It’s only half-time.
Cillian O’Connor launched Mayo’s last shot at 76:49 in a game set for 77 minutes.
He allowed himself a quick celebration before directing his teammates in the forward line to press on their men for Stephen Cluxton’s kick out.
We can win this game yet…
Dublin didn’t get out of their 45 again. The clock finally stopped at 78:58 when Conor Lane blew his whistle.
The best image of all, on a truly memorable day, must be Lee Keegan and Diarmuid Connolly sharing one wordless handshake:
“We’ll have another crack at each other in two weeks’ time,” Keegan told us. “Another duel.”
Looking back on the game last night, we were intrigued to see how the players reacted at that whistle. O’Connor was first man off the pitch.
It took the Mayo forward less than 10 seconds to vacate the scene, and that included shouldering past Johnny Cooper and a handshake with Lane on the way.
It was Roy Keane versus The Netherlands stuff.
Keane was livid that Ireland had thrown away a 2-0 lead against the Dutch in Amsterdam and yet celebrated their draw as a point gained.
Mayo were behind for most of their All-Ireland tussle O’Connor would have felt a similar, nagging sense of incompletion as Keane.
Job not even half done.
James Horan would approve of the forward’s rapid exit. Speaking on Wednesday night’s Off The Ball, the former Mayo boss declared, “You can be pretty damn sure Mayo will perform again the next day, that those levels will be there.”
O’Connor thrives on getting the better of his man; winning the personal battles. He knows he can improve for the replay. He knows he can do better.
Having been marginalised for much of a fierce final, O’Connor found it within himself to take this contest to another round.
No messing about, no handshakes, no stopping to soak it all in.
He’ll see the Dubs again and next time business will be finished, one way or the other.
We review a crazy All-Ireland final and chat to Lee Keegan about his special relationship with Diarmuid Connolly. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes.
