Ryan O'Donoghue gives masterclass as Mayo comfortably beat New York
Matthew Ruane of Mayo in action against Frank O'Reilly of New York. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Unlike last year’s historic upset against Leitrim at Gaelic Park, the outcome of this Connacht championship quarter-final was never in doubt as Mayo powered to a 15 points win over a gallant home side in glorious sunshine in New York.
Ryan O’Donoghue gave a masterclass in finishing, shooting a total of 1-13 (including 1-4 from open play) while Aidan O’Shea marked his 85th championship appearance (a new Mayo record) with an impressive display.
New York manager Alan O’Mara was only able to call on three of the players who started last year’s memorable penalty shoot-out victory due to a combination of retirements, work commitments, re-locations and injuries.
In fact, the Exiles were down a total of 17 players from last year’s squad.
But despite trailing at half-time by 12 points (1-11 to 0-2), New York’s heads never dropped and two superb second half goals from Frank O’Reilly and Jamie Boyle were no more than they deserved.
A capacity crowd turned out and once Ryan O’Donoghue hit the New York net in the 21st minute, Kevin McStay’s team looked set for a win which keeps them on course for a shot at a first provincial title win since 2021.
New York’s lack of match practice was apparent from the early stages and, even with the likes of Clare duo Cian O’Dea and Pierce Lillis in their ranks, along with Dublin’s four-time All-Ireland medallist, Emmett Ó Conghaile, they were no match for their battle-hardened opponents.
Mayo tried to take full advantage of the host’s inexperience from the throw-in, playing with pace, tempo and intensity.
This led to Ryan O’Donoghue giving New York’s defence a torrid time and the All Star attacker had racked up 1-9 by the break.
O’Donoghue (free) and Killian Butler traded scores in the opening minutes before Mayo upped the ante to lead by 0-5 to 0-1 by the end of the first quarter.
Then came the game’s first watershed moment as Butler’s attempt to lob Mayo goalkeeper, Colm Reape, sailed just inches over the crossbar.
Within seconds Ryan O’Donoghue fired the ball past Joey Grace at the other end for the first green flag of the day on 21 minutes.
The visitors proceeded to shoot six points without reply before the break as they seized the initiative, five from the prolific O’Donoghue and a neat score on the run from Jack Carney.
But despite their predicament, New York were much more competitive in the second half than many people might have expected.
A sensational goal from Meath native Frank O’Reilly in the 47th minute — after he cracked an unstoppable shot into the roof of the Mayo net — got one of the biggest cheers of the day.
And even though Mayo responded impressively with points from Ryan O’Donoghue (free), Darren McHale and Fergal Boland, New York continued to drive forward.
They were rewarded with a second goal from captain Jamie Boyle in the 50th minute, but the ebb and flow nature of the game continued when Cillian O’Connor converted a penalty a minute later at the other end.
The teams continued to trade scores until the final whistle with the pick of them coming from Paul Towey, Jack Carney, Frank O’Reilly and Mikey Brosnan.
Joey Grace also prevented Mayo from adding to their goal tally with a string of fine saves for a New York outfit who were lining out in their first competitive game since last June’s Tailteann Cup defeat against Carlow.
This latest defeat for New York means that last year’s win over Leitrim remains their solitary championship success in 23 attempts.
Mayo’s focus will now turn to their Connacht semi-final away to Roscommon in two weeks’ time while New York will try to regroup ahead of the Tailteann Cup.
C Reape; J Coyne, R Brickenden, S Callinan; P Durcan (0-1), S Coen, E McLaughlin; D McBrien, M Ruane; B Tuohy, F Boland (0-1), J Carney (0-2); A O’Shea (0-1, 1f), T Conroy, R O’Donoghue (1-13, 9fs).
Subs used: C O’Connor (1-1, 1-0pen) for Tuohy; D McHale (0-1) for McBrien; P Towey (0-1) for Conroy; E Hession for Coen; M Plunkett for McLaughlin; C Hunt for Durcan.
J Grace (New York); S Bolger (Laois), J Boyle (1-0, New York), T O’Riordan (New York); S Brosnan (New York), C O’Dea (Clare), R Wharton (0-1, Kerry); J Walsh (Kerry), E O Conghaile (Dublin); T Mathers (New York), F O’Reilly (1-2, 1 mark, Meath), P Lillis (Clare); S Reilly (New York), M Argue (Cavan), K Butler (0-2, Westmeath).
Subs used: L Kearney (0-1, Kerry) for Reilly; J Ajani (Westmeath) for S Brosnan; I Ilunga (Westmeath) for Bolger (inj); A Loughlin Stones (Westmeath) for Mathers; M Brosnan (0-1, New York) for Argue.
M McNally (Monaghan)
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