Mayo welcomed the All-Ireland champions to MacHale Park tonight and dished out a beating that will have supporters booking hotels in Dublin in June. Mayo v Kerry looked like a thrilling match on paper but it was an outright rout, even if Kerry made it slightly interesting over the last 10 minutes.
The McStay era had started with two draws against Galway and Armagh, and both matches had featured flashes of intensity. Tonight, Mayo sustained that pressure for guts for an half. When Sean Hurson blew for half time, it was 2-8 to 0-2 points and Kerry didn't know what hit them.
While the likes of Ryan O'Donoghue, James Carr and Conor Loftus were mightily impressive, it was the steely tough performance of Jordan Flynn in the half forward line won the majority of the plaudits on social media. The Crossmolina man scored four beauties from play while bringing Championship-level physicality to this February evening.
Congrats to our @DeelRoversGAA Jordan Flynn on his man of the match award 💪Great exhibition by our #northmayo lads. #mayogaa #gaa #AllianzLeagues pic.twitter.com/YYwsEMc1Ea
— CrossmolinaGAA (@DeelRoversGAA) February 18, 2023
It's Jordan Flynn's World and we are just living in it @AhRefMayo
— Aoife Donnelly (@TheAoifeDon) February 18, 2023
Jordan Flynn having another stormer for @MayoGAA #AllianzLeagues
— Niall (@mcloughlinniall) February 18, 2023
Jordan Flynn, superb in today’s game. #HonMayo
— Eileen Gallagher (@lileeny) February 18, 2023
Jordan Flynn’s progress in the Mayo jersey has been humongous. And people wrote him off around the under-20 AI Final.
— Ger Flanagan (@Gerry_Flan93) February 18, 2023
Jordan Flynn, absolutely unbelievable.
— ryan (@ryannafc) February 18, 2023
Jordan Flynn having an excellent game.
Mayo playing with much more intensity and the system McStay is implementing is lovely to watch. Can’t wait to see it develop as the season goes on— GAA Editz (@Gaa_editz) February 18, 2023
Flynn now has scored 0-7 in the league and looks like one of the best forwards in the country on current form.
"We know how good we are, but we know that a team like Kerry coming down is never easy," Flynn said after the game.
Lán Ama - Sraith Peile Allianz
"It's nice to get off the mark, finally"
Is é Jordan Flynn Laoch na hImeartha inniu! - Comhghairdeas leat Jordan!@MayoGAA #MAYvKER | #AllianzLeagues | #GAABEO@GAA_BEO | @officialgaa
BEO AR @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/lrrXoGUQfv— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 18, 2023
The result puts Mayo temporarily to the top of Division 1. Speaking to TG4 after the game, McStay was not entertaining the slightest bit of 'Mayo for Sam' hype and instead said his sole goal is to avoid relegation.
"Ah Michéal, I'd say you're moving that dial up far too fast. I'd say we have that under reasonable proportion for what we want to do."
Lán Ama - Sraith Peile Allianz
Thug Kevin McStay a tuaraimí i ndiadh an cluiche.@MayoGAA #MAYvKER | #AllianzLeagues | #GAABEO@GAA_BEO | @officialgaa | @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/VBIiD2mFqT— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 18, 2023
Kerry were poor until David Clifford and Seanie O'Shea made their second half cameos. It's the kind of result you get in a league that no one really wants to win or be relegated. That said, Clifford made his 2023 season debut and picked up right where he left off with a tremendous point.
David Clifford's 2023 season is underway, folkspic.twitter.com/ZPqZv4VRSu
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) February 18, 2023
But Mayo were unbowed and continued to dominate a possession. A fine fisted point from James Carr gave Mayo a thirteen point lead. From there the intensity of the match fizzled out and the momentum of the game waned. Kerry however fought their way back to make things a little bit interesting.
It finished 2-14 to 1-10.
