https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2023/05/24/darragh-o-se-kerry-need-major-reconstructive-surgery-to-deny-cork-redemption/The way Kerry played lacked any cohesion. They weren’t just a little bit off it. They were well off it. Second to everything, right from the bloody throw-in.
There were so many telltale signs, all over the field. Early on Jack Barry was dispossessed and he looked at the referee, as if asking for some sympathy. That’s not the answer. The answer is to win the next ball, be every bit as aggressive, if not more so. There were a few more of those moments throughout the game.
Sizing up any team, in any proper championship match like that, you need nine or 10 of your players to perform close to their best to get over the line. Mayo had at least that many. Realistically, Kerry only had three or four. Shane Ryan, the Clifford brothers, and maybe Paul Geaney in the second half.
Kerry were expecting things to happen, Mayo made things happen. If you took out David Clifford, Paudie too, Kerry could have lost by 10 or 12 points. Easily. That’s why you’d have to compliment David, again. When Kerry really needed the goals, he had three successive shots for goals.
Someone asked me was he selfish? He absolutely wasn’t selfish. Kerry needed someone to bring them back into the game, he was single-handedly trying to do that. Had he got one of those goals, Kerry might just have got back into it.
Mayo were by far the better team, even though that didn’t show on the scoreboard. Now, they aren’t the finished article yet. They still have some flaws. It’s certainly not the same old Mayo, and the goal they eventually got, from Eoghan McLaughlin, was excellently taken. If Mayo were properly clinical, they should have had two or three goals well before that.
The chances they did get were left behind. I don’t think they were as decisive as Dublin would be, given those same chances. Or even Galway, for that matter.
Mayo’s point-taking was exceptional. They’ve obviously done a lot of work on kicking from distance. Then again there was no great heat on them when kicking either, another big let-down from a Kerry point of view.
Mayo are also enjoying their football, you can see that. Kevin McStay is knocking a great tune out of them.
