Mayo steamroll Louth in second half rout to book All-Ireland final spot
First-half goals from Ryan O'Donoghue and Darragh Beirne gave Andy Moran's side a four-point lead at half-time, but the second-half comeback many expected from Louth never materialised
Mayo are through to their ninth All-Ireland final in 22 years after a dominant second-half performance against Louth at Croke Park.
First-half goals from Ryan O'Donoghue and Darragh Beirne gave Andy Moran's side a four-point lead at half-time, but the second-half comeback many expected from Louth never materialised.
Instead, Mayo came firing out of the blocks and pulled further and further clear, with Louth failing to score a single point until the 58th minute.
Conor Loftus' goal gave Mayo even more breathing room, and they were able to coast to victory. Moran's side will now await the winners of the other semi-final between Kerry and Dublin.
Could it finally be Mayo's year?
Key Events
By Mark McCadden
Can Mayo’s devastating full-forward line be the curse-breaker?
In a sun-soaked Croke Park, Andy Moran’s attack picked off Louth with a ruthless display of sharp-shooting, with Ryan O’Donoghue scoring a sensational 1-11.
They could have had more if they didn’t take their foot off the gas midway through the second-half when, for a period, they played keep-ball with little pressure coming from Louth.
So dominant were the Westerners that at one stage they went 29 minutes without conceding a score - as Louth were stuck on 11 points from the 28th to the 57th minute.
In their first All-Ireland semi-final in 69 years, when they last won the Sam Maguire, the occasion appeared to get to the Wee County.
It took them a while to join Mayo on the pitch for the start of the second-half, and their performance after the break left you wondering if they’d reemerged at all.
It will be a ninth All-Ireland final in 22 years for Mayo, but this feels a little different as few would have predicted them to make the decider this year. The lack of expectation has seemingly helped them, but now the spotlight will firmly be on them again as they try to end a long, long wait to lift the Sam Maguire Cup again. It wasn't Louth's day. Nothing came off for them in the second half, and they were completely suffocated by Mayo.
Mayo are through to the All-Ireland football final. Sincere aplogies for the lack of upates in the closing minutes. We ran into technical difficulties unfortunately.
Ryan O'Donoghue knocks over another free for Mayo, who are in control of this match.
59 mins gone
Tommy Durnin, on for Louth, combines well with Mulroy to score. The gap is 12 points.
58 mins gone
Louth have their first score since the 28th minute. Ciaran Downey cutting inside and hitting a fine score. But Mayo respond as Cian McHale gets his second of the half.
Nothing is coming off for Louth in this half, and Mayo have taken their foot off the gas slightly themselves.
54 mins gone
Louth are still waiting for their first score in the second half, as Mayo go further clear through Cian McHale, who has only just come on the pitch.
50 mins gone
It's a long way back for Louth now! Mayo disposses Louth again and burst up the pitch, using the searing pace of Tommy Conroy before Conor Loftus applies the finish!
49 mins gone
Another goal chance for Mayo but O'Donoughe is defined by McDonnell. We go back for a free, though, that O'Donoghue clips over the bar. Mayo's lead is now nine points.
45 mins gone
Big let-off for Louth. Tommy Conroy nearly gets in for a goal for Mayo but some great last ditch from Louth saves the day. Up the other end, a Louth attacks comes unstuck.
44 mins gone
Mayo have all the momentum now as McDonald gets his second from play in quick succession. Louth need a response now.
43 mins gone
Kobe McDonald has been kept quiet but he swivels to find space and hit a quality score. Mayo now have a seven-point lead.
41 mins gone
Ciaran Byrne has come on for Ciaran Keenan for Louth. Byrne has been superb when coming on for the Wee County so far this season.
Great start to the half for Mayo as Jordan Flynn knocks over a two-pointer. That came after Tommy Conroy, off the bench for Mayo, hit the crossbar with a deflected effort at goal.
Mayo have a four-point lead as they look to book their place in the All-Ireland final.
Conor Grimes wins a free just outside the two-point arc for Louth. Sam Mulroy steps up and decides to take it out of his hands this time, but he pulls his effort wide of the posts, and that's the last action of the half. Mayo take a four-point lead into the break thanks to goals from Ryan O'Donoghue and Darragh Beirne.
Sam Callinan pounces on a loose ball to set up Darragh Beirne to find the back of the net from close range!
33 mins gone
Louth don't convert a good scoring chance after breaking quickly up the pitch. Then Mayo, with a more patient buildup, create a chance for Paul Towey to score and put his side ahead.
31 mins gone
Conor Grimes bags a two-pointer for Louth and we are level again!
28 mins gone
Louth get from back to front quicly and Conor Grimes gets his second from play. An important score for the Wee County.
27 mins gone
David McBrien does very well to turn the ball over for Mayo and a win a free that Beirne knocks over the bar. Three-point lead for Mayo.
24 mins gone
Worrying scenes for Louth as Craig Lennon has gone down injured. He is helped to his feet, but he can't continue, and is replaced by Tadhg McDonnell.
22 mins gone
Ryan O'Donoghue has been inspirational for Mayo so far, and he hits a brilliant two-pointer. Then they work it to be Kobe McDonald to get on the board. Mayo go into a two-point lead.
21 mins gone
Ryan O'Donoghue gets another from play for Mayo to level things up, but then Mulroy finds Ciaran Keenan to point for Louth.
19 mins gone
Mayo get their first score in nine minutes as Ryan O'Donoughe knocks over a close-range free.
17 mins gone
Louth hit the front as Sam Mulroy nails a two-point free with a perfect strike off the deck.
16 mins gone
Ciaran Downey has started very well and he hits a brilliant two-pointer to level up the match for Louth.
14 mins gone
Louth work the ball well to Conor Grimes slot over the ball with his left foot. Then Louth win a free from outside the two-point arc but Sam Mulroy's pulls it wide of the posts.
10 mins gone
Ciaran Downey with a fine point for Louth but Mayo come firing back. O'Donoghue fires over the bar, and then Beirne gets on the board after a lovely dummy bought him space.
8 mins gone