDaid (0-0-2); Matthew Tierney (1-0-1, 1-0 pen), Robert Finnerty (0-0-4, 3f), Matthew Thompson (0-0-1). Subs: Cathal Sweeney for Maher (h-t); Kieran Molloy for Fitzgerald (41 mins); Cian Hernon for Mulkerrin (48); Peter Cooke for Sweeney (61); Liam Ó Conghaile (0-0-1) for Thompson (66). Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon).
