Another year over as Mayo pay the ultimate penalty
Ryan O'Donoghue dejected after missing a penalty during the shoot-out that saw Mayo exit this year's All-Ireland SFC on Saturday evening. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
We’ve a fair back catalogue upon which to choose from but as painful defeats go, this to Derry on Saturday evening ranks right up there.
For the first time in their history, Mayo played a penalty shoot-out to determine their championship fate and came out the wrong side, losing 4-3 and failing to reach the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals for only the second time since 2010.
Kevin McStay’s side looked on course to win their second preliminary quarter-final in as many seasons until Derry’s longest serving player, Chrissy McKaigue, fisted an equalising point in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time. It was the Green and Red who were the ones left chasing in extra-time when the visitors to MacHale Park moved three points ahead, with Jordan Flynn the local hero by scoring the levelling point in the 92nd minute.
Missed penalties in the shoot-out however, by Paul Towey (post) and Ryan O’Donoghue (saved) were capitalised upon by Derry who scored four of their five kicks to advance to Croke Park next weekend – despite previously losing their opening three matches of this year’s championship.
The National Football League champions had led 0-6 to 0-3 at half-time with Lachlan Murray in exceptional form, scoring four points. Mayo, however, emerged in the second-half displaying much better ability to break Derry’s defensive structure and forged two points ahead thanks mainly to Ryan O’Donoghue’s 50th minute penalty, awarded for a foot-block by Gareth McKinless on Tommy Conroy.
But Mayo were unable to see the game out, with a 74th minute fisted wide by Sam Callinan particularly costly as Derry travelled upfield and managed to force a stalemate.
Wides by Conroy and O’Donoghue, from a free, in the second-half of extra-time looked like they might cause Mayo’s exit until Flynn, with his second point of the evening, ensured the game finished all-square, 1-12 to 0-15.
The hard work, however, was ultimately all for nothing.
See Tuesday’s Western People for full match coverage.
