Speaking to Sporting Limerick Matt O’Callaghan thinks Kerry will be slightly the happier side after the drawn semi final.

Kerry and Mayo served up a classic on Sunday as both teams couldn’t be separated after 70 plus minutes of intensity and skill.

As Bryan Sheehan stepped up to attempt one last long range effort in the 74th minute, Mayo fans would be forgiven to thinking not again, not another heartbreaking Croke Park defeat. Sheehan’s effort dropped short and was plucked from the air by Aidan O’Shea as time elapsed.

While there is no guarantee that Mayo won’t suffer another agonising defeat next Saturday evening at GAA headquarters, neutral GAA fans will get a re-run of what was a absorbing encounter. Great for us with no skin in the game but for long suffering Mayo fans, just another step on their 2017 odyssey that will hopefully see them finally land the big prize.

Discussing the game with Sporting Limerick, The Weekly Observer’s Matt O’Callaghan believes that Kerry will be happier that Mayo and that they will be better for Saturday evening’s replay.

“There have been question marks, not just this year but over the last few years over the quality of the Kerry defence and think that was exposed. Mayo identified it and targeted it from the off when the blitzed Kerry early on”

“You would have to say that the kind of start that Mayo got (on Sunday) that it’s unlikely that Kerry will allow them to get the same start the next day.”

Despite dreadful underfoot conditions both sides played football in the way it should be played. O’Callaghan believes credited both teams for their attitude but singled out Mayo for their resilience and defiance.

“Mayo have again come back and lit up the 2017 Championship and they are going into their 9th game in the replay on Saturday, it is absolutely phenomenal how they keep going to the well, coming back and bouncing back. There is great credit due to Mayo, great credit due to this squad of players.”

You can listen to Matt’s thoughts in full on the link below.

You and see extended highlights below. Video Credit RTE

RTE’s excellent promo video for Kerry V Mayo: Video Credit RTE