All Ireland Football Final 2017 Mayo V Dublin

[gallsman]

Didn't see the Sunday Game last night or half time analysis, but did anyone explain why the free was given at the end of the first half when the two Dublin players collided and were knocked down?

Because after that and they got up, one of the Mayo lads (possibly Vaughan again) came barging into the back of him and have away a free.

[Main Street]

I think Mayo left that one behind. That goal chance that was kicked straight at Cluxton and the stupid sending off swung it back in Dublins favour. It's those kind of things that would win it for them. I think they set out a good template for how you beat Dublin but you have to get all the small things right.

What about the countless goal chances Dublin missed? I count at least three! Losing teams always get their mistakes highlighted! Vaughan was stupid, but so was Small.

At least Small did it while the ball was in play and not in front of the ref. Stupidest and most costly red card I've seen in my lifetime.

The Armagh ones reckon Diarmuid Marsden's

Vaughans was self inflicted, Marsdens was an absolute disgrace and should never have happened, wouldn't have happened but for a dodgy referee.

I thought Small, suspecting his goose was cooked with a 2nd yellow, milked the contact from Vaughan for all it was worth and simulated being agonizingly hurt as if a hammer  blow had been inflicted. On the replay, the contact from Vaughan looked minimal. Considering the other punishments dished out, Vaughan might have got away with a yellow without the histrionics from Small.
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[befair]

Gutted for Mayo, but they had their chance, just lacked the necessary composure in the 2nd half. Vaughn's moment for madness was pivotal; the winning of the All-Ireland was right there, an easy free, 2 pts up, + an extra man for the last 15 mins........ It's hard to explain for sych an experienced player and a wonderful servant to gaelic football. On viewing the incident, it does seem a red was slightly harsh, + the Dublin footballer milked it, but really the red should have been for sheer stupidity. Also thought the last free was harsh in context of the rest of the ref's decisions
But in the great scheme of things, let not your heart be sad, this Mayo team will be well-remembered when many All-Ireland winners are forgotten

[Denn Forever]

Serious respect to Mayo yesterday. As a Laois man, I would have loved to have seen them winning as the effort they've put in and amount of times they keep coming back deserves a day of glory. It will take something special for a team to rival Dublin over the next 5 years, Mayo showed that with hard work, some good talent and a good gameplan, Dublin are beatable. Gotta hand it to Dublin though, fantastic team and great ambassadors for the GAA. They have set the new standard.

If Kerry can't make something of their four-in-row minors in the next few years it will be a terrible waste of talent.

Cavan haven't set the world alight in Ulster having won their 3 in a row U21 titles

[Rossfan]

If Vaughan had gone about his business he wouldn't have got any card.

[tonto1888]

Small certainly milked it. It was still a red though. You can't be clotheslining people it's not WWE

[Bord na Mona man]

If Vaughan had gone about his business he wouldn't have got any card.

I wonder would McQuillan have issued the 2nd yellow to Small if he didn't have the comfort of being able to red card Vaughan to keep it even?

[seafoid]

Marvelous game after what's been a poor championship with too many drubbings. Was honestly sickened and even a little bitter when Dublin were left standing when the music stopped, but that gave away quickly to admiration for their ability to keep their heads and grind it out, yet again, when Mayo, the only ones who can, put them to the pin of their collar. It's just this Mayo team's misfortune to always have someone a tiny mite better, even as they themselves have improved year on year. Unfortunately, the Dubs only look like they're going to get better next year again and Mayo will have to console themselves with being the second best team of the 2010s and possibly, as has been suggested, the best team to not win an All Ireland.

Donegal were the real deal and they could only win the one Sam. It is exceptionally difficult.

[seafoid]

Don't think the referee impacted that much,  two teams not much between them but Dubin have the confidence of perennial winners while Mayo have the opposite.  That is huge issue to overcome

Great point, Ballyroan. The Dubs are Portlaoise. Mayo are O'Dempseys  . A lot of it is played in the head

[heffo]

Small certainly milked it.

Any feedback on Boyle clutching his face in the same incident?

[GalwayBayBoy]

Colm O'Neill's sending off in 1990 was more stupid, throwing a thump on Mick Lyons in full view of the ref, but it didn't cost Cork victory that day. Couldn't understand what Vaughan was doing, even if he confronted and squared up to him it wouldn't have been an issue,but he was asking for a red with his reaction. Madness.

Another title Mayo have left behind them, when they should have been 4/5 ahead at HT but only 1 it wasn't a good sign. Had Dublin for the taking but couldn't see them off, in fairness to Dublin whatever about all the many valid issues we'd have with them they do know how to get home in tight games, four finals won by a point now. Some going.

It must be so frustrating from a Mayo perspective as to what might have been, even if Vaughan had been ten yards further away etc.

