Quillinan thrilled with Kingdom resilience
Kerry 1-19 ( 1–4-11) Mayo 3-10 (3-0-10)
Kerry manager Wayne Quillinan praised his side's resilience after they kicked four of the final five scores to defeat Mayo in a dramatic contest in Ennis, sealing a place in the All-Ireland Final for the first time since 2020.
'They did put us under the cosh, and that's again credit to Mayo. They are a really good footballing side, and we didn't expect them to lie down, they haven't in any game. We watched them in the Connacht Final, and they never lie down at all, we expected that.'
Kerry trailed by a point at half-time after an end-to-end opening half to proceedings. The Kingdom started the better and Mayo, despite a sluggish start, found their rhythm after Ben Holmes opened their account.
Cian May struck for a goal shortly after, capitalising on a poor Kerry kickout to give Mayo a 1-1 to 0-2 lead. The contest ebbed and flowed and Kerry hit back through Maidhc Ó Sé, who netted after a superb David Sargent pass.
Kerry manager Wayne Quillinan celebrates. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
But just before the break, Mayo won a penalty when Tony Carey was pulled down by Kerry keeper Ruairí Kennedy, who received a black card. Dara Flanagan slotted home, and the Connacht side held a 2-5 to 1-7 lead at the break.
Despite conceding two goals, Quillinan was satisfied at the break.
'To be expected, and there was a nice breeze there as well. We kinda just said we're playing against the breeze. Let's be controlled, let's be measured, let's make the decisions on the ball really, really well. And after conceding two goals, I was happy going in a point behind.'
With the wind at their backs in the second half, Kerry seized control. Ben Kelliher and Kevin Griffin combined for a flurry of two-point efforts, flipping the game on its head. Mayo battled back once more, with Holmes finding the net for a crucial goal to level the tie entering the final stretch.
But Kerry showed maturity in a dramatic conclusion. Late points from Gearóid White, Nick Lacey, and Kelliher's stunning two-point free in the 66th minute sealed a dramatic late win. Tyrone are on the horizon and Quillinan is not looking ahead to that tie just yet.
'Not tonight. I'm gonna absolutely put the legs up when I get home and not even think about it. I know Tyrone are gonna be a huge challenge, but you know what, we'll relax tonight and think about that tomorrow morning.'
Scorers for Kerry: B Kelliher (0-9, 2f, 1 2p, 1 2pf), K Griffin (0-4, 1 2pf, 1 2p) M Ó Sé (1-0), G White (0-3, 1f), J Curtin, D Murphy, N Lacey (0-1 each)
Scorers for Mayo: B Holmes (1–3), D Flanagan (1-3, 1-0 pen), C May (1-0), C Hession (0-3, 1f), T Carey (0-1 each)
KERRY: R Kennedy; R Sheridan, E Joy, T Ó Slatara; D Murphy, D Sargent, M Clifford; M Ó Sé, J Curtin; M O'Carroll, G White, A Tuohy; B Kelliher, K Griffin, T O'Connell.
Subs: N Lacey for T O'Connell (Blood 27-29), S Sargent for T O'Connell (29), T O'Connell for R Kennedy (38), D McCarthy for E Joy (50), L O'Brien for T O'Connell (51), N Lacey for M O'Carroll (57)
MAYO: T Williams; C Coghill, B Langan, C Tighe; R O'Donnell, D Duffy, E Dever; A Kelly, C May; R Neary, D Flanagan, C Jordan; B Holmes, C Hession, T Carey.
Subs: P Quinn for C Coghill (Temp 20-23), B Joyce for R Neary (43), O Murphy for T Carey (43), Hoban for C Jordan (48), F Ó Cinnseala for C Hession (60)
Referee: C Dourneen (Cavan)
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