Mayo make hard work of it in two-point Roscommon victory
JOB DONE: Mayo coninue their winning streak over Roscommon in Dr Hyde Park. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor
Never easy. Having been comfortably the better outfit for much of the encounter, Mayo conspired to manufacture a nervy finish before eventually seeing off Roscommon in front of a 8,597 crowd.
Donnacha McHugh’s palmed goal put them six up with two minutes left. A Fergal Boland red card, a Conor Cox penalty and a block by Matthew Ruane that Roscommon hotly disputed all followed. In the end, the away side held on to secure their second victory in Group 2.
Mayo headed for the dressing room at half-time tied 0-8 apiece after leaving a stack of scores behind them. It was eight points from 17 shots. Jack Carney and Matthew Ruane kicked two wides each. Jordan Flynn had a blasted effort blocked. Darren McHale failed to capitalise on great work on the terrace wing by Jack Coyne and Carney when he fired a goal chance wide when a placed effort would have done.
Roscommon scored straight from the throw-in through Donie Smith. By the 8th minute mark, Robbie Dolan let loose a gorgeous shot with his laces to make it 0-4 to 0-2. There were some bright sparks from a side looking to end a run of six successive defeats.
Enda Smith was subjected to the usual McHugh man-marking treatment yet dropped a shoulder and swung over a super early score. Ciaran Lennon pointed after a sharp Conor Carroll long kickout. There was plenty of bite on the field and around it. Kevin McStay found himself the centre of the home support’s attention when he protested a tight line ball.
None of those sparkles ever threatened to ignite their challenge. Enda Smith hit one more wide and seemed to suffer an injury late on. They never came to terms with Mayo’s strike runners. A dramatic conclusion shouldn’t cover up some significant cracks.
Meanwhile, occasionally Mayo’s attack did look ominous. A flowing first half move saw Cillian O’Connor link up with Aidan O’Shea who popped outside to Ryan O’Donoghue. O’Connor delivered the first point of the second half and Roscommon could never get ahead again. Moments after a goal chance at one end was sniffed out, Conor Loftus sent O’Donoghue away. Eoin McCormack was harshly adjudged to have felled the All-Star contender. Nevertheless, O’Donoghue cooly beat Conor Carroll with the spot kick.
The outstanding Eoghan McLaughlin kicked three points and was centrally involved in McHugh’s goal as he torched the left wing. Roscommon rallied once more with their penalty coming thanks to Dylan Ruane’s driving run and Sam Callinan’s clumsy tackle. With the clock in the red, referee Barry Cassidy sent off substitute Boland for an off-the-ball incident while Enda Smith collapsed with a lower leg injury.
Smith and Ultan Harney settled for points rather than trying to force a goal late on. That could prove costly. They take on Cavan in the final round. Mayo face Dublin.
: C Cox 1-4 (1 pen, 0-3 frees), D Murtagh 0-2 free, D Smith 0-2, R Dolan 0-1, C Lennon 0-1, D Cregg 0-1, C Carroll 0-1 45, E Smith 0-1, K Doyle 0-1, Harney 0-1.
o: R O’Donoghue 1-4 (1 pen, 0-2 frees), Donnacha McHugh 1-0, E McLaughlin 0-3, M Ruane 0-1, D McHale 0-2, J Flynn 0-2, C O’Connor 0-1, T Conroy 0-1.
: C Carroll; D Murray, B Stack, N Higgins; N Daly, R Dolan, E McCormack; T O’Rourke, C Hand; E Smith, D Smith, C Lennon; C Cox, D Creg, D Murtagh.
: K Doyle for Hand (half-time), D Ruane for Lennon (44), U Harney for O’Rourke (53), R Fallon for Daly (55), S Cunnane for Dolan (64).
C Reape; J Coyne, P O’Hora, S Callinan; S Coen, D McBrien, D McHugh; J Carney, M Ruane; E McLaughlin, R O’Donoghue, J Flynn; D McHale, A O’Shea, C O’Connor.
: C Loftus for McBrien (half-time), T Conroy for O’Connor (54), F Boland for O’Shea (61), B Tuohy for McLaughlin (70).
: F Boland (70).
: B Cassidy (Derry)
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