Semi Final 2: Dublin Vs Mayo

[kerrygold]

Thats slow march by dublin onto the pitch and then up to the hill personifies stupidity,
ciaran whelan had clearly lost the bap before the game even started,if you look at the stupid slow march to the hill you will clearly see a dublin player holding back his jersey.

mcgarrity distroyed him in the first 25 minutes.

amazingly eugene mcgee is the only journalist i've read this morning that has failed to mention
that tackle by whelan,surely an experienced journo of 30 years wouldn't miss that.

once again whelan failed to deliver on the big day for dublin.

[BIGMAC]

kudos to mayo,i did'nt think they had it in them but they showed when the chips we're down they would'nt give up,now if they keep that attituide for the final it should be one of the best finals in years. i think pillar will have to answer some questions about his behaviour (or lack of it )b4 the game even started and whealan will surely be brought to book for 1 of the most cynical peices of play i've ever seen

[animal]

To be honest I was getting sick of all this "dream final" talk. Mayo fully deserve to be there. For me winning the final is paramount. I don't care who its against. we've beaten Armagh this year which was a major monkey off the back and a point proven. This team has no axe to grind with the dubs so I didn't really care if we played them or not. Also tickets must be more plentiful now rather than trying to compete with the dubs for them.
Would also like to add that Mayo were terrific yesterday. A draw would have been an injustice.

[BIGMAC]

McDonald clinches it for Connacht champs as Blues fall short in thriller




Mayo 1-16

Dublin 2-12

All-Ireland SFC semi-final

DUBLIN looked in through heaven's door, liked what they saw and were just about to step inside when Mayo's eviction squad arrived and ruthlessly ejected them from the premises.

As the door slammed in their faces, Dublin were left outside in abject misery wondering how an All-Ireland semi-final that seemed comfortably secured when they led by seven points after 46 minutes was surrendered over the closing stretch.

Outscored

Mayo outscored them by 1-6 to 0-1 in the final 22 min utes of what was the best game of Championship 2006 and one of the most entertaining of the decade.

With the decibel level rising among Mayo's euphoric supporters, Hill 16 was silenced as Dublin grew increasingly distressed.

Earlier, the Dublin follow ing were in full voice as a blue tornado swept Croke Park in the early stages of the second half. A Jason Sherlock goal two minutes after the re-start ignited Dublin and by the 46th minute Dublin had lodged 2-11 in the bank, leaving them seven points clear of a Mayo team that looked ready for a complete plucking.

This time though, Mayo refused to take 'no' for an answer. Digging deep into their spirit tank, they located reserves of courage, determination and efficiency that many doubted they possessed and delivered one of their finest Croke Park victories to set up a repeat of the 2004 All-Ireland against Kerry.

It was a remarkable transformation for a team that seemed well-beaten after a disastrous start to the second half. As the points rained in from Brogan, Keaney, Quinn and Bonner, Dublin looked so comfortable that they seemed certain to reach the All-Ireland final for the first time since 1995.

When Ger Brady pared a point off the deficit in the 48th minute, it looked no more than a token gesture of defiance but it actually turned out to the launch-pad for one of the most spirited recoveries in Mayo history.

That it was achieved without influential midfielder Ronan McGarrity was all the more remarkable. He had to retire four minutes from half-time after taking a knock to the side of the head. Referee Paddy Russell booked Ciarán Whelan who could consider himself lucky not to have been sent off for what was a bad foul.

Mayo sent Barry Moran on as sub but he was replaced by Aiden Kilcoyne in the second half. Kilcoyne was one of four Mayo subs who made a major impact whereas Dublin's replacements achieved very little.

Kevin O'Neill, back chasing an All-Ireland medal a full 13 years after winning an All-Star award as a 20-year-old, signed in just before half-time and immediately kicked a point. He added another in a lively second half performance while Barry Moran contributed the priceless 51st-minute goal that sig nalled that Mayo's intent to retrieve what looked like a lost cause.

David Brady also made his presence felt after coming on in the 39th minute. Dublin failed to score between the 46th and 67th minutes and, while Brogan brought them level, Mayo responded immediately with Ciarán McDonald angling over what proved to be the winning point from a narrow angle.

