So after a massive summer of Gaelic football, who would prevail in the final?
It was Dublin against Mayo in the battle to claim the Sam Maguire Cup.
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: Dublin 2-12 Mayo 1-14
It’s Dublin against Mayo in the battle to land the Sam Maguire Cup for this year.
We’ve already had the minor match today where Mayo experienced glory as they clinched their first All-Ireland title at that grade since 1985 with victory over Tyrone.
The atmosphere is electric here in Croke Park. The crowds are starting to stream in to the three stands while Hill 16 is the best sight of all with a huge number of Mayo fans packed into a terrace that is traditionally the domain of Dublin supporters.
And the weather is great as well with Croke Park bathed in sunshine. It’s very warm here and conditions are going to test both sets of players. We’re just over half an hour away from throw-in with neither side yet to emerge for their warm-up.
Here’s the Mayo team that is named to start today:
MAYO: Robert Hennelly (Breaffy); Tom Cunniffe (Castlebar Mitchels), Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), Chris Barrett (Belmullet); Lee Keegan (Westport), Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe), Colm Boyle (Davitts); Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy), Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy); Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore), Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis), Alan Dillon (Ballintubber); Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber), Alan Freeman (Aghamore), Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen).
And here’s the Dublin team that is named to start:
DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton (Parnells); Philly McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams), Rory O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes), Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna); James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams), Ger Brennan (St Vincents), Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf); Michael D MacAuley (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes); Paul Flynn (Fingallians), Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock), Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincents); Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes), Paddy Andrews (St Brigid’s), Bernard Brogan (St Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh).
As always we’ll let you know of any late pre-match changes. The fitness of Cillian O’Connor the obvious talking point in the Mayo setup while there’s one change on the Dublin team from the semi-final win over Kerry, with Philly McMahon coming in for Kevin O’Brien in defence.
The football to be used in today’s game has just arrived in the stadium via parachute.
Will Cillian O’Connor start today?
The man in the middle this afternoon is Cavan’s Joe McQuillan. The standby referee is Cormac Reilly of Meath with Padraig O’Sullivan of Kerry the other linesman. Sligo’s Michael Duffy is the sideline official.
The pre match parade is underway and we’re moments away from throw-in here in Croke Park. It promises to be a superb occasion.
Scoring chance for Mayo as Donal Vaughan is fouled, Cillian O’Connor will kick the free.
Mayo 0-1 Dublin 0-0: 4 mins – Finally we have the first score of the game and it comes from Andy Moran.
The ball was spilled by both teams before Moran eventually seized it and tapped over a point.
Mayo 0-1 Dublin 0-1: 5 mins – Dublin draw level through Diarmuid Connolly. Bad mistake by Mayo though as they kick away a free in defence straight to the St Vincent’s man who punishes them.
Dublin boss Jim Gavin.
Strong run by Seamus O’Shea for Mayo before he is grounded by Michael Darragh MacAuley.
Another free chance for Cillian O’Connor but he kicks it poorly again and the ball goes wide.
Mayo 0-2 Dublin 0-1: 8 mins – O’Connor atones by setting up Lee Keegan for a neat point.
Mayo 0-3 Dublin 0-1: 9 mins – They take it quickly and spray the ball across where Keith Higgins gathers before pointing.
Dublin struggling to settle in attack as Paul Mannion shoots wildly off his right and the ball goes high and wide.
Mayo break through Andy Moran and Cillian O’Connor. Half a goal chance created but eventually they win a free after Philly McMahon touches the ball on the ground.
Mayo 0-4 Dublin 0-1: 13 mins – And at the third time of asking, Cillian O’Connor is on target with a free to extend Mayo’s advantage.
Dublin chance from a free but Diarmuid Connolly is off target. Paul Mannion looks to be limping in the Dublin attack as well.
Robert Hennelly is coming upfield to hit a free for Mayo after Lee Keegan was fouled.
And Hennelly shoots wide as Dublin bring on Eoghan O’Gara for the injured Mannion.
Mayo 0-4 Dublin 1-1: 16 mins – The stadium erupts as Bernard Brogan finds the net. He got a fist to a high ball ahead of Ger Cafferkey and Robert Hennelly.
