Replying To Meath10:  "Ooohhh Football Friends"

Replying To GreenandRed:  "I convinced myself last night that that was the plan. Wear us down in the first half with the blanket defence and tire us mentally and physically. Start of second half, flick the switch and bang. Tired limbs and heads couldn't cope with the football Dublin served up but arguably a fully fit and focused team won't cope with it either. We'll find out in three weeks."

Replying To clondalkindub:  "Dublin were brilliant after half time but two things killed Mayo first was Durkan who is an outstanding footballer totally wipe Jack out of the game but he dropped two kicks short kicked a wide had a shot blocked and was caught for over carrying that was a massive killer for Mayo and the other is and I feel sorry for him but the keeper is not good enough I keep having the same post after every Mayo Dublin Game when he's in goal , he kills Mayo he's completely out of depth in these games I feel really sorry for him but he killed Mayo on Saturday. When you need a cool head in goal he just doesn't have it he won't go short cause he hasn't the confidence in himself so he just goes long and Dublin knew this and murdered his kick outs."

Replying To opa01:  "Thought the referee had a big impact on the game - he cracked down on some of the over-zealous tackling early. When Keegan got the yellow he knew he couldn't afford any more so wasn't as robust on O'Callaghan in the leadup to both goals.

If the same ref had been in Castlebar I expect it would have been Donegal against Dublin and I think Donegal would have given the Dubs a better game. Would have been the same result though."

Replying To MesAmis:  "Was Keegan not yellow carded between the two Con goals?"

Replying To Gleebo:  "I fully agree with you. I don't wish to have a go at any GAA volunteer, but it mystifies me how anybody (and there are substantial numbers of Mayo fans who do) can rate Hennelly as a better keeper than Clarke. The latter is better in every facet of his game in my opinion and that includes restarts. If we didn'y know that before Saturday we do now.

But it's not possible to blame one person for this defeat. Dublin were awesome in the third quarter and swept us away. Horan will probably have to rethink his man on man defensive strategy as it leaves us vulnerable to conceding goals, and we got closest to the Dubs in 2016 and 2017 employing a sweeper.

A few of the auld warriors may well call it quits in the coming months. They will be missed, but JH has done a decent job in bringing some younger players through this time round, so hopefully some of the more experienced will stick around a bit longer to help with the transition.

Great to see Tom Parsons back in action, amazing what hard work and a positive attitude can yield.

When I think of some of the terrible injuries that some of those guys have sustained playing for Mayo, it makes those comments from a well-known media provocateur even more scurrilous IMO.

Good luck to Dublin in the final, they will take some stopping."

Replying To TheUsername:  "Well now, a festival of color and atmosphere in the home of those raised on songs and stories on Saturday, as the two war horses that have defined this decade in football, took center stage in front of over 82k in Dublin 3. So much for football being dead.

I often feel Semi finals are a far better atmosphere than finals and so it proved as Croker rocked to one of the biggest occasions in modern football, Dublin Vs Mayo.

Dublin lined up pretty much as advertised, Stephen Cluxton; David Byrne, Jonny Cooper, Michael Fitzsimons; Jack McCaffrey, James McCarthy, John Small; Brian Fenton (1-01), Michael Darragh Macauley; Niall Scully (0-01), Con O'Callaghan (2-00), Brian Howard (0-01); Paul Mannion (0-05), Dean Rock (0-06, 6f), Ciarán Kilkenny.

Mayo similarly: Rob Hennelly; Chris Barrett, Brendan Harrison, Stephen Coen (0-01); Lee Keegan (1-00), Colm Boyle (0-01), Patrick Durcan (0-02); Aidan O'Shea Séamus O'Shea (0-01); Fionn McDonagh, Donal Vaughan, Matthew Ruane; Cillian O'Connor (0-03, 2f), Diarmuid O'Connor, James Carr (0-01).

