Mayo dominated the early stages of today's semi final against Kerry, with the Kingdom looking oddly spooked in the early stages.
One of the issues for Kerry was the misfiring of their kick-outs: Mayo have pushed right up on Brian Kelly's kick outs, and as a result, his restarts have gone awry.
He was penalised by referee David Gough for taking one too short, but the worst of all came before that. Kelly, in a bewildering decision, took a kick out to his right...and put it out over his line for a 45.
Kelly has struggled: he was caught napping on his line for Diarmuid O'Connor's goal. Here's the amazed reaction among the GAA world:
The last time I saw that happening, there was a galeforce wind blowing into the face of the young kid taking the kid out . . .
— John Greene (@johnjgreene) August 26, 2017
Lord God All-Mighty Football is Fucked. When you see the Kerry Goalie kick the ball out back over his own endline for a 45
— Buff Egan 🇺🇦 (@buff_egan) August 26, 2017
First time for everything. Never saw a 'keeper give up a 45 from a kick-out before.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) August 26, 2017
Well there's a first. #GAA
— John Fogarty (@JohnFogartyIrl) August 26, 2017
Sensible option by Brian Kelly to put that ball out for a 45 😬😂 #mayovkerry #GAA
— Shane Clavin (@shane_clav9) August 26, 2017
And the reducto ad abusrdum of the short kick-out reaches the end-game; brian Kelly kicks it out for a 45...
— david kelly (@dk3lly) August 26, 2017
In all my years watching Gaelic football I've never seen a goalkeeper concede a 45 from his own kick out
— Col (@ColmLynott) August 26, 2017
In all my years watching Gaelic football I've never seen a goalkeeper concede a 45 from his own kick out
— Col (@ColmLynott) August 26, 2017
Still trying to figure out how that kick out went out for a 45 🤔 Not exactly a gale blowing in Croker!! #KerVMay #TheToughest #GAA
— Jennifer O'Riordan (@Jenoneill268) August 26, 2017
Have refereed hundreds of GAA matches but never seen a kick out resulting in a 45 until today.! #mayovkerry
— Ian Molloy (@ianmolloy1) August 26, 2017
If it's any consolation, Cillian O'Connor missed the 45.
