Veni, vidi, vici! Top GAA analyst Martin Carney looks back on Mayo's dramatic victory over Dublin

The ancient Roman slogan never seemed more apt

VENI, vidi, vici!

The ancient Roman slogan never seemed more apt on Saturday night last when, after a conquest of endless drama and intrigue, Mayo came, saw and conquered the six-in-a-row All-Ireland champions Dublin.

That it fell to the Green and Red to put a stop to their imperious reign was appropriate. Since 2012, Mayo are the team who have consistently clung to their coat tails, taken them to the edge repeatedly and engaged them in some of the most memorable sporting occasions imaginable.

The outpouring of joy at the final whistle had to be seen to be believed. With an attendance of 24,000 creating an atmosphere akin to that on five times the scale, the passion and relief generated by the Mayo following went off-scale. What a day to be alive.

I rang one of my daughters at half-time to get her take on the game. Despondency would accurately describe her mood. It mirrored my own as, during that opening half, Mayo found it difficult to come to terms with their opponents in nearly every aspect of the game.

Lining out, and facing a brisk wind, Mayo determined to clog their own half in strict defensive zonal formation. Everyone bar Ryan O’ Donoghue and Aidan O’Shea played inside their own 45-metre line.

The net result is that Dublin owned the ball, moved it effortlessly from side to side, and their ball-carriers were put under little pressure. Scores were by-products of some lengthy keep-ball cameos and their early four-point lead came on the back of play that had, at times, the feel and tempo of a challenge game.

With just two points to show at the first water break, Mayo were struggling. In possession they found it difficult to release the ball to inside players as they were too often playing deep; surrendering possession was an all-too-frequent occurrence and when the few opportunities arose, Ryan O’Donoghue and Aidan O’Shea didn’t convert.

O’Shea’s misses mirrored his frustrating afternoon. With limited training since the Connacht final due to facial and foot injuries, he was off the pace and getting called ashore in the second period did himself and his team a favour.

With a seven-point lead on the board after 29 minutes, Dublin looked comfortable. Then Hennelly nailed one from distance and just before the break Conor Loftus stroked a beauty to leave six between the teams.

However, in my opinion, the immediate play that followed that score was one of the game’s defining moments. Comerford’s long kick-out went through Fitzsimons to Scully who bore down on goals.

Were it not for a wonderful defensive intervention by Keegan, who stopped his man in his tracks and forced a free out, much of the growing momentum would have disappeared.

Conservative

Half-time breaks are occasions for rest and re-evaluation. Statistical trends are examined and managements use the period to ponder changes in personnel and approach.

James Horan, I’m sure, recognised that his team in the opening half had given an error-strewn performance where teamwork, tactics and individual displays would barely have gained a pass mark.

With the exceptions of Patrick Durcan and Matthew Ruane, too many played with the handbrake on and the extreme conservative approach restrained the likes of Keegan and Ruane from expressing themselves in a more attacking sense.

When Mayo utilise their running power and pace, they are a different animal. Little of these were in evidence in the opening half.

The strategy of pressing up on and pressurising Dublin after the break worked immediately. Harried to distraction and denied time on the ball, the Dubs committed error after error. Their earlier sense of composure disappeared and by now Mayo’s power, growing self-belief and belly-for-the-battle was visibly blossoming.

Holding Dublin scoreless for the third quarter was an achievement while at the same time adding three of their own. O’Donoghue’s, Keegan’s and Hennelly’s points were timely, hard-earned and vital, and by the second water break a riotous occasion had taken hold.

An expected Dublin response briefly materialised. Quick scores from Paddy Small and Rock followed but I feel that Dublin erred from here on in attempting to play keep-ball rather than go for the kill.

In truth, that aspect of their play was but a memory now and what we were witnessing was a team shorn of energy, devoid of quality on the bench and consumed with fear as the Mayo tide swelled.

Then came the defining moment of the game. Robbie Hennelly miscued a 45' that looked like going dead but somehow, miraculously, Diarmuid O-Connor kept it in play and his fly kick into the hands of Kevin Mc Loughlin was given the crowing grace by the Knockmore man.

Mayo were abuzz. Three points followed. Tommy Conroy, in a more advanced position, hit a beauty, Ryan O’Donoghue brought it back to a point before Hennelly kicked the equaliser that will live forever in Mayo footballing folklore.

That a man so maligned in the past had the bottle to face up to the kick, miscue the first attempt, and then nail the re-take speaks volumes for his bravery and character.

Much debate followed as to why the kick was reordered. I feel the referee, Conor Lane, deemed Mayo had 16 players on the field at the time when the kick was originally taken, while there also is a possibility that Philly McMahon’s behaviour in the vicinity of the kicker merited the retake. One way or the other, it was a score that made time stand still.

Watching Mayo squeeze the life out of their opponents in extra time was a joy. Young legs, accurate boots, intelligence and raw passion drove the team to victory. Conroy’s brace was a killer blow; Coen’s casually stroked score a piece of artistry while, appropriately, Ryan O’Donoghue bookended proceedings with a thing of beauty.

For Mayo people everywhere this was a day of redemption, a moment after nine years of disappointment where they saw their heroes turn the screw on the champions and get themselves into another All-Ireland final. Bearding the lion in their own den and slaying it was well worth the wait.