Dublin claimed their sixth successive All-Ireland with a fantastic 2-14 to 0-15 victory over Mayo behind closed doors at Croke Park.

The Connacht champions brought the fight to Dessie Farrell’s charges and were level with 20 minutes remaining, but the Sam Maguire holders registered six of the last seven points to bag their 30th title and eighth in ten years.

It was cruel luck on James Horan’s men, who came closer to dethroning the Dubs than anybody else this year but have now lost five All-Ireland finals in the last nine years. For the winners, who have gone 42 championship matches without defeat, late points from Dean Rock (2), Ciaran Kilkenny (2), Brian Howard and Paul Mannion got them over the line in an unprecedented decider played in an empty stadium six days short of Christmas.

The victors led by two points at the break, Rock and Con O’Callaghan netting in the first half, but knew they would be down to 14 men for the first ten minutes after the restart as referee David Coldrick had flashed a black card in Robbie McDaid’s direction just before blowing the half-time whistle.

The sides were level at the first water break after the visitors twice clawed back a three-point deficit. The game got off to an unbelievable start when Rock palmed past David Clarke to the Hill 16 net from close range inside 13 seconds – the fastest goal ever in an All-Ireland final! - following a strong James McCarthy run and pass, but Mayo were level by the third minute thanks to quickfire points from full back Oisin Mullin and Cillian O’Connor (2).

A brace of Rock frees and a Sean Bugler strike restored the champions’ three-point cushion but back came the Connacht kingpins to draw level again with points from O’Connor, Conor Loftus and Ryan O’Donoghue: 1-3 to 0-6 halfway through the opening period.

Cillian O'Connor twice executed the advanced mark perfectly to push Mayo two ahead by the 21st minute, but the lead changed hands again in the 23rd minute when O’Callaghan hammered the ball to the net with his right fist, O’Connor (free) tying the scores up again with his sixth point.

The outstanding O’Donoghue cancelled out O’Callaghan’s left-footed point and John Small blasted over Dublin’s fifth point to nudge them back in front. Ciaran Kilkenny curled over the last score ahead of the break, although a black card for McDaid on the stroke of the interval left things very interesting as the short whistle sounded, with the Dubs ahead by 2-6 to 0-10.

Dublin captain Stephen Cluxton lifts the Sam Maguire Cup. ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy.

Niall Scully and Cillian O’Connor (free) traded the first two scores after the resumption and the outstanding Brian Fenton grabbed his customary point, on the spin, but Mayo rallied again with points from Stephen Coen, who sliced over an offensive mark, and O’Connor (free) before – with a point between the sides – Michael Fitzsimons nailed Lee Keegan with a huge frontal hit (with no free awarded) and McDaid returned to the fray.

O’Connor’s ninth point (free) had them level for the fifth time as Mayo again landed three in succession but Rock replied in kind in the 51st minute to give the Leinster champions the narrowest of leads at the second water break, with 15 minutes remaining -  a lead they would not this time relinquish. They really kicked on from here to the finish line...

Kilkenny kicked a huge point as the tension mounted and the Dubs surged four clear thanks to excellent scores from half-time substitute Brian Howard and fellow replacement Paul Mannion (free). Rock added another one – again from a free – and Mayo replied through sub Darren Coen but Kilkenny closed the scoring with his third as the silverware stays in the capital for at least another nine months.

Mayo needed a goal to get any kind of lifeline but Stephen Cluxton maintained his proud record of not having conceded one in this year's championship. Not many records left for this amazing group of footballers to break. Their manager, Dessie Farrell, has now led the Sky Blues to a clean sweep of minor, U20 and senior All-Irelands, following in the footsteps of Mickey Harte and Jack O'Connor.

Dublin - S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, D Byrne, J Cooper; E Murchan, J Small (0-1), R McDaid; B Fenton (0-1), J McCarthy; N Scully (0-1), C Kilkenny (0-3), S Bugler (0-1); P Small, C O'Callaghan (1-1), D Rock (1-4, 0-4f). Subs: B Howard (0-1) for S Bugler, P Mannion (0-1f) for P Small, C Basquel for J Cooper, C Costello for N Scully.

Mayo - D Clarke; C Barrett, O Mullin (0-1), L Keegan; P Durcan, S Coen (0-1m), E McLaughlin; C Loftus (0-1), M Ruane; K McLoughlin, R O'Donoghue (0-2), D O'Connor; T Conroy, A O'Shea, C O'Connor (0-9, 5f, 2m). Subs: M Plunkett for P Durcan, J Carr for T Conroy, D Coen (0-1) for R O'Donoghue, J Flynn for C Loftus, J Durcan for E McLaughlin.

Referee - D Coldrick.

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