Dublin 2-13 Mayo 1-15: An occasion in Parnell Park which had the glitz and buzz of a premiere. A main feature which had the twists and narrative leaps of a thriller. And a climax which was a personal triumph for Tomás Quinn.
On a night when the breath fogged and the turf was heavy Dublin won by a point with Quinn defying the pressure and a mischievous breeze to kick a superb 45 at the death.
It was just about fitting that the home side should shade it but many of the leading characters and some of the best cameos had come from Mayo.
Best player on view, perhaps, was Mayo's Ciarán McDonald, who gave an exhibition of the sort of kicking which we felt had become extinct when Maurice Fitzgerald hung up his boots. If McDonald remains a marquee name there will have been satisfaction in the west at the confident performances of some of the younger members who debuted on Saturday night. Mayo will be dangerous come summer.
As for the Dubs, the first examination of Paul Caffrey's character transpired to be a surprisingly basic one. Is he a half-full man or a half-empty type. Dublin won a wonderful match and played patches of fine football. Mayo, though, were debilitated by absentees, yet still tore heedlessly through the Dublin defence.
"We were lucky enough in the end to get a win but we'll take it." said Caffrey. "They had the better chances in the last few minutes but we held on and in fairness to Mossy Quinn it was a great kick, there was a bit of a breeze. This time last year Mossy wasn't doing that."
It was all about performances said Caffrey and few were more encouraging than that of Quinn's, a player whose confidence has been dangerously tampered with over the past few seasons but who is emerging nevertheless as a fine forward. His haul of 2-2 was commendable but doesn't do justice to some of his passing, two second-half transfers - one to Jason Sherlock the other to Shane Ryan - stood out in particular.
That is what stood out as the greatest positive about Dublin's performance. They created goal chances. On a different night Sherlock would have had three goals and Dublin would have had five or six.
Even still, there were times when the Dublin bench must have looked at the speed of Mayo's attacking play and gasped. There were times when Mayo sizzled happily and, were it not for a fluffed Conor Mortimer free which would have put them two points clear in the closing stages, they might have taken victory.
Still nobody was complaining. The game had entertainment and novelty and controversy in generous measure. Dublin tore into the match and, with Quinn fisting a Senan Connell ball to the Mayo net after seven minutes, found themselves five points ahead of Mayo who had just a point.
Ciarán Whelan soon stretched Dublin's lead and the murmur went around the ground. Mayo were either very poor or Dublin were peaking at entirely the wrong end of the year.
Mayo clawed their way back into the game with a string of five unanswered points, the last of which provided the game's principal controversy in the 18th minute. Mortimer fed Damien Munnelly who, with his eyes full of goal, appeared to be pulled down by Stephen Cluxton.
The Dublin goalkeeper was yellow-carded and duly benched. Dublin attempted to get substitute goalkeeper Bryan Murphy between the sticks before the penalty was taken but referee Paddy Russell wouldn't buy the move.
Paddy Christie stood motionless between the posts looking doubtful. McDonald took the kick. At the last instant Christie seemed to wake up and saved to his right at the cost of a point. Murphy assumed goalkeeping duties when things calmed.
By half-time Dublin were just a point ahead but their two best moves had both ended in wides for Sherlock. Of more concern was the ease with which the Mayo half-back line were cleaning out the Dublin half forwards.
Mayo drew level at the start of the second half through a Conor Mortimer point but Dublin produced a lovely move with David O'Callaghan and Sherlock swapping passes before the former fed Quinn for a brilliantly taken goal.
From there on the second half appeared almost symmetrical with the first, Dublin pulling ahead, Mayo hauling them back, Dublin greeting the last whistle glad to be a point clear.
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P Griffin, P Christie, S O'Shaughnessy; P Casey, B Cullen (0-1), P Andrews (0-1); C Whelan (0-2), S Ryan (0-1); D Henry (0-1), J Sherlock, S Connell (0-2); D O'Callaghan (0-1), R Boyle (0-1), T Quinn (2-2, one point from 45). Subs: B Murphy for S Cluxton (18 mins), A Brogan (0-1) for R Boyle (42 mins), R Cosgrove for A Brogan (57 mins), D Lally for D Henry (65 mins).
MAYO: F Ruddy; P Kelly (0-1), D Heaney, L O'Malley; G Mullins, J Nallen, P Gardiner; J Gill (0-1), J Kilcullen; A Moran (0-1), C McDonald (0-5, three frees, one from a penalty), A Kilcoyne; C Mortimer (0-3, one free), D Munnelly (0-2), J Prenty (0-2). Subs: K Higgins for D Heaney (45 mins), C Moran for G Mullins (47 mins), BJ Padden for D Munnelly (53 mins), A Costello (1-0) for A Moran (56 mins), A Roche for A Costello, yellow carded, (70 mins).
YELLOW CARDS: Dublin: S Cluxton (18 mins) replaced by B Murphy. Mayo: A Costello (70 mins) replaced by A Roche.
Referee: P Russell (Tipperary).
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