Mayo produce the goods late on to overcome Sligo

Bob Touhy of Mayo in action against Alan McLoughlin of Sligo. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

FBD Connacht League: Mayo 1-17 Sligo 1-11  

A barnstorming finish saw Mayo come from behind to make a winning start to the FBD Connacht League at Fr O’Hara Park in Charlestown on Saturday afternoon.

Andy Moran’s experimental selection were five points down 10 minutes into the second half, but they rallied impressively before running out six points winners against Sligo’s makeshift outfit in front of a large and curious crowd.

Enda Hession’s goal three minutes from time sealed victory for the homeside, but Moran will have taken most satisfaction from the display of attacking substitutes Cathal Keaveney (2), Cian McHale (2) and Tom Lydon (1) who all hit the target during Mayo’s late purple patch.

Sligo had looked to be in a strong position when they led by five points after 40 minutes, but new joint managers Eamonn O’Hara and Dessie Sloyan saw their side outscored by 1-9 to 0-1 from there until the finish.

Sligo’s cause wasn’t helped by the fact that they have another squad of players in FBD League action tomorrow against London, but there were plenty of reasons for them to be optimistic about many aspects of their display against their neighbours.

The Deignan brothers, Lee and Shane, finished with eight points between them as they picked up where they left off with Sligo senior club champions, Shamrock Gaels, last season.

The visitors had started slowly and a couple of two-pointer frees from Mayo goalkeeper, Rob Hennelly, helped the locals to lead by 0-8 to 0-4 after 26 minutes.

But Sligo’s pace and running power were causing Mayo’s defence plenty of problems and a goal from wing-back Paul Kilcoyne — after clever play by Cian Lally — levelled the game for the first time.

The Yeats County then hit the front of the stroke of half-time thanks to a neat point from Joshua Flynn, who had early seen a goalbound shot rebound off the Mayo crossbar.

Sligo had also seen a goal chance go abegging after a stunning save from Hennelly to deny Shane Deignan.

There was no question which team had the momentum as the opening half ended, and the trend continued after the restart as Sligo tagged on points from Lee Deignan (2), Cian Lally and Shane Deignan to lead by 1-10 to 0-8.

But that was as good as it got for a group that will be operating in Division 3 of the National League this season.

Mayo upped the ante in the final quarter and wrestled back the initiative, ending a scoreless spell of 16 minutes with a fine score from Darragh Beirne before kicking on.

Andy Moran introduced a raft of substitutes that helped to turn the tide and scores followed from Michael Plunkett, the outstanding O’Donoghue and Cathal Keaveney (2) before Enda Hession’s goal put them firmly in the driving seat.

Among the Mayo absentees was Aidan O’Shea, who must wait a little longer to start his 18th inter-county season after he and his wife welcomed the arrival of a baby earlier in the day.

Mayo will be back in action next weekend when they travel to Roscommon for round two.

Mayo: R Hennelly (0-4, 2tpfs); E McGreal, L Golden, E Hession (1-0); F Kelly, M Plunkett (0-1), C Lynch; B Tuohy (0-2, 1tp), B O’Malley; N Moran, A Barrett, S Howard; D Beirne (0-1), R O’Donoghue (0-3, 2fs), K Callaghan (0-1).

Subs: J Coyne for McGreal (27); S Coen for Lynch (27); C Keaveney (0-2) for O’Malley (37); L Donoghue for Howard (37); D Thornton for Tuohy (40); C McHale (0-2, 1f) for Barrett (40); D Duffy for Kelly (48); T Lydon (0-1) for Beirne (48).

Sligo: K Harte; T Ross, N Mullen, L Casserly; P Kilcoyne (1-0), J Lavin, D O’Boyle; D Cummins, C Sheridan; J Donlon, A McLoughlin (0-1), J Flynn (0-1); L Deignan (0-5, 2fs, 1tpf), C Lally (0-1), S Deignan (0-3).

Subs: M Lavin for O’Boyle (43); G Gorman for Cummins (43); D Walsh for Donlon (43).

Referee: J Donoghue (Roscommon)