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Horan disappointed with Mayo performance

Mayo manager James Horan shakes hands with Jordan Flynn of Mayo after the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Mayo and Tyrone at Croke Park in Dublin. 

Mayo manager James Horan shakes hands with Jordan Flynn of Mayo after the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Mayo and Tyrone at Croke Park in Dublin. 

By Paul Keane

Mayo manager James Horan admitted that failing to play to their potential cost the Connacht champions dearly on another disappointing All-Ireland final day for the county.

Horan pointed to Ryan O'Donoghue's failure to convert a penalty in the third quarter of the game, the team's low tackle count and their errant shooting as contributory factors in their loss to Tyrone.

It was Horan's fourth final defeat in charge of Mayo having come up short also in 2012, 2013 and 2020.

"We're disappointed, we're disappointed with how we played today, very disappointed that way," said Horan.

"Look, we're very proud of the guys and the effort and commitment they put in this year and the development and growth that they've made this year. Today is very disappointing but, in the overall context, there was a lot of development this year. We just didn't play like we could today."

Mayo created several goal chances but were unable to take any of them while Tyrone took two which proved decisive in the end. Horan shrugged at that assessment.

"I think we gave away a lot of turnovers in the first-half that weren't good decisions or good skills," he responded. "But having said that, we were still in the game, we were only two points down at half-time. The penalty was a big turning point as well, we could have gone one up but overall we started to snatch at shots then.

"And Tyrone were very good today. They were very strong, they were strong in their kick-outs and made great gains there. Tyrone were good and deserved their win for sure."

Asked if there was anything he'd have done differently with hindsight, Horan said he stood over the decisions he made on the line.

"We set up to play a way and picked a team and it didn't work out so we made in-game changes," he said. "But just as a general point we seemed to be a bit off today. The tackle count was quite low. Overall it's disappointing."

Horan didn't sense anything beforehand that gave him cause for concern.

"No, not at all," he said. "The performance wasn't what we can give. I suppose that's the disappointing thing."