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kerry and mayo: Play it again, sam
by Larry Cooney
 Kerry and Mayo have set up a repeat of the 1997 All-Ireland football final after they qualified last weekend for this year’s Sam Maguire decider on September 26.
Mayo finally saw off the brave challenge of Ulster’s surprise representatives Fermanagh with two points to spare after a thrilling All-Ireland semi-final replay at Croke Park. Twenty-four hours later in the other semi-final, Munster champions Kerry easily defeated a poor Derry side to end Ulster’s involvement in an All-Ireland final for the first time since 2001.
It is also interesting to note that it will be the first All-Ireland final since Kerry’s Millennium year achievement against Galway after a replay, to involve two unbeaten sides in the final. After all the possible ‘Back Door’ options in this year’s championship which also included Fermanagh and Derry making it to the semi-final, this year’s final will be contested between the Munster champions from Kerry and the Connacht champions from Mayo.
Although Kerry showed signs of a return to form in their quarter-final against Dublin, their performance against Derry last Sunday underlined the new-found steel in this present Kingdom team since the arrival of manager Jack O’Connor. However, Kerry will have to prepare for this All-Ireland final without their two most influential players, namely Dara Ó Sé and Seamus Moynihan because of injury.
Mayo have had a real wake-up call from Ulster’s new representatives in Fermanagh and the fact that they had the character to survive augurs well for their All-Ireland final preparation. Manager John Maughan will be leading Mayo to their third All-Ireland final in eight years. Mayo’s mentor is certainly no stranger to Kerry football and on the evidence of his team’s last two performances, there are still a number of positions being contested ahead of this year’s Gaelic football showpiece.
It is seven years since Kerry and Mayo last met in one of the most disappointing finals in recent years when a Maurice Fitgerald-inspired Kerry easily defeated a Mayo team appearing in their second consecutive final by 0-13 to 1-7. In the previous year John Maughan had led Mayo to his first All-Ireland final before Meath forced a late draw to deny the Connacht champions a deserved title.
Mayo narrowly lost an ill-tempered replay by 2-9 to 1-11 after midfielder Liam McHale was dismissed early in the game. McHale, who is currently one of John Maughan’s assistants, will also be hoping that Mayo 2004 will make sure it will be third time lucky for the manager.
This year’s All-Ireland final will also be watched by the first attendance in excess of 80,000 since the famous 1961 final when Down defeated Offaly. However with Mayo — one of the best-supported counties in Ireland — in the final, demand for tickets will be considerable.
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