Mayo 0-5 Dublin 1-1: 17 mins - Mayo respond impressively through Seamus O’Shea as he points to put them back in front. Ciaran Kilkenny then misses a good chance to tie the teams.
Paul Flynn delivered in that pass for Brogan’s goal. Mayo will be unhappy with their defending but it’s a big boost for Dublin.
Another scoring chance for Mayo but Kevin McLoughlin’s effort goes wide. Mistakes on both sides so far, the standard has not been extremely high to date.
Mayo 0-6 Dublin 1-1: 20 mins – Mayo cause problems for the Dublin defence through Alan Freeman as he gathers Tom Cunniffe’s pass before being fouled. Simple task for Cillian O’Connor to tap over the 20-yard free.
Mayo 0-7 Dublin 1-1: 22 mins – More good attacking play from Mayo as Seamus O’Shea feeds Lee Keegan and he kicks over a point confidently.
Mayo really should be further ahead with Kevin McLoughlin wasting their latest chance.
Mayo 0-7 Dublin 1-2: 24 mins – Dublin living off scraps but they grab a point through Bernard Brogan. Earlier Ciaran Kilkenny saw his goal bound effort stopped by Robert Hennelly.
Mayo 0-8 Dublin 1-2: 26 mins – Fine score by Andy Moran from Mayo after a patient and well-worked move. Ciaran Kilkenny had under hit his shot at the other end moments previously with Hennelly catching the ball under the crossbar and instigating a counter-attack.
Mayo 0-8 Dublin 1-3: 28 mins – Stephen Cluxton rifles over a ’45 for Dublin after MacAuley’s goalbound strike was deflected away by Hennelly.
Chances missed on both sides from Dublin’s Paddy Andrews and Mayo’s Cillian O’Connor.
Ger Brennan the latest to try to score for Dublin as he charges upfield but shoots wide from a difficult angle.
Ger Cafferkey is playing very well at the back for Mayo in keeping tabs on Bernard Brogan.
Mayo 0-8 Dublin 1-4: 35 mins – Eoghan O’Gara provides some scoring inspiration for Dublin as he fists over from close range.
Half-Time: Mayo 0-8 Dublin 1-4: And that’s how it stands at the break with Mayo narrowly in front.
Not the greatest game of football so far. It’s tight, tense and interesting though. Mayo will feel they should be further ahead, they have squandered several chances in front of goal. Dublin staying in touch thanks to Bernard Brogan’s goal.
Substitutions at half-time with Darren Daly on for Jack McCaffrey on the Dublin team while Cathal Carolan replaces Tom Cunniffe for Mayo. That sees Keith Higgins go back to the defence for Mayo.
Mayo 0-8 Dublin 1-5: 37 mins – Cian O’Sullivan ties the match with a point for Dublin.
Dublin 1-6 Mayo 0-8: 38 mins – Dublin hit the front through an Eoghan O’Gara point but the result could have been greater, only for Robert Hennelly to brilliantly tip the ball over the bar.
Dublin 1-7 Mayo 0-9: 44 mins – Great poise and balance shown by Paddy Andrews before he points neatly off his right foot for Dublin.
Both teams continuing to make simple mistakes with the ball in hand as Dublin continue to narrowly lead.
Dublin 1-8 Mayo 0-9: 45 mins – Now Dublin have stretched that lead with Paul Flynn clipping over a lovely point.
Dublin 1-9 Mayo 0-9: 48 mins – Dublin are working scores that bit better. Dean Rock and Bernard Brogan combine for Brogan to shoot over a stylish score.
Mayo finding it harder to punch holes in the Dublin rearguard this half. Kevin McManamon is on for Paddy Andrews in the Dublin team.
Mayo 1-9 Dublin 1-9: 50 mins – What a boost for Mayo. Colm Boyle pumps in a high ball that Moran broke down for Michael Conroy, he was fed the ball back and Moran sidestepped the advance Stephen Cluxton to roll the ball into the net.
Johnny Cooper is coming off injured in the Dublin team. Looks like Denis Bastick will replace him.
Dublin 2-9 Mayo 1-9: 54 mins – Dublin hit the front as they create an overlap through Michael Darragh MacAuley, Denis Bastick and finally it is Brogan who palms the ball to the net.
Mayo respond and attack through Kevin McLoughlin who plays in Andy Moran before the Mayo captain is fouled. Free in.
