Kevin McStay: 'We have to improve in every department over the next two weeks'

Lacklustre Mayo have work to do ahead of Connacht final while Leitrim head into Tailteann Cup with a pep in their step.

WORK TO DO: Mayo manager Kevin McStay glad to reach Connacht final but his side have improvements to make over the next two weeks.  Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

Connacht SFC semi-final: Leitrim 0-13 (0-3-7) Mayo 0-20 (0-0-20)

Championship football is a results business and in that regard, Mayo had a successful outing in mist-covered Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday. However, in terms of performance and delivery, the winners were poor and took an age to stumble past the home side.

Leitrim came into the game as rank-outsiders, but made their lofty guests sweat for three-quarters of the encounter before Kevin McStay's men did just enough to secure a ticket to next month's provincial decider.

The moments after the final whistle were somewhat surreal. Leitrim, who had just exited the competition, were cheered to the echo by their supporters while Mayo, seven-point winners, slipped quietly from the stage.

The home team's manager, Steven Poacher, was delighted with his side's display, citing their disruption of Mayo's kick-out and the talent, attitude and approach of his men.

“We looked at Mayo, and felt we could cause them trouble on their kick-outs. I think we did that in the first half. I'm very proud of them. It has been a difficult few weeks. Ten days ago we trained with eleven fit players and today's performance will give us the confidence and belief to move forward.” 

Across the corridor, Kevin McStay put a different perspective on things.

“All that mattered was the ticket to the Connacht final. If we had won by two or 22 it made no difference. Getting to the final has been our goal for a long time. We're where we expected to be at this time of the year and we have to hope now that the plan to peak for the Connacht final and bringing our best to the table will be seen in two weeks time, because today's performance was not where we needed it to be. We have to improve in every department over the next two weeks,” he explained before saying that Mayo paid no heed to match previews stating his team would canter past Leitrim.

“When you're listening to narratives that today was a great chance to rest players and we'd win by 20 or 30 points – I don't know where this comes from. People thinking you can rest six or seven players – it doesn't work like that and never has worked like that in championship. We picked a strong starting 15 and we knew we had form players on the bench as well.” 

McStay might have picked a strong starting team but they were far from impressive in the opening half. Leitrim tore into every challenge and with midfielder Barry McNulty in sparkling form they were just a point adrift at half-time.

At the back, Kieran Clancy was doing a good job marking Aidan O'Shea, who was making his 200th appearance for Mayo, while Leaving Cert student Éanna McNamara was catching the eye at both ends of the pitch.

Mayo couldn't be faulted for trying and Ryan O'Donoghue ended the first half with three points to his name, but the guests were pedestrian and dull as they struggled against the energetic home side.

Mayo looked to inject some pace into the contest after the break but couldn't shake off Poacher's men who were visibly reveling in the situation. McNulty, Riordan O'Rurke and Tom Prior kicked points as Darren Cox ran at the opposition time after time, but Mayo stayed in front thanks to O'Donoghue's accuracy from placed balls.

Paul Towey came off the bench to add much-needed impetus to the visitors' attack and both he and Jordan Flynn caught the eye as the man in green and red did enough to stay in front and stumble over the finish line.

Scorers for Leitrim: B McNulty (0- 8, 2tpf, 1tp); D Cox, T Prior (0-2 apiece); R O'Rourke (0-1f) 

Scorers for Mayo: R O'Donoghue (0-9, 5fs); J Carney, P Towey, J Flynn (0-2 apiece); A O'Shea (0-1m), C Reape 0-1 (45), S Coen, D McHale, M Ruane (0-1 apiece)

LEITRIM: D O'Shea; K Clancy, D Casey, É McNamara; J Rooney, M Diffley, J Foley; B McNulty, C McGloin; J Flynn, K Keegan, B Guckian; D Cox, R O'Rourke, T Prior 

Subs: J McGlion for Flynn (45 temporary), P Keane for Guckian (53), J Flynn for McGlion (54 temporary return), P Honeyman for Keegan (59), T Hughes for Casey (65), J McGlion for Keane (68, inj) 

MAYO: C Reape; J Coyne, D McHugh, E Hession; S Callinan, D McBrien, S Coen; D Thornton, M Ruane; D Neary, D McHale, J Flynn; J Carney, A O'Shea, R O'Donoghue 

Subs: D O'Connor for Neary (ht), S Akram for Callinan (ht), E McLaughlin for Ruane (ht), P Towey for McHale (51), F Irwin for Coen (66)

Referee: N Cullen (Fermanagh)