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Big battle today between Paul Geaney and Ger Cafferkey. Cathal Noonan/INPHO
AS IT HAPPENED

As It Happened: Kerry v Mayo, All-Ireland senior football semi-final

Who’s going to reach the final on September 21st? Join us to find out.

NOW LET’S GET set for the big one in Croke Park today as Kerry and Mayo face off.

It’s the first of this year’s All-Ireland senior football semi-finals. We’re live from Croke Park and we’re going to follow the action all the way.

As always, we’d love to hear your comments. Send them to fintan@thescore.ie, tweet them @TheScoreGAA, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.

Result: Kerry 1-16 Mayo 1-16

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Hello and welcome along to our coverage of today’s senior match, Kerry against Mayo in Croke Park at 3.30pm.

Two Mayo changes expected, Jason Gibbons on for Chris Barrett and Alan Freeman for Andy Moran.

Here’s how Mayo will start.

MAYO
1. Robert Hennelly (Breaffy)

Jason Gibbons (Ballintubber)
3. Ger Cafferkey (Ballina)
4. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)

5. Lee Keegan (Westport)
6. Tom Cunniffe (Castlebar Mitchels)
7. Colm Boyle (Davitts)

8. Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe)
9. Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy)

10. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)
11. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy)
12. Jason Doherty (Burrishoole)

13. Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber)
Alan Freeman (Aghamore)
15. Alan Dillon (Baillintubber)

Expect Tom Cunniffe to move to the full-back line, Donal Vaughan to go to centre-back and Gibbons partner Seamus O’Shea at midfield.

Here’s how Kerry will start.

KERRY

1. Brian Kelly (Killarney Legion)

2. Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht)
3. Aidan O’Mahony (Rathmore)
4. Shane Enright (Tarbert)

5. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
6. Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers)
7. Fionn Fitzgerald (Capt) (Dr Crokes)

8. Anthony Maher (Duagh)
9. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys)

10. Michael Geaney (Dingle)
11. Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes)
12. Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane)

13. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare)
14. Paul Geaney (Dingle)
15. James O’Donoghue (Killarney Legion)

The referee today is Meath’s David Coldrick.

Kerry’s subs are:

Brendan Kealy, Declan O’Sullivan, Killian Young, Bryan Sheehan, Darran O’Sullivan, Barry John Keane, Kieran Donaghy, Kieran O’Leary, Jonathan Lyne, Mark Griffin and Pa Kilkenny.

Mayo’s subs are:

David Clarke, Kevin Keane, Brendan Harrison, Richie Feeney, Conor O’Shea, Chris Barrett, Tom Parsons, Andy Moran, Michael Conroy, Mickey Sweeney and Barry Moran.

Time for throw-in here, big showdown in store.

Kerry 0-1 Mayo 0-0
1 mins – Flying start by Kerry as David Moran delivers in a free that sets Stephen O’Brien free and he blasts over a point.

Kerry 0-1 Mayo 0-1
2 mins – Brilliant tackling by Cillian O’Connor to rob Marc O Sé and the ball spills loose to Alan Dillon who curls over a point off his left.

Mayo 0-2 Kerry 0-1
5 mins – Now Mayo hit the front after Colm Boyle is fouled and Cillian O’Connor slots the free.

Mayo 0-2 Kerry 0-2
5 mins – Our first sight today of the classy James O’Donoghue and he doesn’t disappoint with a lovely point after being fed by Stephen O’Brien. The number of Mayo backs around him didn’t put O’Donoghue off there.

Kerry 0-3 Mayo 0-2
8 mins – Patient play by Kerry and the move culminates in a stunning point by David Moran after he side stepped Jason Gibbons.

Kerry 0-3 Mayo 0-3
9 mins – Cillian O’Connor gets clear to tap over a point for Mayo that ties the teams.

Huge goal chance for Mayo! Cillian O’Connor gets clear and rounds Brian Kelly but shoots into the side netting. He protests that Kelly fouled him but the referee waves play on.

