Paul Flynn questioned Mayo's use of Aidan O'Shea during their National League Division One final loss to Kerry, playing him on the edge of the square for some of the game but rarely kicking the ball into him.
The Breaffy player kicked three first half points - incidentally, these were the first points from play he has ever scored in a senior final in Croke Park - but he didn't get many more opportunities in the aftermath.
His first score came after linking up well with Stephen Coen, looping around before swinging over after three minutes. His second was a complete solo effort, taking up possession on the left wing and running at Dylan Casey, twisting, turning and slotting over.
His third came in the 26th minute, linking up with Coen again, but O'Shea was again the instigator of the move, creating the opportunity for himself by running from deep.
It took a lucky break for the ball to come their way and in terms of the build-up, the score appeared to be more by accident than by design.
3 nóim #MAYvKER @MayoGAA 0-01 @Kerry_Official 0-01
Scór maith ag an bhfear mór!💪
Aidan O'Shea curls over Mayo's first score.
BEO/LIVETG4 AR @TG4TV 📺 @AllianzIreland #AllianzLeagues #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/OgCF5wJCk5
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 30, 2025
Mayo didn't kick much ball into him during the game and speaking on The Sunday Game, Dublin legend Paul Flynn couldn't understand why. He said he saw no evidence of Mayo players looking to kick a ball in towards the square.
"Aidan O'Shea on the edge of the square... and they didn't try once to put the ball in on top of him," a bemused Flynn points out.
"He kicked some lovely points living off scraps in the first half and he showed a bit of leadership.
"But was there anyone running with their head up trying to put a ball in towards the back post, to try and test Kerry, just to change the dynamic?
"I was really disappointed with Mayo. It was all one-dimensional, running down blind alleys, turning the ball over, just not having a punch that you're expecting from them."
Peter Canavan agreed with Flynn's take that Mayo were one-dimensional, criticising their players for running into trouble rather than moving the ball quickly with the foot.
The Tyrone legend singled out a passage of play involving Sam Callinan which captured Mayo's reluctance to kick the ball.
30 March 2025; Aidan O'Shea of Mayo is tackled by Jason Foley of Kerry during the Allianz Football League Division 1 final match between Kerry and Mayo at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
"First thing he (Callinan) did when he got the ball was look sideways to his right hand side," Canavan said, "He peaked in, but was never going to kick it in. Came back in left and across the pitch."
"They persisted on running into trouble time after time, failing to punch any holes. Not only that, they were giving the ball away."
"They've so few positives to take out of the game. Very few stood out for them," Canavan added.
"Aidan started very well and kicked three scores but after that all them players who were really good for them in the league, Jack Carney, very quiet game. Ryan O'Donoghue, in and out of it. Mattie Ruane, who was brilliant the last two or three games, found it really hard to impose himself."
The only positives Canavan could see for Mayo was that Diarmuid O'Connor returned from injury, ahead of their clash with Sligo next week.
