.
Ogie Moran congratuates Kieran Donaghy after Kerry beat Mayo in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final replay in Limerick. Photo by Dermot Crean
SUNDAY’S game against Mayo is being eagerly anticipated among Kerry fans and with good reason.
Apart from a few notable occasions (2014, 1996, 1997) Kerry v Mayo has had the ability to produce a stroll in Croke Park for the Kingdom and nightmares for men from the west and we have the Indian sign over them in the championship.
But there has been very little between the sides in the past few years and everybody is expecting a close encounter as the semi-final clash looms. Here’s a look below at some memorable Kerry v Mayo championship moments over the years.
Continued below…
.
1. 1997 All-Ireland Final — Fitzy’s Two Points From The Sideline
This was the game that ended the 11 year long famine and ushered in ‘The Golden Years’ Mark 2.0. It was also the day when Maurice Fitzgerald finally got to show off his skills on the biggest stage of all. Two amazing scores below…
Continued below…
.
2. 2004 All-Ireland Final — Gooch Glides Past Green and Red
This final win soothed any growing insecurities about our abilities after losing badly to Tyrone in ’03, Armagh in ’02 and that semi-final against Meath in ’01. It was also the game where Gooch announced himself as the real deal.
3. 2006 All-Ireland Final — Donaghy Smashes Mayo Dreams
Mayo took a 12 point hammering in what was one of the biggest defeats ever in an All-Ireland Final. The Donaghy/Cooper partnership was at its devastating best and Kerry hit the net four times. Donaghy’s was the pick of the bunch.
Continued below…
.
4. 2011 All-Ireland Semi-Final — Cooper’s Pick Up
There was renewed confidence for Mayo after they dumped out reigning All-Ireland Champions Cork on the way to this game, but once again we mercilessly crushed their hopes and dreams. The Gooch was in imperious form, supplying us with this piece of skill to savour.
5. 1981 All-Ireland Semi-Final — Eugene McHale’s Celebration
With Kerry on the way to four-in-a-row, they were hit a blow early on in this match when Mayo’s Eugene McHale struck for a goal. Though it was a fine strike, the stand out feature of the goal was McHale’s leaping celebration. If ever you could put a face on joy…Kerry won by 17 points.
Continued below…
.
6. 2014 All-Ireland semi-final replay — all of it!
Kerry were lucky to get a replay after a poor display in Croke Park. A week later the two teams provided a true classic in Limerick. Watch the highlights in an action-packed two and a half minutes…
