Young Mayo backs were reddened by an incessant hail of slaps from Enda Kenny last Saturday as they claimed the U21 All-Ireland title for the first time in ten years.
It was the most goal saturated U21 decider since Galway beat Down on a delightfully bizarre scoreline of 6-5 to 3-6 in 2005 - Michael Meehan and Sean Armstrong both bagging hattricks.
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Cork's goalkeeper Anthony Casey was the scapegoat after Mayo rocketed in five goals, winning on the striking scoreline, 5-7 to 1-14.
Made a mistake! Im human! I go to college, work and do everything that every amateur footballer does! Thanks for the support! #alwaysarebel
— Anthony Casey (@AnthonyCasey3) May 2, 2016
With the scores tied up and with a couple of minutes left, Casey scuffed a kick-out into the path of Mayo's Conor Loftus, in a manner reminiscent of Paul Durkan to Donaghy in the 2014 senior final. Loftus rocketed the ball past home.
Loftus rocketed the ball past home. Liam Irwin palmed home the insurance goal a minute later.
The noisy masses on social media reacted with some intemperance, unequivocally blaming Casey for the loss. One termed it 'one of the worst individual performances he'd ever seen.'
Other goalkeepers were able to empathise. Senior stopper Ken O'Halloran reminded people, as Christy O'Connor did in the Evening Echo today, that Casey was one of the principal reasons Cork were in the final.