Despite much talk of their demise, as expected Mayo came roaring out of the blocks, bringing the intensity, physicality, force of will and mania only a Mayo team Vs Dublin, with the a huge crowd behind them can bring. The Dubs cautiously feeling their way into the game to see how they could do damage and where the threats would come from.

The curious case of the match ups became clearer with Keegan going on King Con, SOS going on Fenton and Boyle going on Kilkenny and Durcan going on Jack.

The biggest fear for us Dubs was pretty much having things are own way leading up to this game in the championship and Mayo were determined that, that state of affairs came to an end early doors Saturday and so it proved.

To put it simply Mayo were the better team in the first half, they brought pace, intensity physicality and sheer will and determination. Something you dont always attatch to Mayo is game management but at times they held the ball and worked the score rather then give into rush of bloods to the head. This was backed up by huge intensity, Jack McCaffery, Brain Fenton and a few other knocked of their groove and forced into giving away turnovers as uncharacteristic mistakes were forced. Mayo tackling was just simply brilliant.

With Dublin struggling without their usual oxygen, Mayo made hay, Durcan got forward for a couple of points, COC knocked a couple of frees and even one from play, while S O Shea, Boyle and Carr also kicked over to let Dublin know there would be know gaurd of honor toward a final coming from Mayo.

Dublin were blowing hard as they went in at half time, with an uncharacteristic six points on the board, thanks mainly to Dean Rock frees and a gift from Rob Hennelly to Mannion, which probably should have raised a green flag.

Im on record as saying last week that unless Mayo went in five points + ahead at half time they hadn't a chance. I will openly admit that logic went out the window as i milled about the concourse at half time and i was worried very worried, such was the loss of the groove Dublin were knocked off.

After years of being gifted, watching this team i should have known better. What followed was the brilliance of Dublin at their very apex as every power was utilised to just completely destroy Mayo, in what is becoming known as the 12 in 12. Dublin came out putting over 1-5 before Mayo had the opportunity to put over a wide, im not sure what you with that, as it renders the opposition irrelevant. In the blink of an eye the game ended as Kilkenny, Con, Fenton and Mannion went about their work Dublin went from two down to 1-11 to 0-8 in front. Mannion and Con in particular putting on an exhibition of goal and point scoring forward play.

It wasnt to end there, in the 46th minute, got his second goal in 11 minutes as he bamboozled of all players Lee Keegan. To create a 9 point difference between the team as Mayo legs started to get wobbly. This was then backed up with Dublin winning most ball in the middle, a facet that had been hugely missed from the first. This set up wave after wave of Dublin scores, as they progressively increased their lead. With the game well won, Dublin dropped the intensity level and ran the bench, with Murch, Cian, Costello, Philly, Andrews and Dermo entering the fray.

Two lovely receptions given, the stadium came to its feet for Tom Parsons, absolutely brilliant to see him back and hes been missed. What an achievement to work his way back from that awful injury.

The second was the homecoming of Dermo, not even Eric Lowdness spoilt the party this time.

And so with the benches were run, all that remained was to manage the game, Dublin seemed to stay at the same intensity as Mayo wained and the final nail in the coffin came as the imperious second half Fenton snuck in and cracked the final goal.

After the game you could see the huge respect both held for each other.

In analysis i have seen plenty of obituaries written about Mayo (as usual) since. I actually think Mayo have been very unlucky this year, injuries have been horrible, as has the relentless run in the back door. With different circumstances i think they could have gone down to Killarney and won, that was a kicker really, As was the game Vs Roscommon. It just goes to show you, you are better off not playing hard and loose with the championship, just win when you can and should on a game by game basis. That might sound rich i admit given Dublin and Kerry have advantages in their provinces. If mayo beat Roscommon though their path way is far more different. Some good young players, D O Connor, Ruanne, Carr, Durkan etc. They are building, there. Will be one or two that go but not the mass exodus people are talking about. I wouldn't be surprised to be in exactly the same position playing them next year. In fact with no injuries they will fancy their chances next year. All in, a national title in the bag its a good year from Mayo in Horans first season.

