Senior Footballers Secure Quarter-Final Spot with Thrilling Draw Against Mayo

Image courtesy Conor Ryan 

DUBLIN 0-17

MAYO 0-17

A dramatic last-gasp point from Cormac Costello proved decisive as Dublin confirmed an All-Ireland quarter-final spot when drawing with Mayo in their thrilling encounter at Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon.

The share of the spoils saw both teams finish the group unbeaten on level terms but Dublin’s superior scoring difference sees them advance to the last eight as group winners with Mayo having to satisfy themselves with a home preliminary quarter-final next weekend.

The first-half lacked a fair degree of quality as tension took hold but four Cormac Costello points helped Dublin lead by the bare minimum(0-7 to 0-6)at half-time.

With both teams adapting a far more enterprising approach upon the restart, we were treated to an absorbing second-half, one that saw Ryan O’Donoghue kick Mayo ahead deep into added time, only for Costello to restore parity when fisting over with the last play of the game.

From the first whistle, there was very little to separate the teams as Dublin failed to fully avail of the wind at their backs before they eventually opened the scoring through a Costello free in the 5th minute.

Ryan O’Donoghue restored parity in an instant for Mayo and his free in the 9thminute edgedthe Connacht runners-up into a marginal but deserved early lead.

Their strong running from deep caused a number of problems for the Dublin defence but O’Donoghue was guilty of some rash shooting as Costello levelled matters with his second free in the 12th minute.

The first score from play arrived a minute later as Tommy Conroy’s pace allowed him the chance to fist over Stephen Cluxton’s crossbar but Costello was on hand once again, this time from play, to restore the deadlock with a smart point off his left foot.

An excellent pass from Niall Scully prompted Paddy Small to edge Dublin back in front in the 16th minute but Mayo’s pace down the middle helped yield a levelling score for Stephen Coen two minutes later.

Cluxton’s kick-outs were generally on point with Ciaran Kilkenny a preferred option on his longer restarts as Dublin pushed two points clear by the 20th minute following scores in quick succession by Con O’Callaghan (mark) and Scully.

The Dubs still required Brian Fenton to make a last-ditch block to thwart O’Donoghue but the lively Mayo attacker halved his team’s deficit with his third free of the half in the 26th minute.

An uncharacteristic O’Callaghan wide and a Scully effort that dropped short was reflective of Dublin’s lack of sharpness up front, offering their opponents encouragement as Mayo finished the half strongly.

An Aidan O’Shea free brought the teams level for the fifth occasion in the 33rd minute but Costello ensured that Dublin entered the break with a minimal advantage with another tidy score.

As cagey as the opening-half was, the second-half was the complete opposite in a refreshingly open affair that saw Dublin resume on the front foot through early scores by Seán Bugler, Costello and Colm Basquel.

However, Mayo were equally bright in attack as Conroy, Matthew Ruane and Conor Loftus kicked unanswered points to leave the contest on level terms by the 45th minute.

The introduction of Jack McCaffrey and Paul Mannion brought an added spark to Dublin with the latter excelling in the final quarter and a trademark burst from deep by McCaffrey saw the Dubs edge back in front in the 56th minute.

The lively Conroy replied for Mayo before Dublin almost registered the opening goal of the game in the 59th minute but Eoin Murchan’s shot from Costello’s incisive pass had too much elevation as it clipped Colm Reape’s crossbar before flying over.

A sublime Mannion point pushed Dublin two points clear but Mayo were back on level terms through an O’Donoghue point and a dubious ‘45’ by Reape after McCaffrey had timed his tackle to perfection on Loftus close to goal.

Another call of the generous kind allowed O’Donoghue the chance to inch his team ahead with what looked the game’s decisive score but another McCaffrey burst, following a brilliant catch by Kilkenny, found Costello well placed and he had sufficient composure to fist over, giving a suitably dramatic conclusion to a contest of huge entertainment.

Scorers – Dublin:C Costello 0-7 (3f); C Basquel 0-2; P Small, C O’Callaghan (mark), N Scully, S Bugler, C Kilkenny, J McCaffrey, E Murchan, P Mannion 0-1 apiece.Mayo:R O’Donoghue 0-7 (5f); T Conroy 0-3; M Ruane 0-2; S Coen, A O’Shea (f), J Flynn, C Loftus, C Reape (‘45’) 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: S Cluxton;E Murchan, M Fitzsimons, S MacMahon; B Howard, J Small, S Bugler;B Fenton, T Lahiff; N Scully, C Costello, C Kilkenny; P Small, C O’Callaghan, C Basquel. Subs:K McGinnis for Lahiff (half-time),J McCaffrey for Scully (51), P Mannion for P Small (51), R McGarry for McGinnis (64), J McCarthy for Bugler (67).

Mayo:C Reape;J Coyne, R Brickenden, D McBrien; S Callinan, S Coen, E McLaughlin; M Ruane, D McHugh; J Flynn, D McHale, J Carney; A O’Shea, T Conroy, R O’Donoghue.Subs: C Loftus for McLaughlin (32),C O’Connor for McHale (56), D O’Connor for Coen (59), B Tuohy for Ruane (63), P Towey for Carney (68).

Referee:Martin McNally (Monaghan).