Vaughan must have been 7 or 8 yards away as it was. He had time to think about it before storming in which makes it worse. Even if he had shoved Small hard in the chest he would have got away with a yellow but he clotheslined him around the neck. Once you stray into the neck/head area you are asking for trouble.

[Rudi]

I am sick and Jim Gavin is a miserable p***k.

Out of order. Thought the Dublin management did their best to lose the game with mind blowing selection decisions. In a county full of forward talent how does O Gara make the team? Is it for his size and dirt, he along with Keggan should be facing 3 match bans. The treatment Rock got in the lead up to taking the final free was shocking. The Mayo supporters and 2 nearest players behaved disgracefully. 10 times worse than what poor auld Andy had to endure v Roscommon. Moran had a mighty first half but was tired in the second. Thought overall Mayo were the better side. Sport can be cruel.

[Buckass]

What a game yesterday. It had that feeling from midway thru first half that it was Mayo's day finally. McCaffrey's injury deprived the Dubs of one of their improvements from last year, Doherty and Moran were on fire & Cluxton was all over the shop.
When Connolly, Mannion & McManamon started firing Dubs it looked ominous early on but Mayo responded at right times in right fashion. What a goal by Keegan! Right up with Galway in 98 for a team score.
Vaughan's attack on Small was baffling...why o why? When game came down the straight O'Sullivan and McCarthy and others grew while Mayo unfortunately shrank. 'Dublin' Joe didn't fit his nickname with the softest of soft frees on 70 mins for Mayo to go one up but Cillian was unfortunate. He and A O'Shea were average on a day when others, especially Barrett, were exceptional. Barrett's outstretched arm resulted in an obvious free in & thought Rock, especially given fact he must've been odds-on to be subbed after 10 minutes was coolness personified, GPS or no.
Mayo just hadn't enough to see it out. Like the semi against Kerry, when granted they were down to 14, they were out on their feet & waiting for the whistle rather than driving on. A poor Kerry had goal chances that day that Clarke & Boyle thwarted. You'd wonder if Rochford sees only 50 mins in Boyle, Moran & McLoughlin would he not be better served starting the runners who won't win it for you and bring on the quality 20 mins in?
It was heartbreak for Mayo, but blaming McQuillan isn't way to go here.

[bucko]

Congrats to Dublin on the win, three in a row is some achievement, no doubt about it. As for ourselves, deep disappointment on another opportunity gone. Probably more so than other years, sure as hell it doesn't get easier. Especially when we seemed to get so much right on the day yet couldn't see it over the line. For me the one crucial difference between the teams on the day was composure, we had three moments in that game were if the head had been kept we'd be champions today. Vaughan's rush of blood to the head is the obvious one, a gimme free in front of the posts and an extra man advantage blown in a moment of madness. O'Connor hitting the upright which would have put us into a one point lead coming into injury time was the other obvious moment. The third was Chris Barrett's wild leap at a long ball that he missed and ended up sprawled on the turf while Dean Rock raced away in on goal which, luckily for us he chose to fist over. Just three moments which in tight game like yesterday where a bit of composure can make a massive difference, Dean Rock's winning free being a prime example. Limitations of our bench exposed yesterday also, DOC the only one who made any notable contribution and I am at the point of tearing my hair out seeing David Drake come on as I just do not see what he offers. As things look outside of our first 16 we don't appear to have many options up to the standard required, which makes coming back again next year harder and doesn't bode well in the longer term either.

[magpie seanie]

What a game yesterday. It had that feeling from midway thru first half that it was Mayo's day finally. McCaffrey's injury deprived the Dubs of one of their improvements from last year, Doherty and Moran were on fire & Cluxton was all over the shop.
When Connolly, Mannion & McManamon started firing Dubs it looked ominous early on but Mayo responded at right times in right fashion. What a goal by Keegan! Right up with Galway in 98 for a team score.
Vaughan's attack on Small was baffling...why o why? When game came down the straight O'Sullivan and McCarthy and others grew while Mayo unfortunately shrank. 'Dublin' Joe didn't fit his nickname with the softest of soft frees on 70 mins for Mayo to go one up but Cillian was unfortunate. He and A O'Shea were average on a day when others, especially Barrett, were exceptional. Barrett's outstretched arm resulted in an obvious free in & thought Rock, especially given fact he must've been odds-on to be subbed after 10 minutes was coolness personified, GPS or no.
Mayo just hadn't enough to see it out. Like the semi against Kerry, when granted they were down to 14, they were out on their feet & waiting for the whistle rather than driving on. A poor Kerry had goal chances that day that Clarke & Boyle thwarted. You'd wonder if Rochford sees only 50 mins in Boyle, Moran & McLoughlin would he not be better served starting the runners who won't win it for you and bring on the quality 20 mins in?
It was heartbreak for Mayo, but blaming McQuillan isn't way to go here.

Good post.