By Frank Shouldice

Mayo 0-9 Fermanagh 0-9

THERE were mixed emotions among the 64,518 crowd at Croke Park on Sunday. “We should’ve made history today,” rued one Fermanagh supporter, knowing that his side had squandered three late chances that would have put the county into a first ever All-Ireland final. 

For Mayo, it was simply a matter of relief. “My initial reaction is that we got out of jail,” felt manager John Maughan. “With 15 minutes to go I was praying to the Lord and calling in any favors that were due. Yeah, we were very, very lucky.”

That the game finished level turned on a number of key incidents. James Gill picked up two yellow cards — both for high tackles — inside four minutes and correctly got the line in the 43rd minute. The sides were deadlocked on 0-6 apiece and possession swung to Fermanagh, swamping midfield and using the extra man as a defensive sweeper. Both teams missed goal chances — Pat Kelly for Mayo in the 11th minute and Ciaran O’Reilly shooting straight at Peter Burke just after the break — but ultimately it was six Fermanagh wides from good positions that meant there would be no winner.

After steady rain Saturday night the pitch was greasy and a swirling breeze made conditions even trickier. Niall Bogue took up a man-marking detail on Kieran McDonald, and his in-your-face approach paid more dividends than any other marker this season. 

McDonald made some key contributions but he failed to exert the influence of recent outings and the Crossmolina man’s distribution, the strong-point of his game, frequently went off course.

Unusual too that the usually slow-starting Fermanagh opened so brightly. Three straight points from play — James Sherry, Mark Little and Colm Bradley — put Mayo on the back foot. 

Conor Mortimer and Alan Dillon steadied the westerners before David Heaney roamed upfield for a fine score. Leading 0-6 to 0-3, Maughan’s side seemed to have settled without carving out too much up front. 

Ronan McGarrity and David Brady, though nothing as effective as he was against Tyrone, gained an edge on Liam McBarron and Martin McGrath at midfield, although McGrath got through a ton of work and his fielding was great with a wet ball. 

The impressive Bradley grabbed a second point, and when Eamon Maguire reduced the deficit to one by halftime the game was up for grabs once more. 

Gill’s dismissal changed the pattern but switches by Charlie Mulgrew won Fermanagh more ball in a crowded midfield. Stephen Maguire dropped back and Tom Brewster replaced Little while McGrath began to shine.

McGarrity shipped a rib injury — which makes him doubtful for the replay — and Gary Mullins was introduced for Brady to try staunch the flow. Fermanagh led by one, but McDonald replied with a beautiful effort from 40 yards to tie it up again. 

Trevor Mortimer had claims for a penalty turned down — he appeared to be pushed by Ryan McCluskey when bearing down on goal — before a Brewster free put Fermanagh back in front. Conor Mortimer earned a soft free to equalize eight minutes from time and in a nervy finish the same player stole in between defenders to nudge the Connacht champions ahead. 

Stephen Maguire leveled it with a late free. but he missed a chance from play as did Bradley and Raymond Johnston. Strangely, Fermanagh had done just the same against Armagh in the quarterfinal before Brewster landed his famous winner. 

This time they failed to deliver the knockout punch but Mayo backs, particularly Heaney and James Nallen, deserve credit for showing true character when it was called for.

The replay will take place next Saturday at 4 p.m. local time. McGarrity is doubtful, and Conor Mortimer picked up what could be a serious ankle injury. 

With just six days between matches both counties will be trying to get their best 15 rested and back into harness, but this was an enthralling contest that certainly brought high-flying Mayo down to earth.

*IN the inaugural Tommy Murphy Cup, Clare saw off Sligo by 1-11 to 0-11 in the curtain-raiser at Croke Park. The goal came from a dreadful mistake by keeper James Curran, whose handpass clearance was half-blocked by Odhran O’Dwyer and scooped into an empty net. Clare led 1-7 to 0-4 at the break and showed greater appetite all round. However they began to concede frees in the third quarter and Dessie Sloyane made most of their generosity. It took a couple of points by Michael O’Shea to clinch it, so it will be footballers from the Banner county who are Boston-bound in October.