It can still be our day

IT could have been our day. It still can.

Mayo had Dublin on the run. Make no mistake about it. Despite a performance which had many warts, including two outrageous OGs, Mayo dug deep on a dreary day in Croke Park.

Dublin will feel they let this All-Ireland final slip from their grasp in injury-time. Had there been two more minutes of injury-time Mayo could have bridged that 65-year gap since they last won the title.

With the replay set for 5 p.m. on Saturday week, BoyleSports has installed the Dubs at 1/2 to win in 70 minutes, 9/1 that we witness another draw, and 2/1 that Mayo can win in 70 minutes. In case of another draw, Jim Gavin’s Dublin are 2/5 to retain the Sam Maguire, with Mayo priced at 15/8 to finally end their 65-year drought.

Liam Glynn, BoyleSports’ spokesperson, said today's game wasn’t the one-sided affair that punters were expecting.

“The green and red Mayo men battled back from a five-point half-time defecit to grab a last-gasp draw. No doubt punters will now have faith in Mayo finally ending their All Ireland drought after their gallant performance and we are sure to see plenty of interest in the current 15/8 about Mayo lifting the Sam Maguire.”

Mayo were quickly up and running in today's match, but their good early work was undone with two unfortunate own goals. A bizarre scoreboard read 2-0 to 0-3 with a Dublin player still to score.

Dublin led 2-4 to 0-5 at the break but Mayo showed their intentions with some early scores on the restart.

As seven minutes of injury-time was announced, Mayo were down by three points. Cillian O’Connor (free) had it back to two before Donal Vaughan pared another one back, and that man O'Connor kept the dream alive with the equaliser.

It finished 2-9 to 0-15.

 

*Full match report and analysis in Tuesday's print edition