Mayo deserve second bite

Mayo 0-9 Fermanagh 0-9

But coming out of Croke Park yesterday, you couldn’t but wonder if Charlie Mulgrew’s brave Fermanagh will ever be closer to contesting the Bank of Ireland SFC final.

For, just as certain as this was a semi-final that inconsistent Mayo was extremely lucky to draw, it was one that the hitherto deprived Fermanagh should have won.

Visualise the scene as plucky Mayo was struggling to come to terms with the loss of a player eight minutes into the second-half, largely through very good defensive play.

Twice, they fell behind by a point and each time they drew level before going in front through a controversial Conor Mortimer free in the 64th minute.

But, after Stephen Maguire levelled the game for the Ernesiders less than three minutes later, it missed three chances of snatching a winning point in remaining time.

It was like their dramatic quarter-final win over Armagh all over, except that this time luck ran out when the team needed it most.

However, to focus on missed chances would be to discredit what was a super effort from a team which had claimed some notable scalps en route and which showed from an early stage in this game that it had no inhibitions whatever about lowering Mayo’s colours.

It was to be seen in the confident way the team confronted that challenge, taking the lead after a mere three minutes and being three ahead five minutes later. Then, through the combination of very strong covering at the back, dominance at midfield and fast, intelligent play in attack, it continued to take the game to the Connacht champions.

Notably, Fermanagh achieved a significant advantage, psychological as well as in real terms, by severely limiting the challenge from Kieran McDonald, who had been the Mayo play-maker in the win over All-Ireland champions Tyrone. Impressive team captain Shane McDermott managed it very successfully before giving way to corner-back Niall Bogue and continuing to contribute in that general area, through the freedom afforded him by the roaming Brian Maloney.

Yet, while Mayo was finding it quite difficult to make openings in attack, they promised a goal in the 11th minute - when 'keeper Niall Tinney stopped a shot from wing-back Pat Kelly with his foot.

And, shortly afterwards Conor Mortimer might have scored after being put through by James Nallen, except he lost control of the ball.

By the 21st minute, Mayo had drawn level, following a general improvement sparked by midfielder Ronan McGarrity’s powerful play.

This, in turn, assisted the half-backs and enabled the forwards - including McDonald, to a limited degree - to become more involved. Conor Mortimer was especially prominent and he gave it the lead in the 24th minute before Alan Dillon pointed a free and full-back David Heaney put the team three clear in the 28th minute.

The fact that he was able to score - from an opening made jointly by McDonald and midfielder David Brady - was indicative of the way Mayo had turned the game around to even things up considerably.

The probability is that Mayo would have stretched its lead but for the Trojan work put in by the Fermanagh defence - with Barry Owens a tower of strength at full-back.

Similarly, there was a huge effort put in by the forwards.

It meant there was very little between the teams, with Fermanagh finishing the half strongly to be only a point behind at the break, 0-6 to 0-5.

The one negative was the loss of several scoring chances.

Bradley had Fermanagh level just 25 seconds after the resumption and, with Owens continuing to dominate and Liam McBarron achieving an early dominance at midfield, they again made the better start.

Ciaran O’Reilly had a good goal chance easily stopped by experienced keeper Peter Burke in the 41st minute, but in another two minutes the game took a dramatic turn.

Wing-forward James Gill was sent off for a second high tackle, less than four minutes after getting his first yellow card.

Shortly afterwards McBarron kicked Fermanagh into the lead once more, only to see McDonald negative it with a great 50 yards kick from play.

Remarkably, in the remaining 25 minutes or so, the two sides managed just two points each, which was primarily due to some outstanding defensive play. However, it could have been a different story if Conor Mortimer was awarded a penalty in the 38th minute, when he seemed to be pushed from behind in the square.

Interestingly, while McGarrity was again prominent for a while, David Brady never got going in the second half and was later replaced. In the circumstances, Mayo was fortunate its defence played so competently under pressure. Experienced centre-back James Nallen gave great leadership and David Heaney behind him also excelled. But, it was Mayo's combined support play which denied Fermanagh more opportunities of scores.

Substitute Tom Brewester kicked a marvellous lead point for Fermanagh in the 58th minute, only to see Mayo given a lifeline through Conor Mortimer’s free. It was awarded when he tried to force his way through a packed defence - something for which he had been penalised in the first half!

Whatever the rest of the game may have lacked in finesse, the teams more than compensated for with admirable effort under increasing pressure.

And, when Conor Mortimer scored from play there was every possibility Mayo would win until Stephen Maguire pointed a very difficult free shortly afterwards.

Yet, as lucky as the team might have been, a draw was no more than Mayo deserved.

Scorers: Mayo - C. Mortimer 0-4 (0-2 frees); A. Dillon 0-2 frees; D. Heaney, K. McDonald and T. Mortimer 0-1 each. Fermanagh: C. Bradley 0-3; E. Maguire, S. Maguire (free), J. Sherry L. McBarron, M. Little and T. Brewster (free), 0-1 each.

MAYO: P. Burke; C. Moran, D. Heaney, G. Ruane; P. Gardiner, J. Nallen, P. Kelly; R. McGarrity, D. Brady; J. Gill, K. McDonald, A. Dillon; C. Mortimer, T. Mortimer, B. Maloney. Subs: A. Moran for Maloney (52nd minute); G. Mullins for Brady (53rd); M. McNicholas for Dillon (59th).

FERMANAGH: N. Tinney; N. Bogue, B. Owens, R. McCluskey; R. Johnston, S. McDermott (capt.), D. O’Reilly; M. McGrath, L. McBarron; E. Maguire, J. Sherry, M. Little; C. O’Reilly, S. Maguire, C. Bradley. Subs: T. Brewster for Little (42nd minute); H. Brady for P. Sherry (43rd); M. Murphy for J. Sherry (70th).

Referee: M. Collins (Cork). Michael Collins’ refereeing was first-class.

Att: 64,518.