Mayo maul Rossies but just pipped for final place
Sam Callinan of Mayo poses for a selfie with a supporter at the end of the game. Pic: ©INPHO/Andrew Paton
The fun and games of the National League’s final round was never going to be dull with Mayo involved, and so it proved as they delivered a scintillating performance to beat their Connacht rivals by a cricket score in Castlebar — but also missed out on a place in the league final by a kick of the ball in Armagh.
Andy Moran was philosophical afterwards as he reflected on a game of ‘shadow boxing’ with Roscommon ahead of a probable Connacht championship semi-final next month, while also musing on Mayo missing out on a fourth final appearance in five seasons.
The upwardly mobile Mayo manager was keen to focus on the positives after watching his much-changed team rack up their fifth victory of a very productive campaign against an equally makeshift (and disappointing) Roscommon outfit, who never got to the pace of a one-sided encounter.
An attendance of 9,301 watched the homeside score four goals in the second quarter that set them on their way to victory and Mayo freewheeled to their ninth successive league win over their Connacht rivals.
However, it still wasn’t enough to see the team that Andy Moran is moulding into another league decider as Kerry’s narrow win over Armagh, coupled with Donegal’s victory over Monaghan, meant that Mayo missed out on a trip to Croke Park next weekend.
The story of this game is fairly easily told.
Mayo’s four-goal salvo in the second quarter had left them 15 points up at the interval.
Such a scenario had seemed unlikely when Roscommon attacker Ben O’Carroll buried a goal in the 21st minute to level the match for the third time at 0-5 to 1-2.
Mayo had raced ahead after well-taken scores from Aidan O’Shea, Diarmuid Duffy and Cian McHale, but O’Carroll’s clinical finish from close-range hauled the Rossies level.
But that was as good as it got for Mark Dowd’s charges as Mayo cut loose and fired in two goals in less than sixty seconds from Paul Towey and Jack Carney to surge ahead.
Roscommon tried to stay in touch with points from Colm Neary and Shane Cunnane, but their over-worked defence were unable to keep Mayo’s ravenous runners at bay.
Ryan O’Donoghue drilled over a two-point free before Jack Carney cut through to fist over to leave nine points between the sides.
Mayo kept the pressure on in the closing stages and the impressive Aidan O’Shea netted in the 36th minute to pile more misery on Roscommon.
The homeside’s pace and running power paid off again in added time when the outstanding Sam Callinan galloped through the opposition cover, and was denied a clear goalscoring opportunity by Roscommon defender Caelim Keogh.
Referee Conor Lane duly showed Keogh a black card and Ryan O’Donoghue swept the penalty past Conor Carroll to leave Mayo 15 points ahead when the hooter sounded.
Roscommon shipped six points without reply after the restart while down to 14 players as Jordan Flynn, Michael Plunkett, Aidan O’Shea, Jordan Flynn, Jack Carney and impressive debutant Hugh O’Loughlin all hit the target.
That scoring burst settled the argument, although Roscommon did pull a goal back through substitute Eoin Colleran in the 46th minute and battled away valiantly until the bitter end.
Daire Cregg kicked four points from play, including a two-pointer, while substitute Jack Duggan also got on the scoresheet.
But these were rare moments for Roscommon’s supporters to shout about as Mayo continued to gloss the final scoreline with the pick of their scores coming from substitute Tommy Conroy (2), Jack Coyne, Frank Irwin, David McBrien and a brilliant two-point effort from veteran Cillian O’Connor in added time to put the seal on an emphatic victory.
Mayo’s focus will now turn to their Connacht championship clash in London on Saturday, April 11 while Roscommon will be in action in New York a day later.
R O’Donoghue (1-4, 1-0pen, 1tpf, 1f), A O’Shea (1-2), J Carney (1-2), J Flynn (0-3), C McHale (0-3), P Towey (1-0), T Conroy (0-2), H O’Loughlin (0-2), C O’Connor (0-2, 1tp), F Irwin (0-1), J Livingstone (0-1, ‘45), D Duffy (0-1), J Coyne (0-1), M Plunkett (0-1), D McBrien (0-1).
D Cregg (0-5, 1tp, 1f), E Colleran (1-1), B O’Carroll (1-1), C Neary (0-1), S Cunnane (0-1), D Kenny (0-1), J Duggan (0-1).
J Livingstone; J Coyne, R Brickenden, D Duffy; S Callinan, M Plunkett, H O’Loughlin; S Howard, D McBrien; J Carney, R O’Donoghue, J Flynn; C McHale, A O’Shea, P Towey.
C O’Connor for O’Shea (48 mins); T Conroy for Towey (48 mins); F Irwin for Howard (54 mins, inj); J MacMonagle for Plunkett (58 mins); K Callaghan for McHale (63 mins); S Morahan for O’Loughlin (65 mins, inj).
C Carroll; T Lambe, E McCormack, N Higgins; C Neary, C Keogh, R Dolan; S Cunnane, C Ryan; P Carey, C Hand, C Lennon; B O’Carroll, D Cregg, C Heneghan.
P Frost for Lambe (10 mins, inj); D Kenny for Frost (18 mins, inj); E Colleran for Heneghan (29 mins); A Brady for Carroll (HT); J Duggan for Lennon (47 mins); R Heneghan for Carey (71 mins).
C Lane (Cork)
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