It was a superb score by a man who pulled lots of important strings all day. Dublin had a few chances to level it up but Mark Vaughan, who had replaced 'Mossy' Quinn, failed to convert a '45 and a long-range free, having earlier hit the post.

But then all the little breaks went against Dublin in the closing minutes as Mayo rose their game to super-intensity levels. Fears that they wouldn't stand up physically to Dublin proved unfounded as they clattered into tackles with immense bravery all afternoon.

But then they had put down an early marker that they weren't going to intimidated by any circumstances when they headed to the Hill 16 goal for their pre-match warm-up. As the first team out, they were entitled to choose whichever goal they wished but Dublin opted rather childishly to use the same goal.

Unedifying spectacle

It led to an unedifying spectacle as both sides went through their routines in close proximity and produced a most unfortunate incident when the Mayo dietitian was hit by the ball and knocked to the ground where she lay for some minutes before being carried off.

Having taken what Dub lin regard as their private space for the pre-match kickabout, Mayo needed to be just as bold when the game began and they weren't found wanting.

With McGarrity and Harte going well at midfield and Mortimer, Dillon and McDonald locating previously unseen gaps in the Dublin defence, Mayo raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after 20 minutes.

Dublin didn't score for 17 minutes and with their full-back line looking most uncomfortable, Mayo's optimism levels increased.

However, they suffered a major knockback in the 23rd minute when Keaney booted home the rebound after Brogan's goal-bound shot had been blocked.

As Dublin powered up the momentum, Keaney later opted to kick a point when another goal was on; Sherlock hit the crossbar and Aidan Higgins made a great block from a Brogan drive.

It was looking ominous for Mayo, especially when they lost McGarrity in the 31st minute but, to their credit, they plugged on and kicked two late points to lead by 0-9 to 1-5 at the break.

Dublin resumed with Paul Casey dropping back to No 3 to replace Barry Cahill, with Shane Ryan switching to right half-back and Darren Magee coming in at midfield.

The new formation seemed to have worked when Dublin won the first 11 minutes of the second half by 1-6 to 0-1 but it didn't last.

Defensive bolts

With Ryan out of midfield, Dublin struggled in that sector while the defence had its defensive bolts loosened further by a rapidly-improving Mayo who found scores surprisingly easy to come by.

Moran's goal accelerated the recovery process which was completed in the 54th minute when Dillon pointed. Mortimer put Mayo ahead with a pointed free in the 56th minute and in the next attrition-filled 11 minutes, neither side managed to score.

Brogan's 67th minute point looked as if it might be Dublin's saviour but Mayo were in no mood to let them off the hook and McDonald availed of a half chance to steer over a point that would prove decisive in what was Mayo's first victory over Dublin at senior championship level.

Martin Breheny

[BIGMAC]

PAUL CAFFREY urged the Dublin supporters to be "as proud of the players as I am" in the aftermath of a second one-point defeat in an All-Ireland semi-final in four years.

But after letting a seven-point lead slip to prolong their absence from an All-Ireland final to 11 years, Dublin supporters have surely used their reserves of pride and patience.

Caffrey credited Mayo for being "awesome at different stages of both halves" and said Dublin's blistering start to the second half - they scored 1-4 without reply - "would be good enough to win most games".

Caffrey said: "Credit goes to Mayo, they played awesome at various stages of both halves.

"We had a real good 15 minutes of the start of the second half, which would have been good enough to win most games.

"They will carry the good wishes of the Dublin dressing room with them into the final."

Caffrey refused to be drawn on Mayo's audacious decision to warm up at the coveted Hill 16 end, suggesting that he "couldn't remember back that far".

Nor did he take any bait on the performance of referee Paddy Russell.

Instead he used the opportunity to praise Russell and reserved his most loquacious words for the official.

"The bottom line is I think the standard of refereeing was great all year, it's too easy to stand here as a beaten manager to have a swipe at a referee.

"He had a tough time after the Omagh game and I'm delighted to see him back in Croke Park.

"It's too cheap for beaten managers to criticise.

"If we take that line we'll never get anyone to referee matches." Caffrey felt Dublin's effort in the second half never tapered off, the erosion of their seven-point lead notwithstanding.

