Alas poor All-Ireland football championship. We knew it well, a competition of infinite jest and most excellent fancy.
But now it s just a joke and yesterday s final was the punchline. It fell yet again to Mayo to try to save the competition s honour but, surpassingly and typically gallant though James Horan s men were, this decider was a foregone conclusion from the start.
Not once in the 70 minutes was there anything which suggested Dublin would not make it six in a row. There was nothing either to suggest they won t make it seven when the circus resumes in a few months time. In the last three years they have only been troubled once and that fright in last year s final only came about because the champions had to play with a man short for over half the game.
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Ruthless Dublin always find a way to win and end any dreams of a 2020 sporting breakthrough
Mayo had drawn level in the 50th minute but Dublin were not to be stopped. By Fintan O Toole Sunday 20 Dec 2020, 10:38 AM Dec 20th 2020, 10:38 AM 6,291 Views 17 Comments
Image: James Crombie/INPHO
Image: James Crombie/INPHO
THIS TIME there was no wild outbreaks of joy, a communal celebration in front of a packed Hill 16, like they did back in 2011 when this run of domination began or in 2019 when they achieved the immortal feat of five-in-a-row.
Post match in Croke Park was a private affair for the Dublin footballers last night, a new experience for a team so accustomed to success. They looked around at the empty stands and terraces, watched as the new man that has guided them in 2020 got his hands on Sam Maguire a quarter of a
Dublin are the All-Ireland Senior Football Champions for a sixth consecutive year.
They beat Mayo on a scoreline of 2-14 to 15 points at Croke Park this evening.
Dean Rock and Con O Callaghan with the goals for the Boys in Blue in the first half.
The win marks Dublin s 30th All-Ireland success while Mayo s quest for the ultimate glory enters a seventh decade.
The Dublin manager Dessie Farrell who has relatives in South Donegal gave his thoughts at full-time.