Champions sent packing by determined Mayo

Mayo ended Galway's reign as All-Ireland champions with surprising ease yesterday and at the same time claimed their third Connacht title in just four years.

Galway came to Tuam Stadium with their reputation shaken, but far from broken. Then, in front of some 31,000 supporters, they collapsed and folded. Considering the champions scored only once in the second half, this was a crushing defeat.

For Mayo manager John Maughan, he may have had better days during his four-year reign, but not by much. Yesterday, his first reaction came out as "thrilled to bits", especially after the numerous write-offs in the press. "You have to talk about the hunger as well," he said. "And I think we showed plenty of that." The wet conditions were always going to be a factor, but "whether it suits you or not, you have to make the best of it," he said.

It started fast and rarely let up. The wind and rain didn't make for the most beautiful of football, but the game didn't want for determination.

Padraig Joyce and Derek Savage set Galway's slick-scoring forwards in motion as Mayo were forced into a chasing game. David Nestor's inspiring goal on the half hour only provided a short-lived advantage as Galway struck back from Joyce to lead 1-9 to 1-6 at the break.

Then Mayo's revolution began. Playing with the breeze, they gradually threw a blanket over the Galway forwards. Through substitutes Pat Fallon and Kieran McDonald, they gradually tagged on eight points to Galway's one, while all the time James Horan and Maurice Sherdian stayed on target.

Galway did have their chances, but in most cases, they were not taken. Michael Donnellan was always going to be a target player, but the Mayo half backs ensured he was never hit. The usual impact of Ja Fallon was curtailed equally impressively.

And for Galway manager John O'Mahony, a glorious year in the spotlight finally comes to a close. Like any great leader knocked from the top, he will take time and space to regroup. "I always felt we might have a fight-back in us," he said. "So I only really got worried when the final whistle went."

His analysis of the performance, however, could be found in the statistics - only one point in the second half. "That's analysis enough," said O'Mahony.

Mayo move into their All-Ireland semi-final against Cork next month sure of one thing. They've experienced defeat at the top, yet still have the hunger to make it back and try again.