Having just watched his side let a decent lead slip and then taste the bitter pill of defeat on finals day in Croke Park, Mayo senior hurling manager Derek Walsh tried to put some sense on had just happened.
"Yah, just after the game there are still lots to things going through my head - but very disappointing. I thought we started the match at 100 miles an hour, the exact way we wanted to play.
"But we made a lot of mistakes during the first half that let them stay within touching distance, I think we were seven points up a one stage, just a lot of individual and collective mistakes and let them stay in the game and the two goals at the end were just a killer."
Mayo had just nudged themselves back in front on the scoreboard before Donegal struck for the their final two goals that killed off the game - but at that stage Mayo were struggling with the physicality brought by the Ulstermen, something Walsh acknowledged afterwards.
"I think we went a point up - We struggled with the physicality once they got to grips with us after 20 minutes, they are a big team and there is no hiding that we are a small team we know that, we've been trying to shift the ball fast, but their physicality definitely counted in the second half."
After a really bright start Mayo were reeled in by Donegal; as for what happened after the first 20 minutes when Mayo looked to be well on their way to victory Walsh said: "We spoke about it at half time, we started doing a lot of crazy things on the ball and stuff.
"We have a system the way we are supposed to play and get the ball in and lads started taking on shots that weren't on, missing easy pick-ups, dropping balls. We were just doing - I don't know was it Croke Park or what, but we were just making a lot of individual errors and it cost us big time.
"The lads are very disappointed - it is hard to lose a Rackard final. I just think the players are more disappointed the way they played themselves, starting so well and then starting to make mistakes and it cost us big time."
Since he took charge of the Mayo seniors, Walsh has been very much focused on bringing in young players and giving them their shot and it is something that he has always backed and he believes the players can bounce back again next year. "It's a very young team and good few lads there that didn't get on today that aren't that far off it either,
"Mayo are struggling the whole time as there are just four clubs. So it is very hard to compete with counties like Donegal and teams we played in the league with 15 to 20 clubs, it is very hard for us but look we love hurling and that is why we are out there, that bunch will be back again next year and hopefully competing in a Rackard final again."