Despite trailing, Mayo refused to give in and, buoyed by a 51st-minute goal from substitute Alan Moran and a run of 1-5 without reply, the Westerners fought back to clinch victory.

"The Dublin team didn't stop trying out there, they've given great value for money and I hope the supporters are as proud of them as I am.

"They've turned into a great battling team."

Finding a starting point for the Dublin post mortem won't be easy, but how Shane Ryan ended up on the bench, via the half-back line after a storming first half at midfield is something that will require some explaining.

Dublin's absence of a serious test since the first week in June in Longford's Pearse Park clearly told in the last quarter.

Colm Keys

[BIGMAC]

CONGRATULATIONS to Mayo on a wonderful win and a brilliant performance yesterday.

It was a magnificent match and although Dublin won't take any heart from it, it was the best game I have seen in Croke Park in years.

Mayo came up with nothing to lose. They went straight down to the Hill 16 end and made it clear they were there to do business and all credit to them.

Dublin should have known then, in case they hadn't known already, that they were up for a fight and instead of starting with a flourish as we all expected, they looked rattled and nervous in the early stages.

It took them 17 minutes to register a score and that tells its own tale on how long it took to settle.

Even then, they looked disjointed in key areas of the park.

Although it could easily have gone either way, several key factors saw Mayo to a famous win in the end.

I thought Ger Brady was exceptional and he gave Bryan Cullen a torrid time on Dublin's '40. He won plenty of clean ball and he ran directly at Cullen and straight down the centre of Dublin's defence.

He's an unorthodox player but his impact on the game shouldn't be underestimated.

If he can produce a repeat performance against Seamus Moynihan, Kerry could be in serious trouble in the final.

Brady also had plenty of options once he won the ball. Conor Mortimer gave an exhibition of inside forward play and Ciarán McDonald's ability to make himself available to take a pass played a huge part in Mayo's win.

Also, Kevin O'Neill's introduction made a big difference as it gave Mayo another physical presence inside.

In fact, nearly everything Mickey Moran did from the line came good. He took the gamble at key times and they paid off and that's what good management is all about.

It would be unfair to be overly critical of Dublin.

The day after such a defeat is not a time to be throwing arrows or looking for scapegoats and they managed to score 2-12 and still lose the match.

They did struggle in midfield, both in winning clean ball and picking up breaks - an area where they have excelled all summer.

There were too many twists and turns in the game to identify a single turning point, but the sequence of play just before half-time would have given Mayo a boost in confidence going into the break.

Dublin were a point ahead and Conal Keaney had an easy free which he missed.

Mayo then clipped over two quick points to take the interval lead. Had Dublin been ahead at the turnaround after Mayo's dominance, it would have given Pillar's men even more belief that they could win.

As it happened, Dublin came out for the second half like a new team.

They went on a scoring run that I thought would win them the game, but Mayo worked so hard and showed ferocious belief in themselves by coming straight back at Dublin.

Much has been made about how much stronger and fitter Dublin seem to be this year but Mayo matched them in both departments.

The tactic of using short passes means Dublin's players were all having the energy sapped out of them by working off the ball to close men down and the downside of that showed towards the end.

Dublin struggled at the back too but the management's actions seemed very confusing.

Declan Lally made several appearances in different positions and it still beggars belief that Pillar can't find a place for Collie Moran in the side, even for 30 minutes.

Also, the rotating forward thing just doesn't work. Both Alan Brogan and Keaney were on fire when they got possession inside, but they kept switching, to little added effect.

Dublin will go off and lick their wounds and it will be very interesting to see how they come back from this.

It's been a steep learning curve this year and the players will have to learn to cope with being red-hot favourites in the future.

Mayo, on the other hand, can look forward to their big day against Kerry and they deserve their place in the final with yesterday's display.

If they can reproduce it in three weeks' time, they will be well placed to cause another upset

[BIGMAC]

First up best dressed as Mayo claim Hill
Monday August 28th 2006
ADVERTISEMENT




The Mayo dietician Mary McNicholas is attended to after being hit by a ball during the controversial warm-up before yesterday's All-Ireland SFC semi-final.



