'The goal just before half time was a complete sickener' says Paddy Tally as Derry relegated by Mayo
Derry manager Paddy Tally. Pic: ©INPHO/Lorcan Doherty
After losing their opening two games, Mayo have left themselves with an outside chance of making the league final.
Kevin McStay’s side are now four games unbeaten and Sunday’s win in Celtic Park rubberstamped Derry’s relegation.
The Oakleafers were league champions last season but now face into three weeks of preparation ahead of their Ulster Championship visit to champions Donegal.
Kevin McStay’s side created seven goal chances over the game with Jordan Flynn and Frank Irwin hitting the net at important times.
Flynn’s goal opened a 1-11 to 1-8 interval lead with the last action of the first half with Irwin bagging his goal seven minutes into the second half.
Mayo tagged five points to Irwin’s strike to go 10 clear before Derry staged a comeback with Conor Glass lamping over three two-point scores.
Matthew Ruane scored six points for Mayo who can look into the championship phase with optimism.
“I thought Frank's (Irwin) goal was the more crucial one because that set us for home,” said a delighted Mayo manager Kevin McStay.
“We could do a bit more with the ball then, once we got that score. I thought they were very patient throughout.” The Mayo boss was full of praise for Ruane’s performance as he continues to grow into the new-look game.
“It as no big surprise to what I'm seeing on the training ground,” he said.
“He certainly has added scoring in the last few weeks to it. Once you start adding scoring to any lump of threats that you have, that changes the whole way someone else is going to defend you.
“Six points is really terrific scoring. He got them on both feet, got them at the end of runs, got them in standing positions and so on. Today was his day, he put in a great shift.”
Ryan O’Donoghue opened the scoring after 18 seconds with a quickfire point but it was Patrick McGurk who opened the Derry scoring with a fourth minute goal.
Dan Higgins won the kick-out, Niall Toner and Niall Loughlin were both involved before McGurk drilled to the net on his first senior start.
Three Matthew Ruane points had the visitors well in the game but Derry then got a foothold in the game.
They won three Mayo kick-outs in succession, kicking four points ahead with McGuigan, McGurk and Loughlin on target.
It was Mayo who finished the half with a bang. Ruane added a fourth point with Fenton Kelly blasting over while David McBrien missed a clear goal chance.
Ruane’s point levelled the game but when McGrogan was caught in possession at midfield, Mayo moved the ball upfield and Flynn hit the net.
Conor Glass and Niall Toner hit two second half points before Mayo’s crucial second goal changed the entire pattern of the game.
Aidan O’Shea, Ryan O’Donoghue and Enda Hession were all involved with Irwin blasting to the net for a 2-12 to 1-10 lead after 42 minutes.
Mayo loaded on scores from O’Donoghue, Conor Reid, O’Donohue and Ruane in an answered 1-5 spell before Derry staged a comeback.
Conor Glass landed two two-pointers but they needed a goal they never looked like getting.
Shane McGuigan hit the side netting from a half chance before Conor Doherty and Glass – with another two pointer – gave Derry some hope.
With three minutes to go, they were within four points before Eoghan McLaughlin foisted over the insurance point.
“I thought we played not too bad in the first half,” said Derry manager Paddy Tally. “The goal just before half time was a complete sickener.
“It was an awful mistake to lose that goal. To get to half time level would’ve been okay. In the second half, we seemed to dominate the play but we missed an awful lot of chances.
“We seemed to be panicking on shots and taking things on that maybe weren't there. We needed a bit more patience.
“Mayo got a bit of a run; they got a goal. We did fight back well; we brought the game back well but at that stage I think the game was gone.
“We probably needed a goal but they never quit, they never gave up. It was a day where you just never got to the level you expected.” Derry play Armagh next week in a game that is irrelevant but their eyes are now locked on the Ulster Championship and Donegal in Ballybofey.
“We only have three weeks to get ready for that,” he said. “The Armagh game now is of no significance to us.
“We have to use the opportunity for players to show what they can do. Obviously, we'll be giving players runs out against Armagh but our focus will be getting ready for that for the championship game.”
R O’Donoghue (0-8, 1 tpf, 2f), M Ruane (0-6), F Irwin (1-1), J Flynn (1-0), A O’Shea, C Reid, F Kelly and E McLaughlin (0-1 each).
C Glass (0-8, 3 tp), S McGuigan (0-4, 1f), P McGurk (1-1), N Loughlin, P McGrogan, N Toner and C Doherty (0-1 each).
C Reape; J Coyne; D McHugh, S Callinan; E Hession, D McBrien, F Kelly; S Coen, M Ruane; C Reid, J Carney, J Flynn; A O’Shea, F Irwin, R O’Donoghue.
S Morahan for McHugh (52), F Boland for Reid (55), D Neary for Kelly (57), E McLaughlin for McBrien (61), P Towey for O’Shea (69).
O Lynch; D Baker, E McEvoy, M Bradley; C Doherty, P McGrogan, P McGurk; C Glass, A Tohill; E Doherty, N Toner, D Higgins; L Murray, S McGuigan, P Cassidy.
N McNicholl for Lynch (INJ 14), B McCarron for Higgins (52), C Devlin for Loughlin (52), C McMonagle for Tohill (57), M Doherty for McGrogan (60).
F Kelly (Longford).
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