Dublin's Cormac Costello and Mayo's Jack Coyne and Donnacha McHugh in All-Ireland SFC action. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
All-Ireland SFC Group Two
Mayo 0-17 Dublin 0-17
Ultimately, Cormac Costello's last gasp equalising point, deep into stoppage time, sent Dublin straight through to the All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Finals.
Mayo had reeled off three scores on the spin late on to hit the front, but Dublin stayed cool under pressure. The draw was sufficient for Dessie Farrell's charges, with Mayo left reflecting on what might have been.
Kevin McStay's outfit, with Aidan O'Shea and Ryan O'Donoghue influential throughout, demonstrated admirable battling qualities and made a daring push in the closing stages.
Trailing by two following a splendid point from Dublin substitute Paul Mannion, Mayo responded in the dying embers of a well contested game.
O'Donoghue narrowed the gap to the minimum. Then goalkeeper Colm Reape drilled over a 45 as Mayo sensed that significant possibilities existed at Dr Hyde Park.
Subsequently, a 73rd minute O'Donoghue free edged Mayo into the lead, but Dublin summoned a last gasp reply. Costello concluded the move with a fisted point to ensure the spoils were divided.
Dublin advance to the last eight, while Mayo will be in the hat for Monday's preliminary quarter-final draw, which is sprinkled with counties, who will believe that they can make further progress.
From the first whistle this was hard fought with Mayo competing against the standard bearers. O'Shea was prominent, while O'Donoghue also craved involvement for the green and red.
At the opposite end of the field, though, Costello was in excellent form for Dublin. The Whitehall Colmcilles clubman carried a potent threat as Dublin eventually departed armed with a 0-7 to 0-6 half-time lead.
The teams were deadlocked as the interval approached, but Costello steered over a score as Dublin went in armed with a slender advantage.
After the restart it was a similar story in a high octane match. A Colm Basquel point in the 40th minute guided Dublin 0-10 to 0-7 clear, but Mayo were determined and defiant. Tommy Conroy, Mattie Ruane, and substitute Conor Loftus all landed points to restore parity in the 45th minute.
Four times Mayo answered a Dublin score, meaning the teams were both at 0-14 each in the 58th minute. Eoin Murchan and replacement Paul Mannion rifled over points for Dublin, who assumed the lead again.
Mayo embarked on a rally as two O'Donoghue scores were sandwiched either side of an immaculate Reape 45. That burst had Mayo ahead, but Dublin stayed the distance.
Another lively Dublin sub, Jack McCaffrey, thundered forward to craft an opportunity for Costello, who levelled.
Scorers for Mayo: Ryan O'Donoghue 0-7 (5fs), Tommy Conroy 0-3, Mattie Ruane 0-2, Jordan Flynn, Stephen Coen, Conor Loftus, Aidan O'Shea (f), and Colm Reape (45) 0-1 each.
Scorers for Dublin: Cormac Costello 0-7 (3fs), Colm Basquel 0-2, Eoin Murchan, Paul Mannion, Jack McCaffrey, Seán Bugler, Niall Scully, Paddy Small, Ciaran Kilkenny, and Con O'Callaghan (m) 0-1 each.
Mayo: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, Rory Brickenden, Sam Callinan; David McBrien, Stephen Coen, Eoghan McLaughlin; Donnacha McHugh, Mattie Ruane; Jack Carney, Darren McHale, Jordan Flynn; Aidan O'Shea, Tommy Conroy, Ryan O'Donoghue.
Subs: Conor Loftus for McLaughlin (33), Cillian O’Connor for McHale (56), Donnacha O’Connor for Coen (59), Bob Tuohy for Ruane (63), Paul Towey for Carney (68).
Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Eoin Murchan, Michael Fitzsimons, Seán MacMahon; Brian Howard, John Small, Seán Bugler; Brian Fenton, Tom Lahiff; Cormac Costello, Ciarán Kilkenny, Niall Scully; Paddy Small, Con O’Callaghan, Colm Basquel.
Subs: Killian McGinnis for T. Lahiff (HT), Jack McCaffrey for Scully (51), Paul Mannion for P. Small (51), Ross McGarry for McGinnis (64), James McCarthy for Bugler (68).
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).
