HORAN IS PUT THROUGH MILL ON SECOND COMING
THIS was a sobering beginning to James Horan’s second coming as Mayo manager, as he endured a tight 70 minutes against Leitrim at Carrick-onShannon before the FBD encounter was decided on penalties. Mayo won the shootout 4-1 and now meet Galway in their semi-final next weekend. It was 2-13 each at the end of normal time – the home team clinching a draw at the end of normal time by shooting over the final point of the contest four minutes into injury-time. As the semi-final is down for decision next weekend, the game had to be brought to a conclusion with supporters enjoying a rare penalty shootout. Mayo’s Jason Doherty scored first, but Ryan O’Rourke responded to level matters. Moy Davitts’ Brian Reape also found the net, and then Leitrim‘s Mark Plunkett and Evan Sweeney failed to convert. Mark Boland put daylight between the teams and Evan Regan kept his calm to seal a 41 win. With the breeze at their backs, Mayo had made the early running in the game itself. Horan was happy to see his makeshift team open up Leitrim and convert two goals in the opening seven minutes from Brian Reape and Fergal Boland. At the turn, Mayo led 2-9 to 0-8 but with a big home crowd lending its support, Leitrim took their turn to quickly bury two goals in double quick time. After O’Rourke’s shot was blocked, Sweeney found the net and then O’Rourke shot home to leave a single point between the teams. It remained tight to the finish, but the second coming of Horan as Mayo’s messiah ended with a worthy victory.