The reigning All-Ireland champions,
Mayo held the edge in the opening half and thanks
to two goals from Noel Stagg they led at the
interval by three points. Down came more into
the game in the second-half and playing some
great football they more than matched the Connacht
side. With the game entering its final minutes
the Mourne side had reduced the leeway to two
points, and at that stage looked capable of
winning the game.
However, it was not to be as
Mayo led by their captain, Pat Fallon regrouped
well in the closing minutes and a late converted
’45’ from Ger Butler gave them the
title, and send the first back-to-back All-Ireland
titles west of the Shannon since 1951.
This replay was once again a
thrilling affair, with both teams playing well
on the night. In the end, it was the Mayo sides
greater penetration in front of goal - the two
Noel Stagg goals proved the difference in the
end.
However, while disappointed
the Down side overall gave a great performance
over the two games, and the standard of football
displayed by both sides showed this competition
has a place in the GAA calender, and is going
from strength to strength. Former county stars
such as Mickey Linden, Ross Carr, Gary Mason
and B. McKernan showed glimpses of their real
class in a game that was a great advertisement
for this grade of football.
Down - M. M. Mahon; J. Farrell,
E. O’Rourke, S. McRory; P. Hardy, G. Mason,
M. Quinn; B. McKernan, Ross Carr 0-3; A. McVeigh
0-1, K. Smyth, D. Ward; Mickey Linden 0-5, Robbie
Coulter 0-3, S. Devlin.
Sub used - M. McCartan.
Mayo - D. O’Boyle; S.
Grealish, J. P. Sheridan, G. Carmody; A. McGarry
0-2, C. Carey, P. Flannery; Pat Fallon 0-1,
M. McLoughlin; Noel Stagg 2-0, Paul Jordan,
T. Morrin; Ger Butler 0-5, L. Nyland, J. Leonard.
