A flying start and a strong finish proved crucial as Mayo captured their second Allianz Football League Division 1 title in five seasons at Croke Park.
Kevin McStay's team — who have only lost once this year — edged out Connacht rivals Galway in a tight finish, much like their last league final meeting in 2001.
Mayo goalkeeper Colm Reape produced a man-of-the match display, making four superb saves, including late stops from Damien Comer and Peter Cooke to deny the Galway duo goals that could have tipped the balance.
The winners led from pillar to post and, despite their best efforts, the Tribesmen never fully recovered from a slow start and were unable to get back on level terms at any stage.
In front of an attendance of 45,041, Mayo set the tone early on and were three points in front at the interval - 0-8 to 0-5.
But a quickfire brace of scores from Robert Finnerty narrowed the margin inside the opening five minutes of the second half and, from there to the finish, there was very little to choose between the teams.
Mayo managed to give themselves a little more breathing space with a well-struck '45 from their goalkeeper, Colm Reape (who finished with three points) and a free from top scorer Ryan O’Donoghue (who finished with seven points).
O’Donoghue also landed a fine effort from a mark on 53 minutes — after he was picked out by the outstanding Aidan O’Shea — to nudge Mayo ahead by 0-11 to 0-8.
Another fine score from Shane Walsh, quickly followed by a goal chance from Damien Comer! pic.twitter.com/YxZiMVZEEs
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 2, 2023
Padraic Joyce's men continued to give chase, with Seán Kelly, Shane Walsh and Damien Comer driving them forward, and points from Walsh and Cooke left just a kick of the ball between the teams again heading into the final ten minutes.
However, the arrival of Tommy Conroy into the Mayo attack gave them a new lease of life and his pace and direct approach caused plenty of problems for Galway’s defence.
Conroy was fouled twice for frees which the nerveless O’Donoghue converted in the 63rd and 67th minutes to open up some daylight between the sides once more.
With Galway chasing scores to try and rescue the game, a quick Mayo counter-attack saw defender Jack Coyne cut through to add the insurance score in the 71st minute.
Peter Cooke was denied a late goal by Colm Reape’s fourth top-class save of the day before Galway sub’ Tomo Culhane rounded off the scoring with a point five minutes into added time.
Mayo were deserving winners of their 13th National League title.
They were also in front at the end of a fascinating first half by 0-8 to 0-5.
Last year's beaten finalists also came flying out of the blocks and they led by 0-6 to 0-1 after 16 minutes.
Mayo dominated that first quarter in terms of possession and territory, and they also made it count on the scoreboard with early points from Colm Reape (from a 43m free), James Carr and Ryan O'Donoghue (free) settling any early nerves.
Galway, who were uncharacteristically tentative in those opening exchanges, finally opened their account after nine minutes through their fleet-footed full-back, Seán Kelly, who fisted a point after John Maher had been denied a goal by a smart save by Reape.
But Mayo’s response was emphatic and they reeled off points without reply in quick succession from Ryan O’Donoghue (a mark), Paddy Durcan and Jordan Flynn to pull further ahead.
Galway were struggling to bypass Mayo’s well-constructed defensive system and it took a brilliant long-range free from Shane Walsh to get the scoreboard moving again for last year’s All-Ireland finalists on 22 minutes.
However, the margin was reduced again soon after with another free from Walsh, after Johnny Heaney was injured in a collision with Colm Reape.
Play was halted for almost five minutes while the Galway attacker received attention and, while he tried to continue, Heaney was subsequently replaced by Damien Comer.
The elusive Walsh then landed a superb effort from play from distance in the 32nd minute to keep Galway’s revival going, before industrious midfielder John Maher drove through and clipped a neat point on the run to reduce the deficit to the bare minimum.
Mayo, who had gone more than 20 minutes without a score, managed to get back on track with two points from frees before the interval as Ryan O’Donoghue and Colm Reape both hit the target deep in additional time.
That meant Mayo took a slender lead in with them at the change of ends, and they managed to protect that lead all the way to the finish line.
The newly-crowned league champions must now refocus for their Connacht championship opener against Roscommon next Sunday in Castlebar while Galway, who are awaiting the winners of that provincial quarter-final, fly off to Portugal for a training camp this week.
Mayo: C Reape (0-3, 2fs, '45); J Coyne (0-1), D McBrien, S Callinan; S Coen, C Loftus, P Durcan (0-1); M Ruane, D O'Connor; F McDonagh, J Carney, J Flynn (0-1); A O’Shea, J Carr (0-1), R O’Donoghue (0-7, 5fs, 2 marks).
Subs: E McLaughlin for McBrien (HT); T Conroy for Carr (55); D McHale for McDonagh (65); B Tuohy for Ruane (70); P O’Hora for Coyne (73).
Galway: C Gleeson; J McGrath, S Kelly (0-1), S Fitzgerald; D McHugh, J Daly, C Hernon; P Conroy, J Maher (0-1); M Tierney, J Heaney, P Cooke (0-1); R Finnerty (0-2, 1 mark), S Walsh (0-5, 2fs, ‘45), C Sweeney.
Subs: D Comer for Heaney (33, inj); J Glynn for Hernon (HT); T Culhane (0-1) for Finnerty (62); D O’Flaherty for Sweeney (65).
Referee: B Cawley (Kildare)
