After 75 years of anguish, Mayo are All-Ireland champions for the fourth time.
Here’s how we rated Andy Moran’s men.
1. Jack Livingstone – 7.5
Playing in his first final, the Breaffy shot-stopper can feel slightly let down by his teammates’ inability to reclaim his long kick-outs in the first half. However, he mixed it up as the game went on, and grew into the final, making an important save with the final kick of the game.
2. Jack Coyne – 7.5
The Mayo captain was fortunate not to see yellow for a challenge on Dylan Casey before the break in the only blemish on his card. Used the last of his energy in a remarkable post-game speech.
3. Donnacha McHugh – 8
In spite of David Clifford’s prolific excellence, take nothing away from the Castlebar man. A constant thorn in the side of the Kerry attack.
4. Eoin McGreal – 7
Was part of an impressive defensive performance as Mayo thwarted all of Kerry’s attacking momentum from the opening half hour.
5. Sam Callinan – 8
His running from deep helped Callinan to a deserved fisted point during Mayo’s period of great momentum, and a busy afternoon in total.
6. David McBrien – 7
A composed showing from the centre half back who got Mayo off the mark seven minutes in. Came up with another brilliant moment, the intercept before Mayo’s goal, in a crucial play also.
7. Enda Hession – 7.5
One of the most experienced Mayo men in the squad, Hession was busy on both sides of the ball.
Jack Carney was brilliant in midfield
8. Bob Touhy – 7
Hard working without ever needing to be flashy like his prodigious midfield colleague.
9. Jack Carney – 9
A dominant presence in the middle third, the Kilmeena man kicked a wonderful two-pointer in the opening quarter when the game was slipping away and another to move Mayo five points clear in the third quarter.
24. Diarmuid O’Connor – 7.5
Back in an All-Ireland final despite playing a bench role for most of the championship, O’Connor happy with his outing, covering every blade of grass.
23. Paul Towey – 6
The second of two late replacements, Towey’s afternoon was cut short when called ashore for Tommy Conroy.
Ryan O’Donoghue showed his worth for Mayo
12. Jordan Flynn – 7
Playing on the edge, Flynn forcefully brought the game to Kerry but not everything went his way. Had one great catch in midfield when Mayo hit the ascendency and got a point in his tally too.
Came within inches of a game clinching goal near the end.
13. Darragh Beirne – 8.5
After a nervy start from the youngster, Beirne grew into the game and the UL student’s expertly converted frees came at a time when Mayo hit their purple patch.
Took his goal superbly too,
14. Ryan O’Donoghue – 9
Now the Footballer of the Year frontrunner, O’Donoghue took a while to grow into the final before a stellar two-pointer, into Hill 16. Not long later, he turned over Dylan Casey to put Mayo back within two before the break.
His incredible break from midfield set up Darragh Beirne’s goal and a two-pointer in the second half had the engraver reaching for their template. Scored 0-04, and assisted even more.
15. Kobe McDonald – 8
Marked tightly by Dylan Casey but when he had space and time, the Australia-bound forward was always a handful for the Kingdom. Finished the final with 0-02 to his name.
Substitutes:
Tommy Conroy – 7.5
A bold call when introduced by Andy Moran so soon, Conroy won an early free and came up with the score which brought Mayo back level before the break.
Matthew Ruane – 6
Busy when introduced.
Rory Brickenden – 6
Having been the star of a mistaken identity moment, the Westport man helped Mayo see the contest out.
Conor Loftus – n/a
Named to start but introduced before the hour, Loftus not on long enough to rate.
Paddy Durcan – N/A
Not on long enough to rate.