 The trophy in August 2013 | |||||||
| Event | 2021 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Date | 11 September 2021 | ||||||
| Venue | Croke Park,Dublin | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Darren McCurry | ||||||
| Referee | Joe McQuillan (Cavan) | ||||||
| Attendance | 41,150 | ||||||
| Weather | 19 °C (66 °F), Sunny | ||||||
←2020 2022 → | |||||||
The2021 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final was the 134thfinal of theAll-Ireland Senior Football Championship and the culmination of the2021 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. The match was played atCroke Park inDublin on 11 September 2021. It was originally scheduled for 28 August but had to be postponed by two weeks when theTyrone–Kerry semi-final was postponed due to aCOVID-19 outbreak.[1][2][3][4]
Ulster champions Tyrone took onConnacht champions Mayo, in what was their first ever meeting in a final, winning their 4th title after a 2-14 to 0-15 win.[5] Mayo lost their 11th consecutive final since1989, losing 6 finals in 9 years, with this latest defeat on an identical scoreline to2020, when Mayo lost to Dublin.
The game was televised nationally onRTÉ2 as part ofThe Saturday Game live programme, presented byJoanne Cantwell from the outdoorCOVID-19 pandemic-proofed studio atCroke Park, with analysis fromKevin McStay,Seán Cavanagh andPat Spillane.[6] Match commentary was provided byGer Canning, assisted byTomás Ó Sé.[7] The game was also televised internationally bySky Sports.[8]
v
Sligo| 26 June 2021Connacht Quarter-final | Mayo | 3–23– 0–12 | Sligo | Markievicz Park,Sligo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:30 | |||||
| Gls: Aidan O'Shea 2, Darren McHale 1 Pts: Aidan O'Shea 2, Darren McHale 5, Ryan O'Donoghue 5 (4f), Eoghan McLaughlin, Conor Loftus, Tommy Conroy 2 each,Patrick Durcan, Jordan Flynn, Fergal Boland, Stephen Coen, James Carr 1 each | Report | Pts: Niall Murphy 6 (1f), Sean Carrabine 2, Paddy O'Connor, Liam Gaughan, Mikey Gordon, Keelan Cawley 1 each | Referee: Paul Faloon (Down) Attendance: 200 |
v
Leitrim| 11 July 2021Connacht Semi-final | Mayo | 5–20– 0–11 | Leitrim | MacHale Park,Castlebar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gls: Ryan O'Donoghue 1, Darren McHale 2, Darren Coen 1, Tommy Conroy 1 Pts: Ryan O'Donoghue 6 (3f), Darren McHale 1, Darren Coen and Tommy Conroy 3 each, Matthew Ruane and Conor Loftus 2 each, Stephen Coen, Aidan O'Shea, James Carr 1 each | Report | Pts: Keith Beirne 5f, Conor Dolan and Riordan O'Rourke 2 each, Paddy Maguire and Evan Sweeney 1 each | Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford) Attendance: 3,500 |
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Galway| 25 July 2021Connacht Final | Mayo | 2–14– 2–8 | Galway | Croke Park,Dublin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:30 | |||||
| Gls: Ryan O'Donoghue 1 (pen), Matthew Ruane 1 Pts: Ryan O'Donoghue 3 (2f), Matthew Ruane 2, Conor Loftus and Tommy Conroy 2 each, Rob Hennelly (1 '45), Paddy Durcan, Darren McHale, Kevin McLoughlin, James Carr 1 each | Report | Gls: Shane Walsh 1, Damien Comer 1 Pts: Shane Walsh 1, Matthew Tierney 4 (3f), Paul Conroy 2, Cathal Sweeney 1 | Referee: Conor Lane (Cork) Attendance: 18,000 |
v
Dublin| 14 August 2021All-Ireland Semi-final | Mayo | 0–17– 0–14 (a.e.t.) | Dublin | Croke Park,Dublin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0–4 – 0–10) | ||||
Pts: Ryan O'Donoghue 5 (2fs), Tommy Conroy and Robert Hennelly (2fs, 1'45) 3 each, Darren Coen, Jordan Flynn, Kevin McLoughlin, Lee Keegan, Conor Loftus, Matthew Ruane 1 each | Report | Pts: Dean Rock 7 (5fs), Ciarán Kilkenny 3 (1m), Paddy Small 2, Con O'Callaghan and Seán Bugler 1 each | Referee:Conor Lane (Cork) Attendance: 24,000 |
v
Cavan| 10 July 2021Ulster Quarter-final | Tyrone | 1–18– 0–13 | Cavan | Healy Park,Omagh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:30 | |||||
| Gls: Brian Kennedy 1 Pts: Darren McCurry 10 (3f, 1m), Cathal McShane 3 (1f), Niall Sludden 2, Peter Harte, Richard Donnelly, Paul Donaghy 1 each | Report | Pts: Gearoid McKiernan 6 (4f), Conor Smith 2, Raymond Galligan 1f, Thomas Galligan, Gerard Smith, Oisin Pierso, Conor Madden 1 each | Attendance: 0[note 1] |
v
Donegal| 18 July 2021Ulster Semi-final | Tyrone | 0–23– 1–14 | Donegal | Brewster Park,Enniskillen | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:45IST (UTC+1) | |||||
