It finally happened. Mayo have beaten Dublin. It finished 0-17 to 0-14 after extra time. A thoroughly turgid affair came to life after Aidan O'Shea was subbed off. Mayo fought back, and Dublin - comfortable, if never exceptional - wilted when the pressure was finally put up to them.
A first defeat of Dublin since 2012 and a first Championship loss for Dublin since 2014 - there is a lot to celebrate for Mayo tonight. But Mayo have won many famous All-Ireland semifinals in the past decade. The challenge for James Horan and his team is to clear the final hurdle.
When asked in the Sky Sports studio after the match if he's confident about Mayo's chances in the All-Ireland final, Jim McGuinness was not exactly exuberant. He called the result a good one for Kerry.
"I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I think this is a good result for Kerry. I think what Kerry bring to the table is exactly what Mayo don't want to be facing. They're very hungry themselves. They're ravenous. I was down in Kerry. We were down in Kerry for two games. They believe this is their year. They've got amazing forward options. But Mayo will bring everything that they brought tonight."
While critical of Dublin's 'quality' in finishing out the game, McGuinness praised Mayo's character in fighting back.
"The tell tale signs were there all year [for Dublin]. It's in the quality of the team. We had a team that came in here tonight that didn't play well in the first half, that grew into the game in the second half and dominated the extra time. They brought everything that they've been through the ringer with the past eight or nine or ten years. Those guys are battlehardened ... They're mentally strong as well. They knew what this was all about coming in here."
Fitness ultimately proved hugely decisive, and Mayo's youth stood to them. Kieran Donaghy pointed to the roles of the two benches in deciding the game. James Horan swung the match with his substitutions, Dublin's reinforcements were far less effective.
Q. What you got over the line in terms of the performance, Lee?
A. Youth.pic.twitter.com/CkShSanNrN— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) August 14, 2021
Peter Canavan highlighted Mayo's hunger as the perfect compliment to their outstanding fitness.
"Superior fitness told in the end, but their had to be hunger there as well. They didn't lack for hunger and a bit of fighting spirit as well," he said.
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