And Kerry create a goal chance themselves. Michael Geaney pumps in a long ball to his cousin Paul but he shoots wide off his left under pressure from Ger Cafferkey.

Kerry 0-4 Mayo 0-3
12 mins – Lovely kicking by Johnny Buckley off his left to edge Kerry ahead after being set up by Anthony Maher.

Kerry 0-4 Mayo 0-4
14 mins – Mayo are finding joy in finding their full-forward line who are troubling Kerry. This time it’s Freeman who gathers the ball but is pushed in the back by Marc O Sé and Cillian O’Connor does the rest by converting the free at ease.

That’s 0-3 already today for Cillian O’Connor.

Have we put the hex on O’Connor? He’s just struck two wides in a row for Mayo, one from a free and the second after playing a one-two with Dillon.

James O’Donoghue isn’t going to get as much room today as he did in his last two outings against Cork and Galway. Tom Cunniffe and Keith Higgins both following him wherever he goes.

Interesting to see Declan O’Sullivan warming up for Kerry.

Sub: And it’s Stephen O’Brien who makes way with Declan O’Sullivan coming on.

Play is becoming ragged on both sides, defences on top with both teams finding their attacking moves breaking down.

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Kerry 0-5 Mayo 0-4
25 mins – Our scoring impasse has been broken and it’s from an unlikely score. Donnchadh Walsh breaks through to point for Kerry.

Chance missed by Mayo to draw level. Kevin McLoughlin didn’t get enough behind his kick from a free and Brian Kelly caught the ball underneath his crossbar.

Kerry 0-6 Mayo 0-4
29 mins – James O’Donoghue in the wars again as he’s taken down by Donal Vaughan. A free is awarded and Paul Geaney taps it over. Kerry two clear now.

Six different Kerry players have pointed now whereas Mayo have only got scores from Cillian O’Connor and Alan Dillon.

Kerry 0-7 Mayo 0-5
31 mins – Make that seven Kerry players now as Michael Geaney becomes the last Kerry forward to point. He did well to help overturn Colm Boyle and then got free where he was picked out by Paul Geaney. Mayo respond decently. Lee Keegan bounds through and clips over from the right wing via the upright. First Mayo point in 17 minutes.

Kerry 0-8 Mayo 0-5
32 mins – Kerry are now three clear as David Moran demonstrates his brilliance at long-range point taking. It’s another superbly judged shot with the outside of his right foot.

Red card for Lee Keegan!

What a huge call! Mayo are down to 14 men, it looks like a harsh decision for a kick out at Johnny Buckley.

Seems like a tough decision against Mayo but it looked petulant from Keegan and he risked the wrath of Coldrick.

Kerry 0-9 Mayo 0-5
35 mins – Kerry’s confidence is sky high now. Good team move down the left and Fionn Fitzgerald booms over a great point.

Half-Time: Kerry 0-9 Mayo 0-5

First-half scorers:

Kerry: David Moran 0-2, Fionn Fitzgerald, James O’Donoghue, Paul Geaney (0-1f), Stephen O’Brien, Michael Geaney, Johnny Buckley, Donnchadh Walsh 0-1 each.

Mayo: Cillian O’Connor 0-3 (0-2f), Alan Dillon, Lee Keegan 0-1 each.

And we’re back out for the second-half.

Sub: Tom Parsons is on for Mayo at half-time for Jason Gibbons.

Kerry 0-10 Mayo 0-6
36 mins – Kerry fly out of the traps and James O’Donoghue points but Mayo reply through Alan Dillon.

Yellow card for Declan O’Sullivan.

Kerry 0-10 Mayo 0-7
38 mins – Mayo cut the gap to three as Cillian O’Connor slots a free after a foul on Jason Doherty.

52,495 is the attendance here in Croke Park.

