All-Ireland SFC Semi-final/Fermanagh -1-8 Mayo 0-13: Mayo are back in the All-Ireland final for the first time in seven years. That's the blunt conclusion to Fermanagh's summer of science fiction adventure. But to the end they played it in their own universe. There was no sudden, crushing onset of old realities, no implosion or faltering in the suspension of disbelief.
Once again Charlie Mulgrew's team went to the edge but, as the two teams grappled on the precipice, it was the Connacht champions who proved masters of the final push. For once in the tight endgame that has become their forte, it was Fermanagh who toppled in front of the 39,485 in attendance on Saturday.
So John Maughan leads the county to Croke Park for a third All-Ireland final, hopeful that the agonising experiences of the previous decade will fortify preparations. He admitted after the match the drawn semi-final a week ago, when they had to survive with 14 men for half an hour, had been the team's lucky break.
"I never had luck like we had last Sunday. We certainly got out of jail. I hate using that cliche but we did."
This time Maughan's side weren't at all lucky. The win was hard earned and late coming but unquestionably deserved. Fermanagh just about kept afloat in the first half but with characteristic spirit and, despite losing star full back Barry Owens with a recurring stomach injury at half-time, they bounced back in the second half to force the match down a narrow tunnel to its edgy climax.
Afterwards Mulgrew came to terms with journey's end.
"They've achieved a lot but they're very disappointed today," he said. "We're going to have to learn the lessons from this and try and put them to good use in the months ahead."
The weather again spoiled the afternoon, spilling rain down on Croke Park during the hour before throw-in and appearing to give the troublesome surface a very odd, early bounce. Both teams made one change. The hot dog sellers in the street had a good idea that David Brady wouldn't be starting for Mayo despite being named and so it turned out - Fergal Kelly starting instead at centrefield.
Fermanagh started Tom Brewster in place of James Sherry but introduced the Roslea centre forward at an early stage and he repaid the move by scoring 1-1.
The principal reason Mayo won was because they showed significant improvement all around the field. Maybe Fermanagh erred in waiting to replicate the highly successful switch of Niall Bogue onto Kieran McDonald because, even in the initial minutes, the latter gave early notice he was in better form with a point inside 16 seconds and a succession of sweetly dispatched passes.
Even when Bogue moved Mayo asserted another of their improvements, this time tactical, by switching around their attack so rapidly that Fermanagh struggled to reconfigure their covering defence. In the first half McDonald added three assists to his two points to record a central involvement in five of his side's eight points.
Rather than stick with the two-man full-forward line, Maughan varied it with a conventional three men inside. This was complemented by the big step-up in performance from the Mortimer brothers.
Conor had previously been threatening but a bit ephemeral but on Saturday he showed better and hit five points, including three - even four considering one that was pulled back for a foul on him before he converted it - from play and six wides. That's a dozen shots at scoring.
Trevor was much, much better than in the drawn match. He combined that graft and work-rate with excellent distribution, arguably his best of the year, and fearless running culminating in the 69th minute score that effectively won the match.
The Mortimers hinted at their motivation afterwards by claiming unspecified provocation.
"Fermanagh people threw out comments saying we had no bottle and no heart. I think today proves that this team is different to other Mayo teams. It has got the bottle and will finish the tight games," said Trevor afterwards.
His brother echoed this theme.
"There was a lot said to the players even on the pitch, players mouthing and you know, it's good to beat them. They beat us twice in the past three meetings."
The narrative was straightforward. Driven by the improved forward display, Mayo had established a four-point lead, 0-5 to 0-1, by the 20th minute.
Centrefield was also doing better with Ronan McGarrity and Fergal Kelly diligently breaking ball and the one-way flow meant Fermanagh didn't have a wide to go with their point until the 22nd minute.
At about this stage Mayo's focus wavered and attacking ball was wasted. Fermanagh sensed the opportunity and notched two points in a minute and with the score at 0-6 to 0-3, Mayo were tested for the first time. Conor Mortimer's first-time shot was stopped by Niall Tinney's good block and minutes later James Sherry, just on the field, struck for a goal.
Pat Kelly's tackle succeeded only in teeing up the ball for Sherry and his half volley ran under Burke's flailing advance.
In retrospect Mayo's response was significant. McGarrity and Trevor Mortimer clipped points and Maughan was furious when referee John Bannon whistled half-time on the dot, as Peadar Gardiner charged through the middle for what might have been another score.
Bannon, in an uncharacteristic performance, let a lot of fouls go in the second half and Mayo were a bit aggrieved at the disproportionate free count against them.
Eight minutes after the break Fermanagh were ahead - their first spell of control yielding points from Stephen Maguire, James Sherry and Colm Bradley.
Aside from their own improved ball winning around the middle - David Brady was brought in for the final quarter and scored the penultimate equaliser - Fermanagh's recovery was aided by Mayo's aimless short passing at the back, sometimes a fingertip away from interception, and the lack of urgency which contaminated their game.
Twice more the Ulster side regained the lead and the sense was that if they could pull two clear Mayo might buckle. As it was the match had only two minutes to run - Maughan conceded he had felt the match might be gone - when the energetic David Heaney was fouled on a sortie from full back. Conor Mortimer converted.
With a replay on everyone's mind, Trevor Mortimer seized the day with a surge down the left wing and then a fisted point. Seconds later the accomplished James Nallen made the final thrust, opening up a gap for replacement Austin O'Malley to seal the win.
MAYO: 1 P Burke; 4 G Ruane, 3 D Heaney, 7 P Kelly; 5 P Gardiner, 6 J Nallen, 2 C Moran; 8 R McGarrity (0-1), 25 F Kelly; 10 J Gill, 11 K McDonald (0-2), 12 A Dillon; 13 C Mortimer (0-5, two frees), 14 T Mortimer (0-3), 15 B Maloney. Subs: 18 D Geraghty for Moran (half-time), 28 A O'Malley (0-1) for B Maloney (45 mins), 9 D Brady (0-1) for F Kelly (52 mins), 19 D Munnelly for Gill (65 mins).
FERMANAGH: 1 N Tinney; 2 N Bogue, 3 B Owens, 4 R McCluskey; 5 R Johnston, 6 S McDermott, 7 P Sherry; 8 M McGrath, 9 L McBarron; 10 E Maguire, 28 T Brewster (0-1, a free), 12 M Little (0-1); 13 C O'Reilly, 11 S Maguire (0-2, both frees), 15 C Bradley (0-3, two frees). Subs: 19 H Brady for P Sherry (22 mins), 14 J Sherry (1-1) for O'Reilly (29 mins), 19 D O'Reilly for Owens (half-time).
Referee: J Bannon (Longford).
