Mayo stop the rot, Galway’s Cooke opts out for 2026

Moran's men saw off Galway by three points, having been ahead by 11 at one point in the second half, in front of an 11,515 crowd in Pearse Stadium

Mayo’s Darragh Beirne celebrates scoring his sides second goal. James Crombie/Inpho

A win over their neighbours, two debuts, a Man of the Match display to mark the return of Robbie Hennelly; this was one awesome start for Andy Moran in Mayo.

They saw off Galway by three points, having been ahead by 11 at one point in the second half, in front of an 11,515 crowd in Pearse Stadium.

“Delighted with the two points,” said Moran.

“It wasn't the be-all and end-all coming up here, it wasn't. But Galway have beat us four times in a row if you include the FBD last week. So we had to stop that rot at least.” 

Darragh Beirne marked his debut with 1-1 but there was an unfortunate outing for corner-back Eoin McGreal, who went off with an injury in the first half.

“We're a work in progress. We're far from the finished article. We're trying to do the right things and try to play the right way. Try to play the way that suits our players.

“Some days we're going to go well on periods for 50-55 minutes a day. We're going to go really well. Other days, it's not going to work so well and we'll have to go away and work on things.

“We're trying our best. It's great to see young players like young Beirne doing so well. Cian McHale doing well. Sean Morahan doing so well. All 21 and under.” 

Meanwhile, Pádraic Joyce confirmed he will be without several players for the coming weeks, while Peter Cooke will not be available at all this season.

Captain John Maher is still a month away from returning due to the ankle injury he suffered with his club Salthill-Knocknacarra in the Galway SFC semi-final.

“Peter won’t be committing to us. He is working in London so he can’t commit. Cillian (McDaid) is back training, doing a little bit. He shouldn’t be too far away, probably see action the next couple of games. Damien (Comer) won’t be playing any time soon.” 

There was a lengthy stoppage in the second half due to confusion over a breach and Galway were too slow to try to work a goal in the final seconds before the hooter sounded.

The hooter now signals an immediate end to games. The hosts had one final chance to force an equaliser. Joyce tried to urge a long delivery from the sideline but Mayo held out.

“I don’t know, it is a funny one. The players, I don’t know did they realise the ball had to be in the square. Again, there was a little confusion there, which was probably a key turning point in the second half. We had momentum going, probably about to double up on a Mayo man to take the ball off him. 

"He did go over the line. That kind of stuff. We lost momentum from that one. Again, officials were a bit confused about it at times. Hard to know, I would have to look back at it and see what happened there.”