First to John Maughan. No panic here, as he confirmed the Mayo job is his for another two years. There was a rumour that needed to be quashed, and he obliged.

Two years left on your term?

"That's correct."

So we'll see you back here next year?

"Time will tell."

Well, he sort of clarified it.

Going back to the football, he could at least take solace from the fact the performance improved upon the last time these teams met here. Though that needs to be qualified, as Kerry were some way off the display they produced in last year's All-Ireland final. Yesterday they eased up to allow five Mayo points in the last eight minutes, which gave the scoreboard an undeserved gloss.

Maughan did admit a quality performance is of little use when the season still ends in defeat. And anyway, he was more annoyed with the criticism that preceded this game.

"We came here to win. Quality performances count for nothing. We were slated last week because we didn't play with any quality. We had 19 wides against Cavan and in lots of ways that was disrespectful to Cavan, because they had taken the scalps of some big guns and could've beaten Tyrone.

"We were brilliant in 90 per cent of our game (against Cavan). Of course, in the scoring department we let ourselves down, but lots of people jump on the wagon and then start slating players, which is a problem. People tend to forget these are amateur players who are doing their best.

"Most of them have to turn up for work tomorrow. In Ciarán McDonald's case, he might have a three-hour journey in the morning to get to work. People tend to forget that, and I think they give players a bit of a bad time. I don't mind the manager getting it."

Mayo did bring the wide count down to six, but they were always chasing the contest even before Darragh Ó Sé sneaked in behind James Nallen for the second goal on 41 minutes. Ironically, this mortal blow came in the one area they were determined would not be exploited: the full-back line.

When Colm Cooper dropped the high ball in, Nallen was the last person you would expect to let it slip from his grasp.

"Kerry are traditionally strong at the start of the second half, but we got the first score to level it," said Maughan. "Unfortunately, that goal had a huge bearing on the game. Suddenly they were cruising.

"We missed a couple of easy scores - Ciarán (McDonald) missed an easy free at a vital stage of the second half to whittle it down. There were little bits and pieces when you look back. We had our hands on the ball when they had the two goals. That makes the difference.

"You have to give credit to Kerry. They have a great quality of player in their team and a great quality of subs."

He went so far as to tip them for Sam on the premise that Armagh have played too much football. Then, without prompting, he thinks a "fresh" Dublin will be waiting for them in the All-Ireland final.

Jack O'Connor has no interest in all this, what with Cork taking up all his thoughts for the coming weeks. He said it deadpan, but there was a glint in the eye as he labelled the old rivals as semi-final favourites on the back of beating Galway.

"I couldn't be happy with the way we finished the game, conceding the last five scores. It was a bit like the Derry game last year. We had the Derry game wrapped up as well and I think we conceded the last six scores, so certainly we have plenty to work for, and I suppose after their display today Cork will be favourites for the next one."

The best subplot of a fairly static contest was surely the reintroduction of Paul Galvin - dropped, out of form and struck by illness in the middle of the championship. We were beginning to wonder was he to become pub-quiz material: winning an All Star and an All-Ireland medal in his debut season before disappearing.

But then he came off the bench to kick three points.

"Tough couple of weeks. Tough summer," said Galvin. "We'll see what happens the next day. I was down with a bit of a throat infection. The form hadn't been great either, so I probably wouldn't have started, but it's all to play for now with a semi-final place up for grabs.

"You have to make an impression when you come in because the combination is very hot. Happy enough, yeah."

That last comment seemed to capture the mood of the day. No great fanfare, just another obstacle on the course back to September.