John O'Mahony goes about his business, stealing into the Mayo dressing-room to offer commiserations, writes Keith Duggan.

It is another good day at the office for the Galway manager. The Nestor Cup is staying local; the closest it will get to Mayo for another year is in the O'Mahony living-room that borders both counties.

"Delighted to have struggled through, really. People don't believe me but I said it would be a struggle and I think Mayo could have a big say in this championship yet," he says.

Galway's novel line-up for the presidential salute caused ripples of confusion around the stands.

"Ah, they were all just ready for action. We wanted to get as many to meet the president as we could really," said O'Mahony with a twinkle.

"In fact, what really happened was the lads who had no tracksuits on them were allowed to stay there. I had 29 lads to meet the president but protocol said otherwise and we always do what we are told."

So it had nothing to do with trying to confuse John Maughan?

"Well, neighbour against neighbour, there will always be plenty of confusion like that. I think they sent a few signals out as well.

"Arragh, look, it was always going to be tight and close. I think Mayo did tremendously well today and the game could have turned their way.

"We played poorly in the first half but we won the game because we kept it calm and knew sooner or later the break would come. I would give our lads credit for picking off those few scores when we needed them and for staying calm."

The Mr Calm of Galway football, Kevin Walsh, leans against the wall, cradling the cup. "It was a good professional performance, probably. But we have a lot of work to do.

"They came at us in the second half but we could always answer to them and that was satisfying."

John Maughan leans a foot against a bench and considers the pros and cons of yet another Connacht final.

"I'm disappointed. I honestly believed we would win it and for 25 minutes of the first half, we were the better side.

"Unfortunately, we didn't convert our penalty and then we got hit with a sucker punch just before the break. People might point the finger at the Mayo forwards again, yet this was a day we could have won.

"So we are not as bad as some people made us out to be. They are a young side and I believe this Mayo team will do well. That gap between All-Ireland winners and provincial losers is quite small so there is hope for the future."

Conversation turns to the first-half penalty. For a moment, it looked like Conor Mortimer was shaping up to take the spot-kick before Stephen Carolan stepped up and missed.

"Stephe n Carolan is the penalty-taker, there is no question about that," clarified the manager.

"You might have seen Conor Mortimer lurking in the vicinity but it was something we worked on and everybody knew their role."

Mayo head back across the border with a spate of walking wounded arising from two separate incidents where players clashed heads.

Fergal Costello finished the day in hospital, while Gary Mullins broke his nose. Luck was not with them.

"It's difficult out there, with the breeze circulating and a big crowd, it is difficult to hear. To lose Fergal was one thing but to see two more go down with facial injuries is disruptive.

"But we had 15 good players on the field at all times so I wouldn't apportion blame to our injuries.

"The teams that are left in the qualifiers now have all won three and that creates a feel-good factor.

"We have to progress from here and we have this calamity with injuries now. So it will be difficult but it's a challenge nonetheless."

Declan Meehan dashed by and stopped to share his thoughts.

"Ah, you know yourself. We were not fooled by the odds. Mayo are a good team and today, the goal made the difference. They had men kicking points from all angles in the second half and thankfully, we just kept that three-point lead, which was vital.

"Like, we were lucky to come in at half-time with the cushion but I do not think we have seen the last of Mayo."