THERE was no sense of triumphalism about it afterwards, no defiant stand.

This wasn't Willie Anderson and the Irish players facing down the haka or Martin Johnson standing firm to meet and greet Mary McAleese on England's terms - it was the Mayo players simply opting to warm up at the nearest end of the ground to where the bench for the team photo was located.

They were first out and gravitated naturally towards Hill 16 where the Dublin players' 'love-in' has being staged all summer.

John Morrison was "taken totally unaware", David Brady said it was a "hesitant" move on behalf of the players that was "wrong" and "shouldn't have happened" and Mickey Moran said it was a players' call.

The last two teams to warm up at the Hill-end on a day that Dublin was involved paid the price for thumbing their nose up at the established tradition. Tyrone, in the '84 All-Ireland semi-final, and Armagh, in the '99 league semi-final replay, brazened it out with no return.

Mayo rolled the dice and gambled everything. If it backfired, they'd have heard the laughs from the city behind them when they were crossing the bridge at Tarmonbarry.

But they backed up a most audacious move with their biggest performance, the biggest performance in Croke Park from a Mayo side in 50 years in, arguably, the greatest game of its genre. They planted their flag at the Hill 16 end and survived to tell the tale.

"They've got a bit of grit in them - it's Conancht grit," said John Morrison, the team's colourful coach.

For Morrison, both teams warming up in the same half was like a series of 'Strictly Come Dancing', despite the concussion suffered by Mayo dietician Mary McNicholas who was hit by a ball struck by a Dublin player.

"Dublin did not interfere - they were just carrying on with their own warm-up when a loose ball hit our girl on the head but there was no rancour," he said.

As for Mayo's decision to warm up at the Hill end, Morrison insisted: "I was taken totally unaware - it was the players' call but fair play to them.

"We were four points down in Galway but reputation means nothing to our boys. You only lose if you quit."

Brady said: "Dublin don't own the Hill end and we don't own it, either - no one owns Croke Park. What we did was wrong - it shouldn't have happened - but once we were there there was no way way we were going to back down. We stood up and made a decision and thankfully everyone is okay."

Moran, almost overcome by emotion, emphasised the word 'faith' time and again to illustrate how Mayo had weathered the storm.

"The team talk came down to one word and that word was 'faith'. We all believe in ourselves. We have faith in each other. We have a partnership - it's not us saying 'you must do this you must follow this'."

As for the pre-match controversy, Moran insisted: "The players decided that (to go to the Hill). It was their call and, as part of the family, I stood by them on it.

"We were out first and we occupied the Hill end, but don't let that detract from the football both teams produced in a marvellous game.

"It was the first time in a long football career that I actually felt my heart beat."

Colm Keys

[austinstacksabu]

Game of the decade? Fair enough it was exciting stuff. But it wasn't exactly full of the skills that you'd usually hope to see in a game game being lababled a classic.....

[austinstacksabu]

Also, can somebody explain how Shane Ryan ended up being taken off? Surely he isn't being blamed for the goal all on his own is he?

[kerryman]

I was puzzled by that alright. Was he injured maybe? After Brogan he was one of the fellahs trying to stand up and be counted for Dublin.

[animal]

I thought the moving of Ryan from midfield was crucial in Dublin not winning the match. He was winning more primary possession there than Whelan. He has a great leap for a guy who's not that tall. He had a fine year to be fair to him.

[BIGMAC]

i have to admit i was puzzled myself at ryan's subing,i thought he was having a good game

[BIGMAC]

austinstacksabu said:

Game of the decade? Fair enough it was exciting stuff. But it wasn't exactly full of the skills that you'd usually hope to see in a game game being lababled a classic.....

ah but it had the ingredients stacks,thrills ,spills,excitment a comeback form the dead and a prettyboy star hitting the winning score,what more could u ask

[austinstacksabu]

bigmac said:

austinstacksabu said:

Game of the decade? Fair enough it was exciting stuff. But it wasn't exactly full of the skills that you'd usually hope to see in a game game being lababled a classic.....

ah but it had the ingredients stacks,thrills ,spills,excitment a comeback form the dead and a prettyboy star hitting the winning score,what more could u ask

Skill? Another game that was labelled an instant classic was the 2000 semi final replay between ourselves and yerselves. I watched it there a few weeks ago again for the first time since the day of the game. The first 50 minutes that day were fairly poor.