As for us, things are getting real now. The only people who seem not to see what the fuss is about is the Dublin team itself. Absolute great white shark stuff, circle the opposition, let them expend their energy and then boom, full tilt, end the game and sit back and pick them off.

On the players themselves, Fenton, Kilkenny, Con and Mannion in that 12 in 12 spell were brilliant. Each one getting better and better. They got much of the headlines and deservedly so, they are majestic.

But i want to highlight two players i thought were terrific and very close to my man of the match, Davy Byrne put in a terrific shift, both defending and providing a platform for progressive play driving into space.

Secondly Brian Howard, he is absolutely superb, he is absolutely key for Dublin, fielding, workrate physical presence, he has the best feet in Ireland and can turn defense into attack in one side step or change of direction, vision, skills, creativity, work rate - what a player. He really is the most underrated and unacknowledged player in Ireland. Kind of like James MC Carthy up to a couple of years ago. Im glad hes our wouldn't swap him for the world.

Else wise many good performances, the defense kept us in it first half so big shout out to Cooper and Fitzey, Cluxton just breaks the opposition hearts watching him play, when everything is going mental he just plays like he doesnt know what the fuss is about. What a leader.

Thought MDM, had a poor first half, but came on in the second, Scully equally a tale of two halfs. Jack was held brilliantly by Durcan - who should be nailed on for an All Star, while Small gave us what Small does ultimate commitment and hard as bails approach.

All in you have to be delighted with that second half performance, its as good as Dublin played this year and maybe in a long lg time. I dont know how you stop them because it has nothing to do with the opposition. Dublin clocking up 8 points before the opposition can get their hands on the ball.

So a big step made toward the goal of winning another this year, Mayo will be a big miss from the biggest day, but Kerry parachute in there, so not so bad. Am very pleased Tyrone are out, they are the team i was most weary off left in it.

70 mins away, to keeping Sam for another year, which is the goal, next up we welcome Kerry to the home of those raised on songs and stories, cant wait.

;)"

Replying To clondalkindub:  "Dublin were brilliant after half time but two things killed Mayo first was Durkan who is an outstanding footballer totally wipe Jack out of the game but he dropped two kicks short kicked a wide had a shot blocked and was caught for over carrying that was a massive killer for Mayo and the other is and I feel sorry for him but the keeper is not good enough I keep having the same post after every Mayo Dublin Game when he's in goal , he kills Mayo he's completely out of depth in these games I feel really sorry for him but he killed Mayo on Saturday. When you need a cool head in goal he just doesn't have it he won't go short cause he hasn't the confidence in himself so he just goes long and Dublin knew this and murdered his kick outs."

Replying To neverright:  "Have you lost your marbles - 'God a Galway man'. Have a lie down in a dark room."

Replying To tirawleybaron:  "There is a truth to all this that has been missed in the various narratives about Dublin being the best team ever and Mayo being finished.

1. Possession stats were fairly even - Dublin won the kickouts but mayo had more turnovers
2. Dublin had 3 more shots than Mayo

Why did Dublin win? Because they took their chances and nailed their kickouts.

Mayo were in the game at half time because they kicked no wides. In the 2nd half they returned to their mean scoring ratio of 45%.
Dublin kicked a few wides in the 2nd half and then returned to their mean ratio of 66%.

The harsh reality for Mayo is our Kickout strategy and execution is miles behind Dublin. Our scoring return is average.

When your playing a team which has set new records for kick out returns and scoring execution you are nothing with what Mayo are producing.

The narrative is that Mayo are bottlers etc but the reality is they have relied on tackling, determination and guts to stay with Dublin because they have been overmatched on the two main elements of the sport - restarts and scoring.

For the record. Kerry haven't a notion of beating Dublin because their kick-out strategies (on both ends) aren't up to it. Unlike Mayo, their scoring return is comparable to Dublin so they will be closer. I get just won't get enough possession and chances to win it."