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Published 22:11 16 Jul 2016 BST
Updated 22:12 16 Jul 2016 BST
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Evan Regan had six shots in the first half, scoring 1-3 and kicking two wides - he also dribbled one ball over the endline.
Mayo's first three points (two for Diarmuid from play and one free from Cillian) came directly from Andy Moran - recalled after a superb cameo against Fermanagh - winning possession from a long pass into space in the corner.
Regan's third point came from sweeper Kevin McLoughlin breaking forward and playing a heart-breaker of a pass crossfield to the lively Ballina attacker.
Short, squat and powerful, Regan is the archetypal forward for this Mayo team, who look pissed off to be taking the backdoor route after relinquishing their Connacht title with a meek semi-final defeat to Galway.
They kicked their way through Kildare here and when they couldn't they ran straight at them. They had two penalty shouts in the first half that Derek O'Mahoney waved away, the second one in particular, which saw a free out awarded after Diarmuid was dragged down, seemed a sure thing.
But they didn't need any help from the referee this week. They led by nine points at the break, thanks to an unanswered 2-3 before the break.
They were losing a lot of possession around the middle of the field as Tommy Moolick and Kevin Feely benefitted from the absence of Tom Parsons. However Mayo achieved a high number of turnovers thanks to the work of Lee Keegan, Keith Higgins and the non-stop industry of Colm Boyle.
The centre-back's block on Cathal McNally early in the second half was a sight to behold, his black card tackle on Fergal Conway displayed the Davitts man's will to win.
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Some called it cynical, Cian O'Neill afterwards called it tactical. Either way Boyle knew exactly what he was doing - he was walking off the pitch before O'Mahoney had even reached into his pocket.
As he walked he was afforded a standing ovation by the majority of the 14,557 in attendance. They may have scored 2-14 from play and cut Kildare open with some lightning fast running football, but the Castlebar crowd still love a bit of bite and bollocks.
They love Colm Boyle.
They also love Aidan O'Shea who, after a difficult week, found himself spending the second half of the game playing in the Mayo defence - the only square the big Breaffy man was standing on the edge of was the Mayo one as he did a stint at full-back after Kevin Keane was withdrawn.
Mostly though he played as a second sweeper alongside Kevin McLoughlin. The wing-forward is a surprising choice to play as the extra man in defence but he was frequently in the right place to tidy up loose ball.
At times Mayo seem to have it all mixed up. Keith Higgins surging forward and kicking ugly wides, Diarmuid coming back to collect kick-outs, his brother floating around the middle third for much of the second half and Aidan O'Shea in the full-back line.
But on Saturday night it worked because they had quality all over the field and, until the game petered out in the latter stages, they were playing a direct attacking game.
A game everyone seemed comfortable playing.
Galway, Kerry and Tyrone have used the qualifiers to hone an All-Ireland title-winning team. Mayo have come agonisingly close taking the straightest possible route.
They don't look like All-Ireland winners yet but they look like contenders. Pissed off contenders.
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