Watch the 2002 All Ireland final between us - that's a classic.

[kerrygold]

cant understand ryans subsitution either,i thought it was a bad call on the 61st minute,the lad was given it a right honest cut.

the rotation of forwards also doesn't add up,maybe as the old saying goes,"too many too cooks spoil the broth"maybe too many guru's in the dublin set up with too many opinions.

wondering about the classic myself,dublin failed to score for the first 17 minutes and only got one point in the last 28 minutes,thats 1 point in 45 minutes of cutting edge championship football,it hardly equates to a classic.

eugenn mcgee labeled it the best game he has seem,this is from the same individual that failed to comment on the brutal tackle by whelan on mcgarrity in his article,i'd take his opinion with a grain of salt after that omission.

[kerrygold]

austinstacksabu said:

bigmac said:

ah but it had the ingredients stacks,thrills ,spills,excitment a comeback form the dead and a prettyboy star hitting the winning score,what more could u ask

Skill? Another game that was labelled an instant classic was the 2000 semi final replay between ourselves and yerselves. I watched it there a few weeks ago again for the first time since the day of the game. The first 50 minutes that day were fairly poor.

Watch the 2002 All Ireland final between us - that's a classic.

i persume you are refering stacks to the classic colasp by kerry in the second half.

[austinstacksabu]

No, the overall game. Kerry, led by Donal Daly gave an incredible performance in the first half. Armagh showed what they did best in the second half that day - shutting down supply to the Kerry half foward and full forward lines by putting six men across midfield with McGeeney sitting behind them acting as marshall. They broke their backs coming back into the game and fighting for every inch of space.

[seamus]

kerrygold said:

cant understand ryans subsitution either,i thought it was a bad call on the 61st minute,the lad was given it a right honest cut.

the rotation of forwards also doesn't add up,maybe as the old saying goes,"too many too cooks spoil the broth"maybe too many guru's in the dublin set up with too many opinions.

wondering about the classic myself,dublin failed to score for the first 17 minutes and only got one point in the last 28 minutes,thats 1 point in 45 minutes of cutting edge championship football,it hardly equates to a classic.

eugenn mcgee labeled it the best game he has seem,this is from the same individual that failed to comment on the brutal tackle by whelan on mcgarrity in his article,i'd take his opinion with a grain of salt after that omission.

Eugene McGee is working to the first principle of writing in a national paper. Keep the Dubs happy!!!

[butchy]

I think the Kerry Armagh game this year was a better game then yesterday. Certainly 2 better forward lines going at it hammer and tongs !! Yesterdays game was a great game but lackin the quality and skill of the 1/4 final. The Mayo forwards were given way too much space yesterday. Can't see that happening in the final !! Maybe i'm biased but the Kerry Armagh game was still the best game of the year so far !!

[kerrygold]

seamus said:

kerrygold said:

cant understand ryans subsitution either,i thought it was a bad call on the 61st minute,the lad was given it a right honest cut.

the rotation of forwards also doesn't add up,maybe as the old saying goes,"too many too cooks spoil the broth"maybe too many guru's in the dublin set up with too many opinions.

wondering about the classic myself,dublin failed to score for the first 17 minutes and only got one point in the last 28 minutes,thats 1 point in 45 minutes of cutting edge championship football,it hardly equates to a classic.

eugenn mcgee labeled it the best game he has seem,this is from the same individual that failed to comment on the brutal tackle by whelan on mcgarrity in his article,i'd take his opinion with a grain of salt after that omission.

Eugene McGee is working to the first principle of writing in a national paper. Keep the Dubs happy!!!

on the nail seamus,i suppose it helps to create that mystical big blue ball of hype from time to time,o sorry all the time.

there has being some sh1te written about dublin since they demolished laois in the second round.

[kerrywoman]

Really enjoyed that game yesterday-great day for Mayo well done!! Back at work today in Limerick and listening to "Mayo Mayo Sam Maguire is coming home to Mayo" do ye think we'll beat them??

