Retirements

[sid waddell]

I respectfully disagree. Small may not have been given a second yellow. Big game-  All Ireland final.  Refs had previously omitted to issue cards to Dublin players in big games. John McCarthy hit to the head of the same Donal Vaughan in 2016 replay. No card. Vaughan had to leave the field which had a significant impact on the game. John Small hand trip on Andy Moran same game. Play waved on. No black card. Same again 2020 final Fitzsimons hit to Keegan's chest. Should have been at least yellow and a 14 yard free. Play waved on. Many other incidents. Dublin players know this unwritten rule exists.

James McCarthy on Vaughan in 2016 was incidental, it wasn't intentional

Small was definitely going, McQuillan was already coming in with his notebook in hand

[From the Bunker]

Making a big decision against Dublin has become hugely pressurised for Referees in these big games. There has also been some crazy phantom frees like the one in 2017 where two Dublin players ran into each other and won a free just before half time.

[Mayo Border]

Small was definitely going, McQuillan was already coming in with his notebook in hand

Bullshyte Sid. Vaughn's reaction on Small was immediately after Small poleaxed Colm Boyle. It was instantaneous. No ref's notebook. McQuillan was delighted as it took him out of tomorrow's headlines.

[sid waddell]

Making a big decision against Dublin has become hugely pressurised for Referees in these big games. There has also been some crazy phantom frees like the one in 2017 where two Dublin players ran into each other and won a free just before half time.

The real big decision that went against Mayo in 2017 was the penalty one on Keegan, which should been given as a penalty, not an ordinary free

If O'Connor had slotted it they would have been four points up not two after 62/63 minutes, the Mayo crowd would have been going buck ape and it would have been very difficult indeed for Dublin to come back

[sid waddell]

Bullshyte Sid. Vaughn's reaction on Small was immediately after Small poleaxed Colm Boyle. It was instantaneous. No ref's notebook. McQuillan was delighted as it took him out of tomorrow's headlines.

I watched it a minute ago

McQuillan was coming in, Vaughan did it just as McQuillan came into camera shot, he already had his notebook out

Small was going whatever happened, he had already been booked

[dublin7]

Bullshyte Sid. Vaughn's reaction on Small was immediately after Small poleaxed Colm Boyle. It was instantaneous. No ref's notebook. McQuillan was delighted as it took him out of tomorrow's headlines.

I watched it a minute ago

McQuillan was coming in, Vaughan did it just as McQuillan came into camera shot, he already had his notebook out

Small was going whatever happened, he had already been booked

Absolutely. Small was gone. Aidan O'Shea tries to stop Vaughan as he can see what's about to happen but he can't get there in time. Even as Small is going off he's looking at the ref not to complain but praying Vaughan is going to walk as well

[From the Bunker]

Making a big decision against Dublin has become hugely pressurised for Referees in these big games. There has also been some crazy phantom frees like the one in 2017 where two Dublin players ran into each other and won a free just before half time.

The real big decision that went against Mayo in 2017 was the penalty one on Keegan, which should been given as a penalty, not an ordinary free

If O'Connor had slotted it they would have been four points up not two after 62/63 minutes, the Mayo crowd would have been going buck ape and it would have been very difficult indeed for Dublin to come back

When you get a free for nothing! Not a Mayo player in sight, in a tight game, you know it's your day. You need to get them breaks on the big day! And it's not often you get those in an away fixture. This is all water under the bridge, means little or nothing. Won't have to be worrying about those calls anymore!

[reillycavan]

Making a big decision against Dublin has become hugely pressurised for Referees in these big games. There has also been some crazy phantom frees like the one in 2017 where two Dublin players ran into each other and won a free just before half time.

The real big decision that went against Mayo in 2017 was the penalty one on Keegan, which should been given as a penalty, not an ordinary free

If O'Connor had slotted it they would have been four points up not two after 62/63 minutes, the Mayo crowd would have been going buck ape and it would have been very difficult indeed for Dublin to come back

When you get a free for nothing! Not a Mayo player in sight, in a tight game, you know it's your day. You need to get them breaks on the big day! And it's not often you get those in an away fixture. This is all water under the bridge, means little or nothing. Won't have to be worrying about those calls anymore!

To be fair Dublin Joe gave Mayo a handy free to put them ahead  . Cillian O'Connor hit the post

[From the Bunker]

Making a big decision against Dublin has become hugely pressurised for Referees in these big games. There has also been some crazy phantom frees like the one in 2017 where two Dublin players ran into each other and won a free just before half time.

The real big decision that went against Mayo in 2017 was the penalty one on Keegan, which should been given as a penalty, not an ordinary free

If O'Connor had slotted it they would have been four points up not two after 62/63 minutes, the Mayo crowd would have been going buck ape and it would have been very difficult indeed for Dublin to come back

When you get a free for nothing! Not a Mayo player in sight, in a tight game, you know it's your day. You need to get them breaks on the big day! And it's not often you get those in an away fixture. This is all water under the bridge, means little or nothing. Won't have to be worrying about those calls anymore!

