AFTER A SUMMER where Mayo have sailed serenely through their championship assignments, yesterday in Croke Park offered a different challenge.
Victory was ultimately achieved against Tyrone but the opening stages of the game did not offer portents of hope.
“Today was a grind,” admitted manager James Horan. “We looked very poor and it was the hardest grind we had, particularly in the first half.
“We were making poor decisions. We were taking the ball into contact, turning the wrong way and losing all the 50-50 balls. We started taking crazy shot decisions. We made every mistake you could possibly make.
“To figure out what was wrong and adjust and come through and kick on and take control of the game and win by six very pleasing. I think today was good for us and we’ll take a lot from it.”
“It was an All-Ireland semi final where we didn’t play well, certainly in the first half. We made every mistake you could possibly make.
“To figure out what was wrong and adjust and come through and kick on and take control of the game and win by six very pleasing.”
Mayo captain Andy Moran also spoke about the sluggishness that afflicted them in the opening period.
YouTube: Fintan O’Toole
Mayo had to overcome the loss of Cillian O’Connor through injury early in the game. In his absence Alan Freeman stepped into the breach but Mayo saw his first-half goal disallowed by referee Maurice Deegan.
“I saw the signal early in fairness so I didn’t get caught up in celebrations,” admitted Horan. “I knew it wasn’t a goal. It was okay.”
But after the break Freeman did find the net for a decisive score.
“It was an excellent penalty. It was at a key time and he absolutely nailed it. That gave us a bit more confidence and we built on it from there
“Alan’s frees and his general play was very, very good. But he’s been showing signs of that for the last couple of games so delighted for him today.”
Now Mayo go forward to an All-Ireland final aiming to atone for last year’s final reversal.
“I think we are in a better position every game we play. The last couple of games we developed physically, technically and skill-wise.
“We are starting to do that very well and are improving in areas. I think we are in a strong position now and we are looking forward to the next four weeks.”
The ref helped them stay in the game the 1st half with 3 soft frees and the disallowed goal was because the ref had already blown for another soft free!
Easy to count put a number on “soft” Mayo frees. A bit more challenging to count all the favours the ref did for Tyrone, he was like a 16th man to them.
Ref had a shocker for both teams. He was cat. Didn’t influence outcome of game though IMO.
Quality win on the day I say just I thing how many wides had mayo put them into points different game as Tyrone is the best team in the game to kill a game. So there is a few lesson on football so re watch the game before u talk shit
Manners billy boy, opinions are allowed, you have only one opinion and that’s a mayo one don’t dare say am talking shite because I said it would have been a tighter game!you going on about wides!! Don’t be counting wides that’s sad example,you need to start reading over other people’s comments with abit more respect.
Were you watching the same match!! The ref was no where near the box when pen was giving to mayo in 2nd half, a ref can’t give a pen because he thinks he might have messed up in 1st half! The only pen should been giving to Tyrone
And by the way Ann those soft frees were the points that kept mayo in the game as they hadn’t scored from play up until nearly the 25m
Was it not the 32nd??
Ha I think your right Ann ,anyways that’s the way it goes sometimes, can’t be helped,
Mayo gave Tyrone 3 soft points early in the game but end of the day the better team won.
It would have been a lot closer but mayo did play a lot better in 2nd half and probably did deserve the win,having said that I think they’ll find tougher tests in Dublin/ Kerry
The score in 1st half would have been Tyrone leading by at least 3 to 4 points and take away the mayo pen which wasn’t in 2nd half and I think it would have been a tighter game