Mayo dig deep and gain reward

JOHN O’MAHONY has never been one to panic, but after seeing his side fall six points behind in the opening half of a compelling Allianz NFL clash at Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday night — a game the home team desperately needed to win — he could have easily have been thinking lights out.

Not a bit of it though. There’s steel in this Mayo team and that extra bit of work ethic and never-say-die attitude finally proved too much for a game Cork side outclassed at midfield and too naïve in attack.

Reflected O’Mahony: “We didn’t take our chance in the first-half, Cork caught us with two sucker punches. I just told the lads at the break to be calm, be patient, we deserved more. And once Conor (Mortimer) slotted in that goal just after the break we were back in business.

“We can push ahead now, we’re safe in Division One with four wins. We picked up a couple of more injuries tonight to add to our problems, but the lads are in great spirits and in confident mood for the next Dublin test ”

In contrast, Cork selector John Corcoran showed the strains of a losing battle, another game he felt just slipped away. “We deserved more than this. At half-time we just told the lads to do the same again, but we just don’t seem to be able to finish teams off.

“It’s going to be a long journey to play Fermanagh now, but we’re just going to have to start winning games.”

Unfortunately for Cork, the scoring ratio of their forward division is unbalanced and, despite a successful outing for big Michael Cussen at full-forward, too many players didn’t give it the heart and soul necessary for success. Mayo kept their heads high all through, used every blade of grass and, overall, were worthy winners.

With Ger Brady at centre-forward and Andy Moran in a roving role, Mayo were quick out of the blocks, the exciting Mortimer pointing inside a minute. But Cork served notice they were up for it and, with Cussen making his presence felt, Masters pointed two frees and it was shaping into a lively contest even from the early stages. It got even better for Cork in the eighth minute when Masters’ free was beautifully flicked to the net by Cussen. Cork were off to the start they wanted. Mortimer, always a menace, did convert a Mayo free, but with Anthony Lynch superb in the Cork rearguard they got nothing easy as the home side led 1-2 to 0-2 after 15 minutes.

Cussen made his presence felt again in the 18th minute, fetching and pointing a peach over his right shoulder. Heaney did reply for Mayo, but Cork struck for their second goal in the 22nd minute when Sexton’s free was broken down by Cussen and Kevin O’Sullivan finished with aplomb.

Despite winning good possession — Harte and Heaney were superb at midfield — Mayo struggled for scores, epitomised by three glaring missed chances. First Aidan Campbell missed a sitter, after good work by Brady and Peadar Gardiner; then substitute Kevin O’Neill and Campbell were off target with points at their mercy, and it was looking like Cork’s night as they led 2-5 to 0-5 at the break, O’Sullivan also missing some good chances for Cork.

The Cork mentors must have been pleased, but John O’Mahony’s men are made of stern stuff these days and within six minutes of the resumption, the sides were level as Mayo struck like a tidal wave. After Moran missed a good chance, some smart play cut the Rebel defence to shreds as first Harte and then Mortimer scored smashing points. Then Mortimer struck for a fine goal, after terrific work by Heaney and Gardiner, and to really put the boot in substitute Marty McNicholas tied up the scores. Game on.

In fairness to Cork they gave it everything and, despite Mayo’s blistering all action football, showed they are still a team to be reckoned with. Inspired by Lynch and Noel O’Leary, who had a stormer despite an early yellow card, they took the game to Mayo again and three points on the trot from Masters put them back in the diving seat, leading 2-8 to 1-9 after 50 minutes.

That Cork failed to score again is testimony to their shortcomings up front. Sure, Cussen looks a prospect, but the chances O’Sullivan, Cussen himself and a disappointing Kevin McMahon missed when Cork were back on track were appalling.

Harte was superb now for Mayo at midfield, Aidan Kilcoyne – in for Trevor Mortimer from the start — superb at centre-forward and with Keith Higgins, Enda Devenney and Gardiner on the attack at every opportunity, Cork crumbled and were made pay for their wastefulness as first Moran and then McNicholas tied it all up in the 67th minute. And then, to the delight of their big band of supporters, the winning injury-time point from Kilcoyne. Cruel luck maybe, but another harsh lesson for Cork. Mayo delivered because they had players with a better attitude and work ethic.

Scorers: Cork: J. Masters 0-6, M. Cussen and K. O’Sullivan 1-1 each. Mayo: C. Mortimer 1-4 (0-2 frees), A. Kilcoyne (0-1 free) and P. McNicholas 0-2 each, D. Heaney, K. O’Neill, P. Harte, A. Moran 0-1 each.

CORK: P. O’Shea; O. Sexton, M. Shields, K. O’Connor; N. O’Leary, G. Spillane, A. Lynch; F. Kavanagh, N. Murphy; S. O’Brien, A. Cronin, K. McMahon; J. Masters, M. Cussen, K. O’Sullivan.

Subs: M. Prout for Sexton (49 mins), A, Cronin for O’Brien (61), D. Hurley for Murphy (62).

MAYO: K. O’Malley; L. O’Malley, J. Kilcullen, K. Higgins; E. Devenney, B. Padden, P. Gardiner; P. Harte, D. Heaney; A. Campbell, A. Kilcoyne, G. Brady; C. Mortimer, A. Dillon, A. Moran.

Subs: K. O’Neill for Dillon (10), M. McNicholas for Campbell (35), A. Higgins for L. O’Malley (51), M. Ronaldson for K. O’Neill (71).

Referee: R. Hickey (Clare).