Mayo and Galway enjoy FBD league wins

Defending champions Mayo wrapped up the group stages of the FBD League with a 0-14 to 1-9 victory over Roscommon in Ballinlough today.

With a place in the final already secured, Mayo showed their determination to keep on the winning trail with late points from Barry Moran and Alan Dillon sealing their latest triumph.

They had to survive a late scare however, as Roscommon's Enda Kenny watched his injury-time shot clip a post and go wide.

Roscommon struggled in the first half, with Ger Heneghan landing their only points. Mayo were 0-7 to 0-2 to the good with Conor Mortimer (0-4) the pick of their forwards.

Early scores from Pat Harte, Alan Freeman and goalkeeper David Clarke, who converted a '45', nudged James Horan's men into a deserved lead.

Mortimer missed a goal-scoring chance when he fisted the ball onto the crossbar, and Roscommon were a different side in the second period.

John Rogers, Donie Shine and Kevin Higgins were to the fore as the Rossies mounted a comeback. Higgins ran down the right wing and cut in to score a well-taken goal with eight minutes remaining.

Rogers added another point to make it 0-12 to 1-8 and Shine converted a '45' to square things up with just two-and-a-half minutes left. However, Mayo held their nerve and Moran and Dillon had the final say.

Galway finished their FBD League campaign with a 4-9 to 0-12 triumph over Sligo at Tuam Stadium. Michael Martin was in terrific form for the Tribesmen, hitting 2-3.

The returning Nicky Joyce stunned Sligo with a goal after just 40 seconds. Martin sent Galway into a 2-3 to 0-4 lead, drilling a terrific left-footed shot into the top right corner of the net with 19 minutes gone.

Joyce and Paul Conroy were involved in the move which teed up Martin's second goal, seven minutes later. Into the second half, Adrian Marren led the Sligo charge with four points, however Galway signed off with another goal five minutes from time with youngster Mark Hehir notching it.

Elsewhere, NUIG, who will contest the final with Mayo, lost their final group game to IT Sligo (2-4 to 0-9) and Leitrim recorded a morale-boosting 1-11 to 0-7 victory over GMIT.