MAYO FALL SHORT AGAIN

New rules but it's same old result as Kerry take silver

- PAT NOLAN

IT MAY have been the most-anticipated League ever, but it came to an all too typically sleepy conclusion as Kerry took their 24th title.

The new rules renewed interest in the competition in the early stages with crowds up on previous years.

But, in Division One, as the final came into view and teams were happy enough with seven games to familiarise themselves with the new game rather eight, apathy kicked in, which was reflected in the occasion for the showpiece.

Just 21,596 paid in for this double-header with the OffalyKildare Division Three final, which suggests that a lot more Mayo folk took their weekend sporting hit from the historic Connacht-Munster rugby game in Castlebar rather than this.

Kevin McStay attempted to put a different slant on it.

"Even though a lot of people poo-poo the League, the finale of the league, it's still a big tournament for us in Mayo," he said.

"We have traditionally been very keen on the League. We take it very seriously as a building block to the Championship.

"We're always keen, as a group, as are our supporters, we're always keen to do well in the League.

"The idea that we have no interest in the League and want to be mid-table, that's nonsense.