Shane Murphy 6

Wasn’t his usual peerless self off the kicking tee losing nine of his kick-outs in the first-half. Made a brilliant save to deny McDonald a goal.

Paul Murphy 6

Forced one early turnover from Darragh Beirne and was a regular outlet for Murphy’s short kick-out. Tried to take fight to Mayo.

Jason Foley 5

Had a difficult afternoon tracking Ryan O’Donoghue and Mayo’s inside line. His valiant attempt to save Beirne’s goal summed up his day.

Dylan Casey 6

Opened the scoring when he found himself near Mayo goal, but his influence faded after he went off with a blood injury.

Tom O’Sullivan 5

Late inclusion for injured Diarmuid O’Connor, the Dingle man showed clear signs of ring-rust, kicking two poor wides. Did score a point but hooked at half-time.

Mike Breen 7.5

The way Kerry were set up in a deep defensive shell meant Breen was on a world of ball and was their link player in possession. One of their better performers.

Gavin White 5

Never looked like repeating his heroics from 12 months ago. Was always on the margins of the game and replaced before the end.

Mark O’Shea 6

The middle third was where Kerry were supposed to have an advantage, but O’Shea had one of his least effective games of the season.

Sean O’Brien 6

Saw an early goal chance flash by the posts and never really imposed himself on the game, especially in the second-half when it was needed.

Joe O’Connor 5

Not the Austin Stacks man’s best day in Croke Park. He did score a point and posed a running threat, but little came off those runs.

Paudie Clifford 7

Did more than most to try and drag Kerry back into the game as it was slipping away, his third point did set up a nervy finish.

Graham O’Sullivan 6

In a more advanced role, he scored a point but probably should have done more damage with the amount of possession he had.

Sean O’Shea 6

His clever pass set up Clifford’s goal, but seemed to feel effects of an injury-hit season. Hit three bad second-half wides when his side badly needed a score.

David Clifford 8

Scored 1-2 in the first-half and seemed quiet by his standards. Ended up with 1-6 and was always the most live threat that Kerry had.

Dylan Geaney 5

Suffered an early knee injury and that curbed his effectiveness. Withdrawn after 50 minutes after he had been held scoreless.

Substitutions 5

Kerry’s bench was supposed to be one of their most potent weapons, but didn’t really get the return they needed from their substitutes, with only Keith Evans making a difference with a point.

Manager 5

Jack O’Connor looked a worried man at stages of the first-half even when his team were ahead. And he was right to be. He gambled on the fitness of Tom O’Sullivan, Sean O’Shea and Gavin White, none of whom looked 100 percent. Not his best day on the Croker sideline.