Pts: Darren McCurry 7 (3f), Kieran McGeary, Niall Sludden, Tiernan McCann 3 each, Mattie Donnelly 2, Peter Harte, Conor Meyler, Conor McKenna, Frank Burns 1 each, Cathal McShane 1f | Report | Gls: Caolan McGonigle 1 Pts: Paddy McBrearty 4 (2f), Jamie Brennan, Niall O’Donnell 2 each, Michael Langan 2 (1f), Michael Murphy 2f, Ciaran Thompson, Peader Mogan 1 each | Attendance: 0[note 1] |
vTyrone| 31 July 2021Ulster Final | Monaghan | 0–15– 0–16 | Tyrone | Croke Park,Dublin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00 | |||||
Pts: Conor McManus 4 (3f), Jack McCarron 1m and Rory Beggan (2f) 2 each, Conor Boyle, Kieran Duffy, Killian Lavelle, Michael Bannigan, Conor McCarthy and Colin Walshe (1m) 1 each | Report | Gls: Darren McCurry 5 (2f, 1m), Mattie Donnelly 3 (1f), Mark Bradley 2, Padraig Hampsey, Michael McKiernan, Niall Sludden, Peter Harte, Kieran McGeary and Cathal McShane 1 each | Attendance: 18,000 |
vTyrone| 28 August 2021[note 2]All-Ireland Semi-final | Kerry | 0–22(22)–(23) 3–14 (a.e.t.) | Tyrone | Croke Park,Dublin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:30IST (UTC+1) | (HT: 0-09(9) –(10) 1-07) | ||||
Pts: David Clifford (3f, 1m), Seán O’Shea (6f, 1 '45) 8 each, Paudie Clifford 2, Paul Murphy, Diarmuid O’Connor, Paul Geaney, Tom O’Sullivan 1 each | Report | Gls: Cathal McShane 1, Conor McKenna 2 Pts: Cathal McShane 3 (1f), Darren McCurry 4 (0-2f), Niall Morgan 2 (1 ’45, 1f), Michael McKernan, Ronan McNamee, Pádraig Hampsey, Peter Harte, Mattie Donnelly (1m) 1 each | Referee:David Coldrick (Meath) Attendance: 24,000 |
Cavan'sJoe McQuillan was the referee for the final. He was previously in charge of finals in2011,2013, and2017.[10][11]
Meath playedTyrone in theAll-Ireland Minor Football Championship final which took place on 28 August, two weeks before the senior final. Meath won the game on a 1–12 to 1–11 scoreline.[12]
Unlike2020,[13]PresidentMichael D. Higgins attended the final, with no official greeting of the players due to COVID-19.[14]
In front of a crowd of 41,150 fans (reduced to 50% capacity due to COVID-19),[15] the match began with Mayo'sAidan O'Shea claiming the throw-in and giving a direct ball intoTommy Conroy who kicked the opening score at 16 seconds.[16] Mayo, being the slight favourites,[17] led by 0–02 to Tyrone's 0–01 by the sixth minute.[14]
At half time, the score was at 0–10 – 0–08, with Tyrone leading by two points.[18] The second half saw Tyrone score two goals from substitute Cathal McShane and Darren McCurry.[14][16] Mayo were not able to avail of three other goal scoring opportunities, including a penalty missed byRyan O'Donoghue.[19]
Mayo went on to haveMatthew Ruane red-carded after an altercation with Tyrone midfielder Conn Kilpatrick.[20] The victory was first and foremost a tribute to the Ulster champions' defending as a team.[14] For Mayo, this latest defeat came on an identical scoreline to 2020 and meant the team had lost one third of the total number of All-Ireland SFC finals played since 1989.[21]
| 11 September 2021 (2021-09-11) 17:00IST (UTC+1) All-Ireland Final | Tyrone | 2–14(20) –(15) 0–15 HT: 0–10 – 0-08 | Mayo | Croke Park,Dublin Attendance: 41,150 Referee:Joe McQuillan (Cavan) |
| Darren McCurry 1–4 (0-2f), Cathal McShane 1–0, Niall Morgan 0–3 (0-2f, 0–1 '45), Niall Sludden 0–2, Pádraig Hampsey, Peter Harte (0–1 mark), Kieran McGeary, Mattie Donnelly, Darragh Canavan 0–1 each | Report | Ryan O'Donoghue 0–8 (0-7f), Tommy Conroy 0–2, Robbie Hennelly (0-1f), Lee Keegan, Patrick Durcan, Stephen Coen, Kevin McLoughlin 0–1 each |
          Tyrone |     Mayo |
Man of the Match: |
Mayo's curse at All-Ireland finals continued with the county losing 11 consecutive finals, now having lost a third of all All-Ireland football finals played since 1989, with this latest defeat on an identical scoreline to2020, when Mayo lost to Dublin.[21]Pat Spillane, referring to Mayo's long losing streak in All-Ireland SFC finals, quotedSamuel Beckett on television afterwards.[22]
Mayo playersAidan O'Shea andLee Keegan broke an unwanted record of most All-Ireland football final appearances without winning (6), with the duo losing 6 finals in 9 years (2012,2013,2016,2017,2020 and 2021).
Conor McKenna became the fourth formerAFL player to win the Sam Maguire Cup.[23]
Brian Dooher became the fifth manager to win an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship after earliercaptaining his county to victory in the same competition (and the first sincePáidí Ó Sé in 1997).[24][25]