To be fair Dublin Joe gave Mayo a handy free to put them ahead  . Cillian O'Connor hit the post

Fitzsimmons held COC arm as far as i can remember.  There was 6 minutes left after COC's attempt. People forget Connolly and Bernard Brogan missed great chances in between COC missed free and Rocks winning point.

Nobody talks of COC's good point from play to level the game coming into the home stretch.

Nobody talks Brogan and Connollys misses and about their character because Dublin won.

Thems the breaks, Dublin the better team on all occasions - the scoreboard does not lie.

There is no chance of us having those disappointments anymore. It's almost a relief.

[Angelo]

I respectfully disagree. Small may not have been given a second yellow. Big game-  All Ireland final.  Refs had previously omitted to issue cards to Dublin players in big games. John McCarthy hit to the head of the same Donal Vaughan in 2016 replay. No card. Vaughan had to leave the field which had a significant impact on the game. John Small hand trip on Andy Moran same game. Play waved on. No black card. Same again 2020 final Fitzsimons hit to Keegan's chest. Should have been at least yellow and a 14 yard free. Play waved on. Many other incidents. Dublin players know this unwritten rule exists.

It was a certain red card. I think everyone knew Small was off, the referee was motioning over to him and Vaughan gave the referee the option to even things up which he took gleefully.

Small had to go, it would be scandalous if he didn't. Vaughan's was a lot more of a grey area, I firmly believe that there is no way that the ref would have sent Vaughan off had he not just sent off a Dublin player.

[From the Bunker]

I respectfully disagree. Small may not have been given a second yellow. Big game-  All Ireland final.  Refs had previously omitted to issue cards to Dublin players in big games. John McCarthy hit to the head of the same Donal Vaughan in 2016 replay. No card. Vaughan had to leave the field which had a significant impact on the game. John Small hand trip on Andy Moran same game. Play waved on. No black card. Same again 2020 final Fitzsimons hit to Keegan's chest. Should have been at least yellow and a 14 yard free. Play waved on. Many other incidents. Dublin players know this unwritten rule exists.

It was a certain red card. I think everyone knew Small was off, the referee was motioning over to him and Vaughan gave the referee the option to even things up which he took gleefully.

Small had to go, it would be scandalous if he didn't. Vaughan's was a lot more of a grey area, I firmly believe that there is no way that the ref would have sent Vaughan off had he not just sent off a Dublin player.

100%

[GetOverTheBar]

Was always a great fan of the 'old' Mayo guard. Donie Vaughan certainly was one of those.

Hopefully history remembers him for the great player he was. Something about those Mayo lads, that spirit they had after all the set backs is special.

[MayoBuck]

David Clarke retired too! 

[Crete Boom]

David Clarke retired too! 

Sad to see Clarkie go, probably our greatest ever keeper and it is no accident that Ger Caff and Brendan Harrison won their All Stars with Clarkie between the sticks. I am not as worried about his inevitable exit as I was a couple of years ago because I think the likes of Luke Jennings, Matthew Flanagan and Colm Reape should insure there isn't much drop off in goalkeeping for Mayo over the next 5 to 10 years.
At least we won't have to be bored to death about the flight/trajectory of his kickouts anymore from the anit Clarke faction in Knockmore Mayo!!

[Angelo]

Making a big decision against Dublin has become hugely pressurised for Referees in these big games. There has also been some crazy phantom frees like the one in 2017 where two Dublin players ran into each other and won a free just before half time.

The real big decision that went against Mayo in 2017 was the penalty one on Keegan, which should been given as a penalty, not an ordinary free

If O'Connor had slotted it they would have been four points up not two after 62/63 minutes, the Mayo crowd would have been going buck ape and it would have been very difficult indeed for Dublin to come back

When you get a free for nothing! Not a Mayo player in sight, in a tight game, you know it's your day. You need to get them breaks on the big day! And it's not often you get those in an away fixture. This is all water under the bridge, means little or nothing. Won't have to be worrying about those calls anymore!

To be fair Dublin Joe gave Mayo a handy free to put them ahead  . Cillian O'Connor hit the post

Fitzsimmons held COC arm as far as i can remember.  There was 6 minutes left after COC's attempt. People forget Connolly and Bernard Brogan missed great chances in between COC missed free and Rocks winning point.

Nobody talks of COC's good point from play to level the game coming into the home stretch.

Nobody talks Brogan and Connollys misses and about their character because Dublin won.

Thems the breaks, Dublin the better team on all occasions - the scoreboard does not lie.

There is no chance of us having those disappointments anymore. It's almost a relief.

If I was a Mayo fan the most contentious one for me was the drawn final.

Cluxton took a short kickout for the final piece of the game and the Dublin defender clearly picked it up off the ground. Think Evan Regan fouled him directly after and injured himself but it should have been a tapover free to win the game with the last kick of the game. The ref blew the final whistle then.