Mayo will never, ever go away.
It’s been a tough few weeks for the men of the west. Galway gave them a lesson in their own back yard first, and then Dublin gave them a clipping in Croke Park.
The League was going well up to then, but was it all too easy for them from Cavan, Roscommon and Tyrone?
Mayo 1-10 Kerry 0-11
But just when you think about worrying that Mayo may be slipping – they come roaring back in your face as if they’re laughing at you for doubting them in the first place.
These lads are made of stern stuff.
David Clarke wants the roof up pic.twitter.com/wfkzCwYIcS
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 16, 2019
Kerry in Tralee, it’s like walking into the lion’s den but Mayo lads live for a challenge like this.
In their new alternate kit, the men from the west began like men on a mission against a gale force breeze in a wide open Austin Stack Park.
The old dog for the hard road Kevin McLoughlin popped up with a pair of early scores while that man Matthew Ruane – one of the finds of this year’s League, kicked a solo effort of his own.
Kerry on the other hand, were off colour. Even Sean O’Shea was dropping balls short while one of the players of the League Dara Moynihan kicked a few uncharacteristic wides.
Eventually, normality was restored when Sean O’Shea steadied the ship with a wonder score, but even though the Kingdom went into the break with a three point lead, you felt that Mayo had more to give.
This lad is one of the best kickers in the landpic.twitter.com/fdmKFO1owH
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) March 16, 2019
That was exactly how it panned out in the second.
Aidan O’Shea started the half like a man possessed, Jason Doherty kept doing what he was doing – from placed balls and from frees – while Fionn McDonagh chipped in with a fine score too.
Diarmuid O’Connor raised a trademark hard earned white flag before the energetic Fergal Boland drew them level with a fist.
Chris Barrett’s block on 60 minutes epitomised a gutsy Mayo performance and a couple of minutes later, it was fitting that one of the men of the match Matthew Ruane struck the telling blow with a coolly slotted goal.
Chris Barrett of @MayoGAA with a superb block. It could prove decisive. pic.twitter.com/a5weJdMstA
— The GAA (@officialgaa) March 16, 2019
Look at that for composure.
Matthew Ruane of @MayoGAA keeps his composure to slot home a vital goal. pic.twitter.com/JWvP1TzW44
— The GAA (@officialgaa) March 16, 2019
There’s life in Mayo yet.
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