Dublin 2-10 Mayo 1-10: 57 mins – Dublin raise a white flag at the other end through a Bernard Brogan free.
Lee Keegan with a point chance for Mayo but his shot drops short and Stephen Cluxton collects the ball.
Dublin 2-11 Mayo 1-11: 64 mins – Ger Brennan kicks over a great point for Dublin off his right.
Aidan O’Shea is fouled for Mayo and dissent by Bernard Brogan sees the ball brought forward to within scoreable range.
Kevin McManamon is fouled and Dublin will have a chance to point the free through Stephen Cluxton.
For the second time in three years, Sam Maguire has been won by the team from the capital by a one-point margin.
But it’s heartbreak again for Mayo for the second successive year on All-Ireland final day.
Croke Park looks great. Two great teams. One of the best sporting events in the world.
2 wides already. All over Mayo, weary mammies are unwrapping bedsheets.
Never thought I’d say it, but up mayo from a Galway man
Up the Dubs – all the way from Johannesburg
Up the Dubs, from Florida xxx
Up the Dubs, all the way from sunny Wexford!
Up the Dubs! All the way from Vermont USA.
C’mon Dublin
The Hill is quite full and at least half of the fans there are from Mayo. Big psychological plus for Mayo.
The usual crowd that would be on the hill are in the pub waiting for the United match..
Dave, nothing wrong loving all sport
United who ??? COYBIB
I’d walk a hundred miles over tvs showing my favorite soccer team to be at an all Ireland where my county is involved..as a neutral I couldnt be more excited about this game, 2 brilliant teams playing real stylish football..should be fantastic
If Mayo win, I’ll eat a bucket of turf.
Prepare to eat turf lol
Better than your ma.
Oh the green and red of mayo…I can see it still, it’s soft and craggy borders, tall majestic hills! Up Mayo!!
great Dublin win really sickened by mayo whingers they delayed last years semi=
Poor game guys! I expected better
Looks like Dublin are going a bit more defensive
Mayo bringing in their 5 th sub, Enda Kenny to see if even he can hold a referendum to get the result changed in his favour
Hi guys I’m living in Sydney the past 8 years would love to know how the hell tv 3 have the minor I used to love listing to the Irish commentary each year I hear this is the same channel that brings exposé
TV3 showed the minor match with English commentary. Their sister channel, 3e, showed it with commentary as Gaeilge.
Come on the dubs, wipe that silly smirk of Kenny’s face , at lest for today
Politics? Really?
Liam, just kenny,
Congrats to the Dubs – they were the better team. O ‘ Connor kicking the 2 late frees over when Mayo needed a goal was incomprehensible. From a neutral point of view, one of the worst all Ireland finals in recent times.
Hill 16 for the dubs me arse
Bit of a farce majority of counties refused to sell tickets to dublin supporters but hadn’t an issue to sell to mayo.
Anyone but dublin mentality around the country. Sad to see , especially as the Dubs would have the strongest support and generate the higest revenue which year on year funds grassroots GAA across the Isle
It’s time the GAA adopted the same policies as other sporting bodies , show your Stubbs form previous games before you can buy an All Ireland final ticket, in that way the real fans get a ticket and what’s left over is up for grabs then…
Mayo were in the minor final too so should get more tickets
So we should all support Dublin for the benifit of our local GAA clubs? If Dublin hadn’t won in ’11 it’d be marginally different. People would rather see the look on Mayo players faces after 62 years than a Dub’s, its mainly the romance factor.
Better team on the day but from a neutral a bad game and awful cynical shit from the dubs and u can’t disagree with that
fantastic sporting occasion.dont care who wins as long as we get a great football spectacle.ok so up mayo!!!from a kerry woman
Awful final, awful football, and why the hell did Mayo take a point for the last free?
Great crowd in already, even from Dublin, and its only 2.30
I heard that,on the tickets allocated to the dubs the match time was down as 2:30 to ensure they’d make it there on time
Dublin were the better team in the second half but some disgusting play from Dublin in the last 15 mins. Beyond cynical.
Fully agree frankie. Am a dub fan but I hope all the critics of Tyrone earlier in the season will be equally critical of dublins behaviour in last 10-15, pulling dragging and pretending to be injured non stop! Saw a dub player staying down a whole minute holding face and he had been grabbed around the shoulder ! Disgusting stuff
The commentary is even worse than the game. They don’t have a clue.