Kerry 0-11 Mayo 0-8
40 mins – Points swapped by Paul Murphy for Kerry and O’Connor from a free.

Kerry 0-11 Mayo 0-9
41 mins – Brilliant fight by Mayo. Colm Boyle smashes over a point and the gap is down to two.

Sub: Bryan Sheehan on for Kerry for Michael Geaney.

Kerry 0-11 Mayo 0-10
45 mins – The fourteen men of Mayo have the gap down to one! They place terrific pressure on Anthony Maher to force a turnover, Cillian O’Connor boots the ball towards Alan Dillon and the finish is of the highest quality.

Kerry 0-11 Mayo 0-11
46 mins – Now we’re level! Cillian O’Connor arcs over a point.

Mayo’s support are so vocal here, really getting behind their team here. The brilliant driving runs of Aidan O’Shea and the playmaking of Alan Dillon have also been vital in this second-half so far.

Sub: Andy Moran is on for Mayo as Alan Freeman makes way.

Kerry 0-12 Mayo 0-12
48 mins – Donnchadh Walsh relieves the pressure that Kerry are under as he taps over a neat point after a lovely team move. But Mayo respond instantly with Jason Doherty pointing after great work by Andy Moran.

Kerry 0-13 Mayo 0-12
51 mins – What a goal chance for Kerry! Keith Higgins fumbles the ball, O’Donoghue seizes and races clear but blasts over with the goal at his mercy. Let off for Mayo.

Sub: Killian Young in for Kerry for Aidan O’Mahony.

Sub: Michael Conroy on for Mayo for Doherty.

Kerry 0-13 Mayo 0-13
54 mins – Such great resolve from Mayo. They draw level again through captain Andy Moran.

Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Mayo penalty as Peter Crowley fouls Donal Vaughan!

Cillian O’Connor fires to the net! Brilliant penalty.

Mayo 1-13 Kerry 0-13
59 mins – What a comeback from Mayo. They’ve outscored Kerry by 1-8 to 0-4 since half-time.

Mayo 1-14 Kerry 0-13
60 mins – Incredible stuff by Mayo as Cillian O’Connor weighs in with a super point off his left.

Sub: Kieran Donaghy on for Kerry for Anthony Maher.

Sub: Barry John Keane is on for Kerry for Johnny Buckley.

Sub: Mayo bring in Mikey Sweeney for Alan Dillon.

Mayo 1-15 Kerry 0-13
64 mins – Another great point by O’Connor, this time from a free after Aidan O’Shea was fouled.

Mayo 1-15 Kerry 0-14
64 mins – Peter Crowley races in to fist over a point for Kerry.

Mayo 1-16 Kerry 0-14
65 mins – Mayo reply instantly as Andy Moran points after Hawkeye judges it.

Mayo 1-16 Kerry 0-15
67 mins – Bryan Sheehan slots a free after Kieran Donaghy is fouled.

Sub: Donnchadh Walsh makes way on the Kerry team for Kieran O’Leary.

Goal for Kerry!

Mayo 1-16 Kerry 1-15
68 mins – Unbelievable drama! James O’Donoghue hits the net for Kerry after Donaghy offloaded having caught a high ball in by David Moran.

Sub: Kevin Keane on for Mayo for Ger Cafferkey.

Tom Cunniffe with a great chance to point for Mayo but he shoots wide!

Three minutes of injury time to be played.

Kieran O’Leary points for Kerry!

Kerry 1-16 Mayo 1-16
72 mins – Brilliant composure by O’Leary to point.

And James O’Donoghue’s shot to win it goes wide!

Is that it?

60 yard free for Kerry, Bryan Sheehan to take it.

Full-Time: Kerry 1-16 Mayo 1-16

What a match! Sheehan’s free was caught by the Mayo defence and they cleared. Replay next Saturday at the Gaelic Grounds because of the American football match in Croke Park.

Amazing second-half, that’s all from us, thanks for joining.

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