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House of Pain: Mayo's defeats to Kerry in Croke Park

Mayo’s losing record to the Kingdom goes all the way back to 1997.

NOT ONLY HAVE Mayo the so-called ‘Curse of 51′ hanging over them as they attempt to wrest the All-Ireland title off the Dubs, but they’ve another monkey to shake off their backs if they are to even reach the All-Ireland final.

While they appear to be a different animal under James Horan these days, Mayo head into Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final with a desperately poor record against Kerry in the championship.

Victory was last achieved against the Kingdom on a big day in Croke Park in 1996 when a 40-metre lobbed goal from Horan himself in the dying seconds sealed victory for John Maughan’s men.

Five times since then Mayo have met Kerry in the championship and five times they’ve been beaten. We’ve had a closer look at those painful days…

Aidan O'Shea with Tomas O'Se Tomas Ó Sé powers past Aidan O'Shea in the 2011 All-Ireland semi-final. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

2011 All-Ireland semi-final, Kerry 1-20 Mayo 1-11

A magical showing by Colm Cooper proved to be the difference between Mayo and Kerry as Jack O’Connor’s men booked their place in the All-Ireland final with a 1-20 to 1-11 win. Cooper gave one of the all-time great displays in Croke Park, taking Tom Cunniffe to the cleaners with a devastating 1-7.

Mayo could have no complaints after they stayed with a vastly more experienced Kerry outfit for long periods before Paul Galvin’s introduction in the second-half proved pivotal.

A stunning individual goal by Cooper in the final quarter sent Kerry eight 1-16 to 1-8 in front and while Mayo had a couple of goal chances at the other end, they couldn’t capitalise on them.

2006 All-Ireland final, Kerry 4-15 Mayo 3-5

The tale of woe continued for the eternal bridesmaids of the GAA when Mayo fell victim to a Kerry masterclass to keep their 55-year famine well and truly underway.

Quite possibly the biggest disaster of them all, Mayo inexplicably fell 2-4 to no score behind just 13 minutes in. Kerry went in just six points in front at the interval (3-8 to 3-2), largely due to a minute of madness just before half-time when Pat Harte and veteran Kevin O’Neill found the Kingdom net.

But Mayo failed to score from play in the second-half of a game where Conor Mortimer, Ciaran McDonald and Alan Dillon failed to register a score from play. Kerry ran out 13 point winners in the end.

Colm Cooper 7/8/2005 Colm Cooper goes past his man in the 2005 quarter-final. INPHO INPHO

2005 All-Ireland quarter-final – Kerry 2-15 Mayo 0-18

Mayo gave it a good rattle in the 2005 quarter final, but another rout looked on the cards after just five minutes when Cooper finished a delightful goal and four minutes later Mike Frank Russell was dragged down for a penalty.

But Darragh Ó Cinnéide struck the resultant spot-kick wide and Mayo fought their way back into the match, with Ciaran McDonald providing an effective target in the full-forward line.

The sides were level (Mayo 0-10 Kerry 1-7) during the early stages of the second half but any Mayo hope was soon dashed. Darragh Ó Sé scored a fortuitous goal which bounced off his chest and knee after James Nallen spilled Cooper’s sideline, and sub Paul Galvin rattled off three quick-fire scores to send the Kingdom eight in front.

Mayo kept battling and five unanswered points brought them back to within three before time ran out.

2004 All-Ireland final – Kerry 1-20 Mayo 2-9

Croke Park was one-third empty by the time Pat McEnaney called full-time on this one. Mayo’s first All-Ireland disaster of the decade was as good as wrapped up after 25 minutes, when Kerry raced into a 1-11 to 0-3 lead.

Even without the injured Darragh Ó Sé, the Kingdom controlled midfield through Eoin Brosnan and William Kirby while their defence completely stiffled the Mortimer brothers. McDonald was starved of possession in attack, and ended up venturing too far outfield to cause Kerry any real problems.

Despite a goal apiece from Alan Dillon and sub Michael Conroy, Kerry’s defensive locks kept Mayo’s attack sufficiently under wraps. Meanwhile, a fresh-faced 21-year-old Colm Cooper kicked 1-4 in a rip-roaring display, as Kerry raced to the highest ever tally scored by a side in an All-Ireland final since 1978.

Dara O'Se and Pat Fallon 1997 Darragh Ó Sé and Pat Fallon contest a kick-out in the 1997 decider. INPHO INPHO

1997 All-Ireland final – Kerry 0-13 Mayo 1-7

Maurice Fitzgerald confirmed his place among the game’s elite in the 1997 decider, scoring 0-9 of Kerry’s 0-13 in a breathtaking display as they put an end to 11 years without an All-Ireland title.

Mayo were five behind at the break but McDonald converted a second-half penalty which helped them get within the minimum, before Fitzgerald’s final two scores sealed the victory.

‘It’s the only prize’ – James O’Donoghue has sympathy for Mayo after All-Ireland defeats

‘I can’t be compared with Tomás Ó Sé until I do what he’s done’ – Lee Keegan

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