Dublin goals dump out Mayo to tee-up Kerry final
By Rob Mulhern
Last Updated: 06/09/15 12:03pm
Dublin hit two goals in two second-half minutes to break Mayo hearts and set up an All-Ireland SFC final date against Kerry on a 3-15 to 1-14 scoreline.
The showdown with Kerry looked unlikely before Bernard Brogan's out-stretched leg steered home a Brian Fenton misfire.
Minutes beforehand Cillian O'Connor and Andy Moran had combined brilliantly for O'Connor to score a goal that was all composure and when Patrick Durcan put the Westerners four points clear, the light appeared to be fading fast on Dublin.
But that Brogan goal re-fixed focus, and within seconds he was bearing down on Rob Hennelly only for the ball to slip soap-like into the path of Philly McMahon, who beat the Mayo stopper to bundle over the line.
Mayo's resolve – so celebrated last week – could not weather these blows as Dublin pushed clear, energised and now unstoppable.
When Kevin McManamon buried an almost trademark effort to the roof of the net, Dublin were coasting and a team transformed from that which looked second best to Mayo only minutes earlier.
For the Westerners, the goals were the cruelest one-two that left them just about standing.
The first half saw both sides exchange sublime points with Dublin's Paddy Andrews at times imperious. He assumed a leading role with Diarmuid Connolly's late night appeal laying him low.
Andrews finished with 0-5 and formed a decent double act with Ciaran Kilkenny, before Brogan and McManamon jumped in to score with those devastating straight rights.
Up until then, the O'Connors, Cian and Diarmuid, had performed brilliantly, kicking long scores, turning over key possessions and executing the kind of composed plays that Mayo struggled to unearth in the drawn game.
When Seamus O'Shea was black carded for reacting to a barging challenge from Johnny Cooper, it felt like a pivotal moment in a contest pulled so tight.
But if anything the arrival of Andy Moran – who entered for O'Shea – sparked a Mayo surge.
Then, with victory in their sights, Dublin regrouped, sparked by the arrival of Alan Brogan.
He was involved in the play that led to his brother's goal and that shot of energy and the second hit from McMahon sucked the life out of Mayo.
Dublin: S Cluxton; P McMahon (1-2), R O'Carroll, J Cooper; J McCarthy (0-1), C O'Sullivan, J McCaffrey; B Fenton (0-1), D Bastick; P Flynn, D Connolly, C Kilkenny (0-2); B Brogan (1-1), P Andrews (0-5), D Rock (0-2, 2f).
Subs: MD Macauley for Bastick, M Fitzsimons for Cooper, A Brogan for Flynn, K McManamon (1-1) for Rock, E Lowndes for Connolly, J Small for B Brogan.
Mayo: R Hennelly; K Higgins, G Cafferkey, C Barrett; D Vaughan, L Keegan (0-1), C Boyle; T Parsons, B Moran (0-1); D O'Connor (0-2), S O'Shea, K McLoughlin (0-1); J Doherty, C O'Connor (1-6, 5f), A O'Shea (0-1).
Subs: P Durcan (0-1) for Vaughan, A Moran (0-1, 1f) for S O'Shea (black card), D Drake for Boyle, S Coen for Parsons, M Ronaldson for McLoughlin.
Ref: E Kinsella (Laois).
