By John Harrington
There was no shortage of memorable moments in a 2021 inter-county Gaelic Football season that packed a lot of drama into a condensed time-frame.
Here, in no particular order, are ten of the best.
Darren McCurry of Tyrone scores his side's second goal during the 2021 GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Mayo and Tyrone at Croke Park in Dublin.
Darren McCurry's All-Ireland Final goal
Tyrone’s crucial second goal in the All-Ireland Final was a beautifully executed score. Conn Kilpatrick climbed high to claim a Niall Morgan kick-out and off-loaded to Conor McKenna who picked out McCurry with a perfectly time hand-pass that gave his fellow forward a simple palmed finish from close-range.
Diarmuid O'Connor of Mayo keeps the ball in play in the build up to a Mayo point during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final match between Dublin and Mayo at Croke Park in Dublin.
Diarmuid O’Connor keeps the ball in play against Dublin
Mayo were trailing by five points with 62 minutes gone in the All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin when Diarmuid O’Connor showed great resolve to somehow prevent a Robbie Hennelly free from going wide. His diving kick sent the ball to Kevin McLoughlin who pointed to really ignite a Mayo comeback that ended with victory.
Killian Spillane of Kerry has his shot blocked by Peter Harte of Tyrone during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final match between Kerry and Tyrone at Croke Park in Dublin.
Peter Harte block on Killian Spillane
42 minutes into the All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Tyrone, Kerry’s Killian Spillane looked to set to score what could have been a decisive goal until Peter Harte came from nowhere to pull off an outstanding diving block to deny him. There were shades of Conor Gormley’s famous block on Stevie McDonnell in the 2003 All-Ireland SFC Final.
Offaly team captain Kieran Dolan lifts the cup after the 2021 Eirgrid GAA Football All-Ireland U20 Championship Final match between Roscommon and Offaly at Croke Park in Dublin.
Offaly U-20s win All-Ireland Final
Offaly’s U-20 footballers really captured the public’s imagination by playing an eye-pleasing brand of football on the way to winning the county’s first All-Ireland title since 1998. Jack Bryant’s emphatically finished 50th minute goal was the key score in an entertaining final against Roscommon.
David Clifford of Kerry sells a dummy to the Galway goalkeeper Bernard Power, on the way to scoring his side's fourth goal, and his third, during the Allianz Football League Division 1 South Round 1 match between Kerry and Galway at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry.
David Clifford against Galway in the Allianz League
David Clifford’s third goal in Kerry’s emphatic Allianz Football League victory over Galway was a thing of beauty. He sent both Galway goalkeeper Bernard Power and full-back Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin diving in the wrong direction with a delicious drag-back and then calmly finished to the now vacant net.
Mayo goalkeeper Rob Hennelly looks on after scoring a point from a retaken '45, to equalise and send the game to extra-time, during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final match between Dublin and Mayo at Croke Park in Dublin.
Robbie Hennelly's retaken ’45 v Dublin
Drama was piled on top of drama in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final between Dublin and Mayo when Robbie Hennelly missed a 77th minute ’45 but then was given a second chance to take it because of interference with his initial kick. At the second time of asking he nailed the ’45 to bring the match to extra-time.
The Meath team celebrate with the Tom Markham Cup after the Electric Ireland GAA Football All-Ireland Minor Championship Final match between Meath and Tyrone at Croke Park in Dublin.
Meath win All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
Meath’s first All-Ireland Minor Football Championship in 29 years was clinched in dramatic fashion. After a titanic struggle with Tyrone, the Royals struck deep in injury time when Sean Leonard held his nerve to clip over the winning point.
Daniel Flynn of Kildare scores a goal past Dublin goalkeeper Evan Comerford during the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship Final.
Daniel Flynn’s goal in the Leinster Football Final
Daniel Flynn’s goal against Dublin in the Leinster Football Final was arguably the most emphatic finish in the football championship. After turning over James McCarthy he then brushed aside Jonny Cooper before unleashing an absolute pile-driver to the corner of Evan Comerford’s net.
Tyrone goalkeeper, Niall Morgan, kicks a free from inside his own half against Kerry in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final.
Niall Morgan's long-range point v Kerry
When Niall Morgan lined up a free from inside his own half against Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final, you thought to yourself that he couldn’t possibly be capable of kicking it over the bar. Not only did he do just that, he did it with a bit to spare for one of the most remarkable scores of the Championship.
Supporters look on from the Cusack Stand during the Allianz Football League Division 3 Final match between Derry and Offaly at Croke Park in Dublin.
Supporters return for Allianz Football League Division 3 Final
The match itself wasn’t the most memorable, but the Allianz Football League Division 3 Final between Derry and Offaly was a very significant moment in the 2021 calendar because it was the first match of the year that saw supporters, 2,400 of them, return to a GAA stadium as a designated pilot event.
