Kerry and Mayo have to do it all over again after a thrilling draw in Croke Park this Sunday afternoon.
It ended 2-14 apiece after this instant classic at GAA HQ.
The sides will have to do it all over again next Saturday after this memorable encounter – a match that the football championship badly needed after one-sided quarter-finals.
There was talk in the build up that the Kerry full-back line was vulnerable and Mayo took advantage of this – scoring a goal in the fourth minute.
After a mix-up in the Kerry defence, Andy Moran provided a superb finish.
What a hit by Andy — Supergoal.@MayoAdvert #KerryvMayo Mayo starting powerfully.
— Declan Varley (@declanvarley) August 20, 2017
GOAL! Andy Moran fires Mayo in front with a brilliant finish! #Mayo #GAA #Kerry
— The Season Ticket (@_SeasonTicket) August 20, 2017
That's how you finish, take a bow Andy Moran #monMayo
— Michael O'Neill (@mikeycoyb) August 20, 2017
However, Kerry rose a green flag of their own after 12 minutes when Stephen O’Brien finished calmly after being played through by Kieran Donaghy.
GOOOOAL for Kerry! Stephen O Brien the scorer. The game is level! pic.twitter.com/Ge3wC61xW5
— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) August 20, 2017
Awww Kerry with the goal!!! Game on!!!
— Lance Shevlin (@LanceShevlin) August 20, 2017
Stephen O'Brien is a class act!!! #GAA
— Derrick Lynch (@DLynchSport) August 20, 2017
WATCH:
Two goals in the opening 13 minutes at Croke Park. Moran for Mayo & O'Brien for Kerry! Mayo lead by two after 20 minutes. #GAAClips pic.twitter.com/ZDfZko79TD— eir Sport (@eirSport) August 20, 2017
While Galway created goal chances against the Kingdom in the quarter-final, they couldn’t take those chances. Their Connacht rivals didn’t have the same trouble as Colm Boyle got their second three-pointer before Cillian O’Connor put them 2-4 to 1-4 ahead after 20 minutes.
Colm Boyle with a goal straight from Austin Gleeson's locker. End to end stuff. Mayo 2-4 Kerry 1-4.
— Gordon Manning (@Gordon_Manning) August 20, 2017
That was a lovely worked goal, go on Colm Boyle ?❤️
— Aisling Murray (@AislingFluich) August 20, 2017
With goals flying in, there was also an intriguing sub-plot to this semi-final: Aidan O’Shea playing in the full-back line to mark Donaghy.
Aidan O Shea on Kieran Donaghy is an absolute stroke of genius so far. Fine start for the Westerners. #honmayo
— Liam Aherne (@laherne84) August 20, 2017
So now we know why Aidan O' Shea is in full back..He has Donaghy in his back pocket! #thetoughest #aibgaa #aidanoshea #mayovkerry
— Jenny Mc Govern (@JennyQuillan) August 20, 2017
The RTE commentators seem somewhat obsessed with Aidan O'Shea but fail to mention Donaghy getting away from him on majority of occasions.
— Donnacha Curtin (@Le_Dooner) August 20, 2017
In a fascinating battle at GAA HQ, the sides were level at the break, 2-05 to 1-08.
Kerry opened the second half scoring but then Mayo upped it a gear. The Connacht side scored four points in a row with a fisted point from Tom Parsons after a quick free by Moran but Stephen Rochford’s men 2-9 to 1-9 ahead after 45 minutes.
However, just as it looked like the men from the west were in control, Kerry got their second goal. A run by David Moran split the defence and, after his shot was brilliantly saved by Clarke, Johnny Buckley finished the rebound to level the game again.
WATCH:
Goal for Johnny Buckley as he reacts quickest after a fine save from David Clarke to level things up at Croke Park. #GAAClips pic.twitter.com/6SlIoCAp1B— eir Sport (@eirSport) August 20, 2017
The sides then shared the next four points, with Andy Moran bringing his personal tally to 1-05 to level the game at 2-11 apiece heading into the final quarter hour in Croker.
Cracking game this is between mayo and Kerry
— Darren Kelly (@D_K_15) August 20, 2017
Best game of Championship 2017. Neither team deserve to lose. #KerryvMayo #HonKerry
— Nell (@Nell496) August 20, 2017
It remained nip and tuck and when substitute Barry John Keane announced his arrival with a point, the game was level again, 2-13 each.
Paul Murphy then edged the Kingdom into the lead with a 69th minute effort to put Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s men a single point ahead.
Then, with four out of the five minutes of injury time gone, Mayo levelled it again to secure a thrilling draw, with Paddy Durcan getting the crucial score to force another day out.
Getting way too into #KerryvMayo and I'm feeling guilty that I'm cheating on rugby
— Charlotte McCarthy (@Charlotte_McC19) August 20, 2017
A replay !!!
Fantastic match ???#KerryvMayo pic.twitter.com/biUqPd6z3D— Carol ??☘️? (@rochagal) August 20, 2017
Mayo do themselves no favours. The greatest playactors in football. Great lads for holding their face when they get tackled! #KerryvMayo
— Cein Collins (@Ceinoo93) August 20, 2017
What a game of football #KerryvMayo
— Conor (@Conorp73) August 20, 2017
Would need to take out a mortgage to follow Mayo #anotherdraw #GAAalwayswins #KerryvMayo
— Talitha Horan (@talsara) August 20, 2017
kerry had many below par performances too Alan.
— mark fitzgerald (@leroy096) August 20, 2017
Honestly supporting Mayo must be like living in a soap opera
— Peter Hatton (@hatton_peter) August 20, 2017
After the pair drew another All-Ireland semi-final, there was something that had to be said…
https://twitter.com/ronanmcevoy7/status/899304759093592064
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