Did Kerry leave it behind or can they carry the momentum of a sensational second half push into the All-Ireland final replay on Saturday week? We'll have two weeks to debate an All-Ireland for the ages. Sky Sports's post-match analysis focused especially on how Dublin came so close to squandering the 5-in-a-row. While it was noted that Dublin naturally struggled to cope while down to 14 men, Peter Canavan said he saw signs of legginess in the entire Dublin performance, and with it, the pressure of winning a fifth All-Ireland on the trot.
"There were leggy from the start," Canavan said.
There were signs of complacency in this Dublin team that we've been waiting on for years. We didn't think the hype of 5-in-a-row would get to players, and the Kerry players said it's strange how it affects you and how it turns your legs to jelly"
"I still think Dublin showed remarkable heart and courage in a game that we could have lost so easily. They hung in there and hung in there. They were absolutely magnificent."
The second half of the match featured a six point swing, where the Kingdom overturned a 5-point deficit. In analysing Stephen Cluxton's brilliant save on Paul Murphy in the second half, Canavan spotted a moment of James McCarthy 'legginess' in the build-up where he aimlessly handpassed the ball out of bounds while under pressure from Kerry.
"We talked about players looking leggy. James McCarthy was not himself today. He threw the ball out like a loaf of bread out over the sideline."
Still Canavan seemed confidant that Jim Gavin will find plenty in that performance to motivate the Dubs.
"How could Jim Gavin motivate his team after the second half performance against Mayo? He'll have plenty of footage there today of Kerry players being today. From my point of view, the Kerry players will be desperately disappointed. They had their chance to stop the drive for 5 and they didn't take it.
A barely audible Kieran Donaghy said Kerry would take so much from the match despite the daunting prospect of a replay against Dublin.
