HOW THEY RATED

DONNCHADH BOYLE

KERRY Brian Kelly 7

Kelly could do little for either of Mayo’s goals as he was left exposed one-on-one and he generally coped well when Mayo tried to put the squeeze on his kick-outs.

Shane Enright 6

Was left exposed by Kerry’s willingness to push up. Tracked man of the match Andy Moran for most of the afternoon but never shied away from the task.

Mark Griffin 5

Like the rest of the full-back line he was left exposed by Kerry’s high press up the field. Was withdrawn at the break

Killian Young 7

Kicked a point early on and got forward as often as possible. Enjoyed a good battle with Cillian O’Connor.

Peter Crowley 7

Typically abrasive display. Hit hard, tracked runners and got forward when possible.

Tadhg Morley 7

Started well in the half-back line before being pressed into service in the full-back line where he helped shore things up.

Paul Murphy 8

Had the unenviable task of tracking Leeroy Keegan for the afternoon but he did well to push the reigning Footballer of the Year to the fringes of the game. Kicked a late point that looked like the winner.

David Moran 7

Kicked a couple of first-half wides but his approach work for Buckley’s goal demonstrated his skills.

Anthony Maher 5

Didn’t get into the game and was withdrawn at half-time for the younger legs of Jack Barry.

Michael Geaney 5

Subbed after 22 minutes and like a few others had yet to settle into the game.

Johnny Buckley 6

Barring the goal, didn’t get much of a chance to impose himself on the game.

Stephen O’Brien 7

Donnchadh Walsh was a big loss but O’Brien took his goal well in the first half as he tried to keep tabs on Colm Boyle.

Paul Geaney 8

Geaney had a brilliant battle with Brendan Harrison. Kicked all of his frees and chipped in with three from play. A vital cog in the Kerry wheel.

Kieran Donaghy 8

Another game where the big Austin Stacks man yielded significant influence. Managed just a point but had a hand in so much more.

James O’Donoghue 6

Managed a point from play but got most of his possession too far from goal.

SUBS

Jack Savage 6 couldn’t impose himself on the game. The mobility of Jack Barry 6 made a difference around midfield but he might have scored a goal in the second half. Jonathan Lyne 6 helped shore up a Kerry defence that looked very shaky at times in the opening period. Darran O’Sullivan 6 was a good outlet for Kerry. Barry John Keane 7 always gives something off the bench and produced a vital point here. Bryan Sheehan was not on long enough to be rated.

MAYO David Clarke 6

Kerry made a point of going after his kick-outs, particularly in the first half and he wobbled at times. Shot-stopping superb as ever.

Chris Barrett 7

Had James O’Donoghue for company for much of the game and couldn’t be faulted for his efforts there as the Legion man was called ashore.

Aidan O’Shea 6

Put in at full-back to stymie the aerial threat posed by Kieran Donaghy but was found wanting when Kerry went a different route. Hardly his fault given his inexperience at that end of the pitch.

Brendan Harrison 7

The stats show that Paul Geaney kicked three points from play but Harrison put in another very good shift. An excellent tackler.

Colm Boyle 7

Boyle was puzzlingly withdrawn for the third time in three games and looked to be going well when called ashore in the 43rd minute. Bar a poor wide at the end of the first half, did very little wrong.

Donal Vaughan 7

Got forward for a crucial point in the second half and did well to keep Johnny Buckley largely out of the game.

Keith Higgins 8

No brilliant individual goals this time but Higgins produced another big performance. Combined defensive duties with a willingness to attack. Has found form at exactly the right time.

Seamus O’Shea 6

Usual industrious display from O’Shea who provided some good service to the Mayo forwards but got caught for the first Kerry goal.

Tom Parsons 8

Coming into some very strong form. Parsons had a good first half but was excellent in the second when he landed two points. Might have went for goal on one of those occasions but was the best midfielder on show.

Kevin McLoughlin 6

Typically busy but didn’t make much impact.

Leeroy Keegan 6

Couldn’t get into the game in the way he usually does as Paul Murphy forced him on to the back foot. Might be repositioned to a more familiar role in the sequel. Diarmuid O’Connor 6 Struggling to find his best form this year.

Jason Doherty 7

Managed a point from play in an excellent first half. Influence waned a little in the second but a strong showing.

Cillian O’Connor 7

Hit the post with an early free but settled afterwards to finish with four points, three from play.

Andy Moran 9

A man-of-the-match performance. A haul of 1-5 from play tells its own story. Brilliant.

SUBS

Paddy Durcan 7 kicked the vital late equaliser. Stephen Coen 6 is a good option off the bench. David Drake and Conor Loftus not on long enough to rate.