Mayo beaten by Kerry in final that never caught fire

ALLIANZ NATIONAL LEAGUE FINAL

Kerry 1-18

Mayo 1-12

CROKE PARK

MAYO'S league campaign ended in disappointment in Croke Park this afternoon when they were out-played by Kerry in a poor final. The Munster men were the better team for the majority of the sun-splashed clash and never looked like being overtaken despite a brief Mayo surge midway through the second half.

Mayo began well and led by two, 0-4 to 0-2, after ten minutes but Kevin McStay's men were soon hit with a hammerblow when a kick-out was gobbled up by the Clifford brothers, David and Paudie, before Paul Geaney palmed the ball to the net.

That was a huge setback for Mayo and despite three points from Aidan O'Shea they went to the dressingroom with a five-point deficit, 0-7 to 1-9.

There were times in the first half when Kerry ate up the Mayo kick-out and with greater accuracy could have been further in front.

Kerry dominated the third quarter and built an unassailable lead with points from both Clifford brothers and midfielder Joe O'Connor, while Colm Reape produced a fine save to deny Mícheál Burns what looked like a certain goal.

Mayo needed a spark and got it when Davitt Neary was sprung from the bench. The Breaffy man tore into action and suddenly Mayo were energised. A flowing move ended with Eoghan McLaughlin cracking home a goal, and when Ryan O'Donoghue added a two-pointer just moments later, the gap was down to three, 1-10 to 1-13.

However, that was as good as it got for the Green and Red and Kerry coasted home with David Clifford kicking some smashing scores before a fine save from sub-goalkeeper Adrian Phillips denied the Fossa man a goal in the closinig moments.

A full match report and after-match reaction will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News.