Having accumulated a five point interval lead, Galway manager Padraic Joyce was disappointed his team didn’t manage the game more effectively in the second half.

Mayo, inspired by Mattie Ruane, came thundering back at GAA headquarters to retain the Nestor Cup. Ryan O'Donoghue and Ruane scored Ruane netted goals after the restart for Mayo, who trailed by 2-5 to 0-6 at the interval.

“The instruction at half-time, we were five points up and probably not playing overly, overly well, probably at 30 or 40 per cent of what we could do,” Joyce reflected.

“We said at half-time we were five points up, to go manage the game, that is what you try to do. Of course we gave away the penalty straightaway and then their runners from deep from the half back line killed us.

“That is something we spoke about, that is Mayo's strength, we stopped it in the first half, but for some reason we went away from it in the second half.

“Overall I have to say I'm proud of the lads for what they have done, they kept battling until the end, they kept going, but it is disappointing to lose it the way we did.”

Joyce acknowledged that Mayo were worthy winners at Croke Park. “We are bitterly disappointed, it is hard to put your finger on it when we were in a great position at half-time - five points up and ended up losing the game by six points in the end, it could have been a lot more.

“It is very disappointing, hard to put your finger on in the second half where it went wrong for us.”