Football’s the winner they said. Should be a cracker they said. Honestly think Mayo have missed an opportunity here.
Did Killian o Connors last free just sum it up , spoke to the ref, knew ’twas the last kick of the game and taps it over the bar , happy to be beaten by a point. Now Michael Meehan might have found it difficult to goal from there, but I guarentee he would have tried . PS how that o’ Gara wasn’t sent off defies logic . He kicked three different Mayo players as they lay on the ground. , before he got his yellow, sad to see the like of him with an all Ireland medal .
Huge Mayo crowd in da house. There’ll be a lot of cows go without milking in the county this evening.
Poor game. Dublin the better team on the day. Mayo were awful again in a final. If you dream of winning an All Ireland, the team to play is Mayo.
The ref should changed his gersy for Mayo despite him The dubs won fair & square
Is it just me or is this an absolutely rubbish match. At least the hurling’s been good, hon the Banner.
Diarmuid Connolly up to his usual tricks.
For sure, playing dirty
Some very poor finishing from both teams , it’s going to go down to the team that gets their aim sorted ..
Yep Mayo should be out of sight. Expect dubs to win second half
Ref v.hard on Dublin
Maybe he’s just happy to see them.
Fair play to the dubs,they won ugly but a win is a win
This is pish. Too many wides.
God dublin are muck.
Back to the bog with your ham an no Sam lol
Back in your box thick.
Back to the alley for your fix
Corinna, lol, from a dub, cheeky mare
I’m from Dublin too originally lol
Ah Cor, only a dub could be that quick lol
Expect ref to be named on some board or other early next week.
Hard luck mayo, kenny ha ha your grin is gone for now boy
Dublin motering now! Jesus the mayo forwards are brutal! Plus the build up play is so pedestrian
Disappointing so far. Hopin for a better second half….
Mayo bottled it Dublin benefited from poor opponents.
Quite true. Not the classic we expected.
C’mon Mayo
A lot of nerves so far, scoring chances being squandered by both teams
Poor Mayo performance. They didn’t even get off the bus! Yet again they fall at the final hurdle.
Mayo encased in carbonite for another year as the blue Death Star prevails
We have to start playing as dirty as the Dubs play in the future or we’ll never win
You did. Last year in the semi. Swings and roundabouts.
That dirt has no place in the game
Sitting in the garden enjoying the fantastic autumn sunshine & tracking the match on the journal. Though I can tell from the neighbours cheers who has scored before the app is refreshed!!
Watching it on the radio in Canada ha ha
no tv coverage what an exciting game 4 minutes to go up by 2 points go dubs go
Did Aidan O’Shea get to croke park today????
Gutted – cant get game anywhere in Istanbul but thanks journal for keeping us up to date…
Terrible game,poor year for the gaa
Its no classic Jonesy
You mean poor year for football. Hurling year has been unreal.
Will Mayo warm up into the Hill?!
Brendan Connell. Perth, Western Australia.
T’is going to be a great day for Mayo, Mayo by 2 points.
Hahahaha coybib
When is the Journal going to fix the app for iOS 7?
where was mortimer, he would have won ye two all irelands, every county has to pick best players, else ye get the forwards ye deserve
Mayos forwards need to step up to the mark. Not in the game at all.
That’s more like it lads!
Come on Dublin !!!!!
Mayo paying for their first half profligacy
We will let you’s have it nxt year
Andy Moran needs a bike lol
If the dubs win this, I shan’t be getting a taxi in our capital city for some time
anyone know how to see the game on line? I’m in New York and have doing my head in trying to find it :(
I’m in Florida and in the same boat, can only get it on RTE radio app
First goal Dublin got was a horrible blunder by the keeper. Mayo were well on top at that stage. Dublin went on from there to win comfortably in the end.
Finally, Dublin were very cynical in the last ten minutes, constantly fouling. Pat Spillane was right in the end Mayos forwards let them down. But hey Dublin are All Ireland champions and that is what matters in the end.
Dubs getting in a rhythm now…mayo struggling somewhat….
Poor game.. the dubs need to up their game 2nd half…