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Horan admits Mayo are far from perfect but is delighted with Connacht final win

Mayo are the Connacht Senior Football Champions for the first time in five years after a one-poin...



Horan admits Mayo are far from...
Football

Horan admits Mayo are far from perfect but is delighted with Connacht final win

Mayo are the Connacht Senior Football Champions for the first time in five years after a one-point win over Galway on Sunday afternoon.

0-14 to 0-13 was the final score at Pearse Stadium and James Horan's side will now face either Cork or Tipperary in an All-Ireland semi-final.

Galway's year is over meanwhile.

After dominating the province for so many years in the last decade it's hard to believe this was the Green and Red's first appearance in a provincial decider since 2015.

Manager Horan was delighted for his players at full-time while speaking to OTB Sports.

"It's brilliant for us as a group, we had an awful lot of players playing their first Connacht final today and it's great to get one.

"The journey has been a really interesting one. We had two hard league games and then we were away to Leitrim, away to Roscommon and away to Galway so to come through that is great.

"With that pressure, two or three minutes into injury time, with Galway having a free and everything going their way, to hang on is brilliant for them [his players].

"Our performance wasn't near what it can be but that doesn't matter, we got the win today and we're delighted."

Mayo played with the wind in the first half, anyone who has played football in Salthill knows that conditions can be the deciding factor in a game.

Despite the advantage they only lead by three points at the break.

Horan admitted his side's performance was far from 100%.

"We were getting beaten on the breaking ball and some of the key parts of championship football we got well beaten on today.

"Breaking balls, their kick-out, the 50/50s, a few things like that that we take pride in winning.

"Defensively Galway were really strong and won an awful lot of turn-overs so we're just delighted to get through."

Mayo now have an All-Ireland semi-final to look forward to as they attempt once again to end their long wait to regain the Sam Maguire.

Horan was keen to point out at full time that they're a young squad and constantly evolving, with depth in their squad.

"Bryan Walsh came on and got a very good early score that was huge for us because Galway started well in the second half so that killed a bit of momentum and gave us some breathing space.

"I'm delighted with the guys that came on and I feel we're getting stronger as a group all the time."

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Connacht Senior Football Championship James Horan Mayo GAA