From a personal point of view, the All Ireland final yielded a goal and two points for Andy Moran. But as ever Gaelic football is all about the team.

In that light Mayo captain's disappointment was understandable.

Last night the forward spoke to Ger and the lads on Off The Ball and did not hide the fact that the Mayo camp are "devastated by the result.".

The game turned out to be one of Moran's better performances of the 2013 Championship, having returned from cruciate ligament injuries and with no league games under his belt.

"I felt good. It was an unusual game because we're usually used to playing against seven defenders. So you had to delay your runs a tiny bit more," said Moran of the final.

"The ball was hardly ever out of play in the first half and there were no real stoppages. I thought I was close to that level before the Tyrone game but I had a small setback that week. That was a tough game for me. I still don't think I'm at 100 per cent but I'm getting close to it."  

After the game, Andy Moran had told Newstalk's Oisin Langan that the ref had told Cillian O'Connor that they had 30 seconds left when he pointed his late free to reduce the arrears to one point.

But straight from Stephen Cluxton's kick-out, Joe McQuillan blew his whistle. If O'Connor had known that there was only time for a single shot, he may have taken the difficult option of shooting straight for the goal, rather than taking the point.

Ger asked him whether there was anger with the referee.

"Let it be said, we're a tiny bit angry with Joe. He told Cillian that there was time for another shot. We're realistic though because it's a 1 in 20 shot. But you'd like to take the opportunity to take it on for goal if you thought that was the last kick of the game. But Dublin were worthy winners on the day.  I don't think that makes a big difference but Joe shouldn't be communicating that there's another play left if there wasn't."  

With Mayo claiming the minor title, Moran believes the future is bright for the county. But he also touched on James Horan's future as senior bainisteoir. He expects and wants the manager to stay for another year.

"I can't see James Horan leaving to be honest. James has done three years and we haven't got over the line. But I feel he'll be back. The players and the county board, we'll be fighting tooth and nail to make sure that he's back."

 

Andy Moran of Mayo scores their first goal of the game on Sunday ©INPHO/Donall Farmer