Owen Mulligan is Dublin nemesis again as Nickey Brennan is named Kilkenny manager

MAYO may be known as the team that couldn’t get over the line, but by God they sure did provide some defiant moments – and included in that was their drawn All-Ireland semi-final with Dublin at Croke Park.

In the 61st minute, Jack McCaffrey popped over to put Dublin 2-12 to 0-11 ahead and in old money before the FRC intervention, that was pretty much a guaranteed victory.

But Mayo were a team that fed off energy and they did just that, with no shortage of quality, to produce a stunning comeback to earn a second day out.

Mayo posted 1-4 without reply in those final moments with the goal coming through a familiar source, Cillian O’Connor raising the green flag.

There was a further blow for Jim Gavin in those closing moments as Diarmuid Connolly was given a straight red card by Joe McQuillan for a clash with Lee Keegan.

Tipperary demonstrated that football was alive in the Premier County as they reached the All-Ireland Minor final courtesy of a hard-fought win over Kildare.

They had been under pressure as Emmet Moloney was dismissed midway through the second half, but with Jack Kennedy in superb form, they earned a 0-11 to 0-9 win to set up a final date with Kerry.

Having lost football manager Brian Cuthbert the week before, Cork were also on the look-out for a new hurling boss as the legendary Jimmy Barry Murphy brought his second managerial stint with the Rebels to an end.

CROKE Park witnessed another Owen Mulligan goal as the Cookstown man finished past Stephen Cluxton to help Mickey Harte’s Tyrone side take a massive stride towards a second Sam Maguire.

The sides couldn’t be split the week before but Mulligan’s goal, helped the Red Hands to an ultimately emphatic 2-18 to 1-14 win.

Mulligan ended with a 1-7 tally while Stevie O’Neill contributed 1-3, the goal coming from the penalty spot as Dublin couldn’t replicate their energy from the first day out.

Given it was a replay, Tyrone were also able to see who they’d be facing in the final as Kerry won a Munster duel with Cork.

Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper was in inspired form as the Kingdom swatted their neighbours aside on a 1-19 to 0-9 scoreline.

It meant a fourth All-Ireland final spot in six years for Kerry, with Jack O’Connor’s side maybe preferring a tougher challenge to warm them up for that big encounter.

Down made their first minor final since 1999 as they eased past Offaly on a 1-15 to 1-7 scoreline.

The sides were level at the break but Martin Clarke took over from there with Ciarán Brannigan also producing a brilliant display.

Monaghan ladies bowed out of the All-Ireland race after embarrassingly only managing a single point against Mayo.

Their opponents weren’t much better, finishing with 0-6, with Niamh Kindlon scoring Monaghan’s only point after 33 minutes.

DERRYGONNELLY were crowned Fermanagh SFC champions for the first time ever as they defeated Lisnaskea 1-10 to 3-6 in Irvinestown.

The Harps led 2-3 to 0-3 at the break, but Lisnaskea fought back gamely to trail by just two points having been 11 behind at one stage.

Derrygonnelly were not to be denied however and were crowned Erne champions.

In Monaghan, Castleblayney were let down by their poor finishing as holders Clontibret escaped with a draw.

Castleblayney had kept their noses in front for the majority of the contest but a Dan Hughes red card gave Clontibret a route back into the game and Kieran Lavelle kicked the leveller as the game finished 0-11 to 0-11.

Future GAA President Nickey Brennan was appointed as manager of the Kilkenny hurlers.

Six people were nominated to succeed Ollie Walsh, but it was Brennan that got the nod.