GAA Digest: Dublin lose out to Mayo in All Ireland semi final

Mayo 0-19 Dublin 0-16

“We started well in midfield and tried to get the ball in there quick and that was the start of it. We had no fear of them and why would we? We were in a good place, they were champions and it’s very hard to win it back-to-back. We’d nothing to lose and gave it a rattle.

“We got over the line, but that second half may not be good enough against Donegal and it’s no good knocking out champions unless you win it yourself.

“But there is something a small bit different to other finals I’ve been involved in. There’s something different about this group. Will it be good enough? We’ll see.”
 
Dubs Dejected
DEJECTED Dublin captain Bryan Cullen has dismissed all talk that his team lacked hunger as they surrendered their All-Ireland crown in Sunday’s defeat to Mayo.

The Dubs were favorites to advance to the final but were caught cold as Mayo built-up a 10 point lead early in the second half at headquarters.

A late resurgence did get Pat Gilroy’s team within three points of the westerners, but Mayo held out for a famous win.

Afterwards Cullen said, “I’d like to think the lads wanted to win this year just as much as last year. I think you saw that from the efforts out there, the lads threw the kitchen sink at it. We did the same last year, but just left it a bit too late this year.

“At the end of the first half and start of the second half, we struggled to click into gear. That was where the damage was done and we were playing catch-up from then on.

“Mayo are a good side, if you give them possession and space they’re going to hurt you and that’s exactly what they did.”

Cullen also claimed that Dublin will bounce back next year. He added, “The average age of this team is only 24, 25. There’s loads more football to be played from the lads in that dressing room.”

Speculation is now rife that Dublin boss Pat Gilroy will quit his position in the wake of Sunday’s defeat.

Speaking after the game, Gilroy said, “I don’t even know what I am doing next week, not to mind next year, so this is not the time to think about those things.

“It’s very raw at the minute so we need to go away for a week or two and have a good think. There’s other people always involved in me making a decision to go on with this.”

Asked about the match, Gilroy commented, “I think we were quite close to Mayo’s intensity but not quite at it for 26 or 27 minutes.

“Then a couple of cheap scores at the end, like easy scores that we gave away at the end of the first half put us into a very difficult position at six points down. We continued that pattern after halftime and went 10 behind.

“We were close, far closer than in the league and when we really put the screw on, we put them under severe pressure but it was probably just too late.

“I don’t think it’s any harder defending it as winning it. It’s just very difficult. Other teams get better, people are good. I think, I couldn’t fault any player for their application or their effort this year.

​
Nster.com