Mayo scored a whopping 3-06 in a dominant second-half performance to come from behind to pip Kerry on the line in today's Allianz National Football League Division One Final.
Goals win game lads, and it was Mayo that bettered the two that the Kingdom were able to register in a first-half in which both sides were guilty of missed opportunities in front of goal.
Mayo had built an early lead as points from Fergal Boland, Patrick Durcan and Matthew Ruane put them into a 0-03 to 0-01 lead before Gavin Crowley found the corner of Robbie Hennelly's goal after good work from David Clifford.
Pick that out!!! Críoch cruinn don chúl ansin ó Gavin Crowley!@Kerry_Official @MunsterGAA @GAA__JOE #AllianzLeagues pic.twitter.com/RUUxn1d4s4
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 31, 2019
It would be the first of an unanswered 2-2 Peter Keane's side would score between in a 12 minute spell half-way through the opening stanza, with Stephen O'Brien powering through the Mayo defence before finishing emphatically past Hennelly.
Cúl gleoite aimsithe ag Stephen O'Brien do @Kerry_Official !@MunsterGAA @GAA__JOE @The42GAA #AllianzLeagues pic.twitter.com/Whtmaw0pHB
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 31, 2019
Four down at the break, the westerners clipped over three early first-half points to cut the deficit to the minimum before Kerry responded with three of their own.
Ruane's goal dragged the Connacht side back into the tie, cutting back inside before drilling low past Shane Ryan.
Agus tá @MayoGAA díreach ar ais sa cluiche seo!@ConnachtGAA @GAA__JOE @SportsJOEdotie #AllianzLeagues pic.twitter.com/s3FLoLasB0
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 31, 2019
Seanie O'Shea and Diarmuid O'Connor swapped points before Mayo had a legitimate penalty shout turned down when James Carr went down with fifteen minutes to go.
But they didn't let that disappoint them and hit the front through Jason Doherty and O'Connor moments later.
Kerry restored parity with a Jack Barry point before Mayo captain O'Connor flicked Durcan's up and under to the net.
Captain Fantastic!
Cúl iontach ó Diarmuid O'Connor do @MayoGAA !@ConnachtGAA @GAA__JOE @The42GAA #AllianzLeagues pic.twitter.com/cTxuXS9yVP— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 31, 2019
As the clock ticked toward the end of normal time, Paul Geaney swung over a free kick to bring the margin back to two, before Aiden O'Shea's dismissal for a second bookable offence heightened the tension for the Yew County.
Two minutes into injury time, David Clifford made it a one-point game. But with Kerry piling men forward, in search of an equaliser, down came the house when Ciarán Treacy found himself in acres of space in the dying seconds, finishing to the corner when a point may well have done.
Balls.
O'Connor saw red at the end, but he was on hand to climb the famous steps to collect the Division One trophy.
