Stephen Rochford’s decision to drop goalkeeper David Clarke backfired as replacement Robbie Hennelly’s mistake cost Mayo dear.
Hennelly came in at the last moment but was guilty of conceding a penalty in the 41st minute, Diarmuid Connolly scored, the keeper was black-carded, and Dublin were to hold on to that lead until the final whistle.
However, in the aftermath of defeat, the manager had to put it down as one of those things.
“In selection, you make a calculated decision,” he told RTÉ Sport.
“We felt on our analysis of Dublin they pushed right up on our kick-out in the drawn game. We felt it was something they may target again. That was the reason behind it.”
The manager was also left to rue Lee Keegan’s black card, given for a foul on nemesis Diarmuid Connolly.
“Lee’s a fine player. I’m not going to comment on whether it was or it wasn’t [a black card foul]," he said.
“There’s enough pressure being put on referees. It was unfortunate because he was one of the guys what was taking the game to Dublin, he’d scored a fine goal.
“That’s the way it goes. Dublin lost Jonny Cooper in the first half as well. They are the twists and turns.
“We had a free to draw the game but that’s just the way the game goes and sport is cruel sometimes.”
Stephen Rochford on Keegan loss https://t.co/FTEVMhJinL
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) October 1, 2016
He added: “Extremely proud of all the Mayo players, I thought they left all their energy out there and that’s matched with huge amount of disappointment.
“When you come out of a battle like that, come second, there’s disappointment to lose by the smallest of margins.”
“The majority of that group have been in four All-Ireland finals now, with three defeats.
“They’re very crestfallen, devastated.
"You don’t put the last nine or ten months of your life into an inter county scene and take anything out of the year only absolute dejection.
“They've been doing that for the last number of years and they continue to fall short. I’m sure that will be the subject of a lot of column inches in the coming weeks.
"It’s not to be and we’ll see what the future brings with regards to how we move in.”
