Mayo 1-16 Dublin 2-12: Mayo upset the odds and recorded one of the most dramatic wins in Championship history as they came from behind to deny Dublin in their All-Ireland SFC semi-final at Croke Park this afternoon.
There was an edge to this encounter even before the off as Mayo opted to do their warm-up in front of the Dublin masses on Hill 16. In keeping with tradition Dublin emerged from the tunnel and duly walked through and interupted Mayo as they went to pay tribute to their army of fans - as is their tradition at Croke Park.
As a result fractious exchanges followed on the sidelines as players and selectors alike confronted each other. But what of the game? It started relatively calmly but no one could have predicted what was to follow. A truly epic encounter.
"The team talk boiled down to one word: Faith. This win is about the whole 30 players and all the backroom staff. I said all along as long as we believed we had a chance," was how an emotional Mickey Moran summed his team's remarkable achievement.
"Today was a great victory, especially the way we came back in the second half," added Moran all choked up and barely able to get his words out after the final whistle.
Moran's Mayo surprisingly dominated the midfield with Ronan Garrity involved all over the field. Dublin looked edgy and notched up a number of wides early on. It was only after 18 minutes that Dublin converted their first point through Conal Keaney. In the meantime Jason Sherlock had picked up a yellow card for a high challenge on Ger Brady.
Ciaran Whelan was lucky to stay on the pitch after he too got physical when he clearly punched Garrity but the Dubin player was lucky to get away with a yellow as Garrity was eventually replaced.
Brady wreaked havoc with the Dublin defence and a well worked combination with Conor Mortimer ended up with Brady slicing over the bar for another Mayo point. Ray Cosgrove repsonded almost immediately.
Kevin O'Neill was introduced to the action and had an immediate impact as he levelled for the Connacht side. Mortimer then gave Mayo a one-point 1-05 to 0-09 lead at half-time.
The start of the second half all went Dublin's way as Alan Brogan scored the first point before Sherlock was presented with an open goal. Brogan then added two quick points to put Dublin five ahead.
Moran called on the experience of David Brady in place of Billy Joe Padden as Mayo had to find a way of Dublin running away with it. Alan Higgins fouled Quinn and Mayo condeced another.
It took Mayo almost 10 minuted to score their first point of the half through Mortimer. Kevin Bonner cancelled it out and Keaney added another and Dublin were seven points clear and seemingly cruising. Then the comeback.
Mayo stemmed the flow and Kevin O'Neill, in placing a deft ball into Andy Moran who scored the first Championship goal against Dublin, provided the pivotal moment of the match. Dillon would soon bring the sides level for the sixth time with 15 minutes remaining.
Mortimer gave Mayo the lead and were clearly in the ascendency. However, lack of scores allowed Brogan to bring the ball out of his own half and convert to bring the sides level once more.
Mark Vaughan came on for Quinn in the dying minutes and almost gave the Dubs the lead but his effort hit the post. Mayo's responce was quick and McDonald put them back ahead.
Heaney conceded a '45 and Vaughan had the chance to level it but Clarke leaped to punch the ball clear. Dublin would win another free and Vaughan was called upon once more. However, this time he shot wide and Mayo held on for the thrilling victory and book their place in the final against Kerry.
Earlier in the day Louth secured the Tommy Murphy Cup as they defeated Leitrim 3-14 to 1-11 as the curtain-raiser to the semi-final.
JP Rooney scored a late goal to put the icing on the cake on a memorale win for the Wee County.
By halftime Louth held a considerable 2-07 to 0-05 lead but Leitrim came out after the break with more purpose. However, Louth still held strong to lead 2-09 to 0-08 as every point for Louth came from open play.