NFL Division One: Dublin 1-17 Mayo 1-15
A night for beginnings, endings and those who continue to endure. In the midst of it all, Dublin beat Mayo.
Seán Bugler was the star turn in this Division One NFL opener, scoring seven points from play, and threatening to upstage the new rules as the headline act in front 24,160 spectators at Croke Park.
There was a very loud hooter in operation, some very white snowy vanishing spray and for the anoraks the day provided some very artful future table-quiz questions – two games of Gaelic football took place in the stadium on Saturday played under two very different set of rules (An Cheathrú Rua beat Naomh Pádraig in the All-Ireland club junior final taking place under the old regulations).
Dublin had five debutants, but the night ended with the focus on those who won’t be involved this season – with Dessie Farrell confirming Paul Mannion and Jack McCaffrey are not expected back.
Stephen Cluxton though, he endures. Cluxton wasn’t involved in the matchday panel at the weekend, but the 43-year-old is training with the Dubs. Paddy Small has also committed while Farrell is hopeful John Small will be back in blue as well. Farrell will chat with Cuala’s Michael Fitzsimons over the coming days on his plans.
“Jack and Paul, the conversations with those, these lads aren’t ones for releasing retirement statements or whatever, but I’d say it’s unlikely that the two lads will be involved with us this year,” admitted Farrell.
“Of course, the door is always open if there’s any change of hearts or change of minds, but the way discussions have gone, it’s probably unlikely.
“Stephen has been back with us, he’s had a small little cleanout of the knee. He’s working his way back from that, but he’s been involved from the start.”
On the field, Saturday marked a starting point for the new rules. They are likely to encounter choppy waters at some point over the coming weeks, so all the more reason for the maiden voyage to try get out of port with wind in its sails.
There certainly appeared to be more space on the pitch for players to attack and the game wasn’t as littered with stoppages.
From the 2-32 total scored, 2-30 came from open play. Two Ryan O’Donoghue frees were the only scores registered from placed balls. All of Dublin’s 1-17 came from play.
Several two-point efforts were attempted but only one was successful – Fergal Boland in the first half.
The last attempt at a two-pointer was from O’Donoghue as the seconds ticked away at the end of the game – the Mayo forward clearly aware it would have earned his side a draw – but the ball sailed wide.
“Very happy with the performance overall,” chirped Farrell afterwards. “It was a different sort of night for us in terms of a lot of new lads in the mix and fellas who hadn’t previously established themselves in the starting team so delighted for them how it went.”
Dublin had five players making their starting league debuts – goalkeeper Gavin Sheridan, former AFL player James Madden, ex-Dubs hurling captain Eoghan O’Donnell (who had previously appeared off the bench in the 2022 championship), Kevin Lahiff and Brian O’Leary.
Mayo had debutants Fenton Kelly and Davitt Neary, but it was Dublin’s young guns who fired first – Lahiff palming the ball to the back of the net in only the second minute, the chance created by O’Donnell.
Bugler popped up everywhere in the opening quarter and by the 14th minute he had already posted his third point of the match as Dublin raced out to an early seven point advantage.
But between the 17th and 30th minutes Mayo hit 1-7 without reply – a run of scores that included that lovely two-pointer from Boland.
Indeed, Mayo’s comeback was an advertisement for the new rules. It took them just 51 seconds to cancel out a five-point deficit. Boland clipped over his two-pointer with the clock at 21:53.
In the next play, Mayo swept forward again and goalkeeper Colm Reape was able to drill a hole, pass to the inrushing David McBrien, who in turn fed Conor Reid and with the clock at 22:44 the Moy Davitts man showed good composure to round Sheridan and slide home. Just like that, it was 1-6 apiece.
“When we played, we played quite well,” said Kevin McStay. “We just couldn’t maintain it, we weren’t consistent enough. That’s a big work on for next week.”
Mayo led 1-10 to 1-8 at the break but two quick points from Ciarán Kilkenny on the restart and one from Lahiff edged Dublin back in front again.
Bugler’s three second-half points were crucial to the victory, the last of those arriving two minutes from time to push Dublin three points clear.
Darren McHale pulled one back moments later but time was against Mayo and O’Donoghue couldn’t find the range with his last-gasp two-point effort.
Overall, it felt like a positive start for the new rules but it would be rash to make any firm declarations after the opening weekend.
“I think there will have to be a bank of data for sure before we can truly reflect on what’s working and what isn’t working,” added Farrell.
“The keeper coming up, it’s creating that 12th man in the attacking zone. I think what you will see is ultimately things might become a little bit more patient in the play to allow that keeper to come up which probably goes against the grain or the spirit of what the new rules are about.”
It is true that the goalkeepers were key players on Saturday night – in attacking plays. Sheridan and Reape were either on the end of moves or dragging defenders out of position and creating a plus one in the attacking zone.
But in the media room afterwards, McStay gave the night some perspective.
He spoke about Crossmolina, the tragedy that community had suffered and how he wanted to wish them well in their rescheduled All-Ireland final. And he also talked about how Mayo had trained in the Dome last Thursday night, just over 24 hours before it was destroyed by Storm Éowyn.
“It’s a terrible loss for Connacht GAA,” said McStay. “It’s something we were incredibly proud of. I’m talking in the past tense, but I know the people that got that built will be the same people that will rebuild it because they’re doers and people that get on with the job.”
Beginnings, endings and those who continue to endure. The 2025 season is up and running.
DUBLIN: G Sheridan; D Byrne, T Clancy, E Murchan; C Murphy, B Howard, G McEneaney (0-0-2); K McGinnis (0-0-1), J Madden; C Kilkenny (0-0-2), K Lahiff (1-0-2), S Bugler (0-0-7); C Basquel (0-0-1), E O’Donnell, B O’Leary. Subs: S MacMahon for Murchan (46 mins); T Lahiff for Madden (51); N Scully for Lahiff, L Breathnach (0-0-2) for O’Leary (both 59); S Lowry for O’Donnell (66).
MAYO: C Reape (0-0-1); S Callinan, R Brickenden, E Hession; S Coen, D McBrien, D McHugh; F Kelly, M Ruane; C Reid (1-0-0), P Towey (0-0-2), D Neary (0-0-2); F Boland (0-1-2), F Irwin (0-0-2), R O’Donoghue (0-0-3, 2f). Subs: D McHale (0-0-1) for Towey (51 mins); C McHale for Irwin (59); B Tuohy for McHugh, S Morahan for Kelly (both 63); D O’Connor for Neary (65).
Referee: P Faloon (Down).
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