[BIGMAC]

austinstacksabu said:

bigmac said:

ah but it had the ingredients stacks,thrills ,spills,excitment a comeback form the dead and a prettyboy star hitting the winning score,what more could u ask

Watch the 2002 All Ireland final between us - that's a classic.

and the perfect result ;D

[JOAN]

I had a feeling that Mayo would pull it out yesterday. well done to both teams great game to listen to.
Ps where is Rashers.

[austinstacksabu]

joan said:

I had a feeling that Mayo would pull it out yesterday. well done to both teams great game to listen to.
Ps where is Rashers.

Locked into the Sunset house until next Thursday.....

[noreenos]

Congratulations to Mayo. What a team of determined players and their mental fitness is unreal at this stage. If mayo didn't win yesterday they should have been given a medal for playing the way they did. I never doubted their never say die attitude but I sure didn't see this coming either.
Will be a great final. Kerry will need to pull out all the stops in this one. Mayo has the edge when it comes to the mental game, however, Kerry are better in other areas of the game. Nothing is for granted against them.

The West's Awake

Well done Mayo

[macdanger]

Great game, fair play to the dubs for their good attitude after, any i met were gracious in defeat.

Could have all been so different though if they had finished us when they had the chance. It just seemed to be on of those days when every ball bounced our way.

If mayo play like that again though, kerry will send us packing back across the shannon. The two corner backs were skinned, don't know why it took so long to switch keith H off brogan. If kerry get that amount of goal chances, they'll finish more than two of them.

Mayo are progressing nicely though and i'd hope that they haven't peaked yet - sept 17th is the day for that.

Whelan's tackle was a disgrace, he acted like a complete thug. don't know how the ref didn't send him to the line. He's a quality footballer, but he ruins it with those kind of actions.

What was the craic with whelan and bonner being subbed from the 24th minute until the start of the 2nd half?? Surely there is a time limit on how long a blood sub is used for?? They had a 14 minutes rest while the game was carrying on.

We'll need to play twice as well to beat a confident kerry side in 3 weeks, but hopefully we can finally rise to the occasion and end the 55 year drought.......MAIGH EO ABU

[kerryman99]

Dublin Diatribe
August 2006

Sunday saw the darlings of gaelic football clash with a promising Mayo side in a close encounter at GAA headquarters. The sell out crowd, made up of 164,000 Dublin supporters, witnessed a truly amazing footballing spectacle under the ever sparkling blue skys of the capital.

The accurate boot of Thomas 'Mossy' Quinn and the incisive runs of Ray Cosgrove kept Dublin well ahead of the wild men of the West. At the back the ever solid Stephen Cluxton was superb all day but was blinded in one eye by a missile fired from the crowd which resulted in a soft and highly controversal goal for the fortunate and lagging Mayo team. With Ciaran Whealan lording midfield, Dublin were home and hosed in what can only be described as an All Star winning performance. Under cruel circumstances Whealan, still only 22, had to be replaced following a deliberate Ronan McGarrity head butt to the midfielder's shoulder. McGarrity was sent off, but once again Paddy Collins, ever a thorn in the side of Dublin, allowed another player to replace him. A protest has been lodged by the Dublin County Board.

This game was never in doubt and from the start Paul Caffery had his charges well tuned into the vibrations of the Dublin County ground. It was unsporting and unacceptable that outsiders considered warming up in front of the the bastion of Irish sport that is Hill 16. Caffery was on the receiving end of some nasty treatment from a Mayo northern mentor.

As the game neared a close, the Dublin team gelled once more as a fighting unit and sent shockwaves throughout Ireland for all to see. In a close scoring contest Dublin went on to win by -1 points and look forward to meeting their next opponents in the Championship.

[FatTom]

Surprised O'Rourke was even in the studio after the game.
Thought he'd be off to Celebrate in front of the hill.

Once again Dublin were overhhyped and lacked natural skills in front of goal. They missed some awful chances again.Especially frees

Changes Caffrey made were nuts. And all this talk of the super fit team proved pointless.

Fair play to Mayo they were the better team.
I'm glad they did what they did before the start of the game - the Dubs have no right to the hill end in Croke Park and you could see they didn't like it.
Morrisson is a cute fecker.