MAYO FIND THEIR SHOOTING BOOTS
Rochford’s men rediscover scoring touch as wasteful Rossie put to the sword
SUDDENLY things are looking up for Mayo. After a winter of discontent and a disappointing opening round League defeat to Monaghan, Stephen Rochford’s men suddenly have some momentum behind them.
That Monaghan defeat was followed by a win against the head away to Kerry and last night they comfortably saw off a poor Roscommon challenge by eight points in Castlebar.
Last year’s All-Ireland finalists now face into a trip to play their conquerors last October, Dublin, in Croke Park next Saturday in much better shape than two weeks ago.
But they will know the challenge of Dublin will be a world away from that which Roscommon presented last night. Kevin McStay’s men looked a shadow of the team who should have beaten Donegal in the previous round and, if anything, the final scoreline at MacHale Park was kind to them.
Mayo led by six at the break and that gap never looked like be threatened in the second half once Cillian O’Connor converted a penalty within three minutes of the restart. In fact, Roscommon’s best chance of a comeback came with three goal chances at the end of the first half, all of which were spurned.
Mayo were heavy favourites going into the game and, despite missing a few bodies, they looked much the stronger in the first half as they laid the platform for victory by dominating Roscommon around the middle third with Jason Gibbons and Diarmuid O’Connor excelling at midfield.
Mayo were utterly dominant at times in the opening period and could have been further in front than their 0-11 to 0-5 interval lead but, conversely, could have been pegged right back had Roscommon netted some or all of their three late goal chances.
Keith Higgins blocked an effort from Donie Smith while All Star goalkeeper David Clarke twice excellently saved from Enda Smith and Seán Mullooly.
Mayo started off with a squanderfest of their own with four misses in the first five minutes of the game but then found their range with six points with their next six shots.
Andy Moran, Cillian O’Connor (3) and Fergal Boland (2) were all on target and subsequent points from Jason Gibbons, Cillian O’Connor and Diarmuid O’Connor saw Mayo open up a 0-9 to 0-3 lead.
Roscommon had to be efficient with their shooting early on and they were, scoring with all of their first four shots from the boots of Shane Killoran, Enda Smith, Fintan Cregg and Donie Smith.
The biggest roar of the first-half came when Footballer of the Year Lee Keegan was introduced for his first game with Mayo this year, fresh off the back of helping Westport claim their first All-Ireland Club IFC title last week. Keegan replaced the black-carded Colm Boyle after 29 minutes.
The second half was as pedestrian an affair as you will ever see between these sides.
A Cillian O’Connor goal from the penalty spot, after Evan Regan was fouled, on 38 minutes effectively put pay to any hopes of a comeback for Roscommon.
Mayo manager Stephen Rochford ran his bench. All Star defender in 2016 Brendan Harrison came on to clip two points, a feat also managed by that Keegan and Conor Loftus while Michael Plunkett had a shot at goal superbly saved by Roscommon goalkeeper Colm Lavin.
By the game’s end Mayo had an incredible 12 different scorers and cut through Roscommon far too easy for Kevin McStay’s liking.
That said, Mayo goalkeeper David Clarke had to be alert on more than one occasion to ensure a clean sheet for the hosts, but aside from three nice points from Conor Devaney, Roscommon were always second best, and considerably so.
They face Kerry next Sunday and remain rooted to the foot of the table.
An improvement is desperately needed. maYo: D Clarke; D Newcombe, K Higgins, D Vaughan (B Harrison 53); S Coen, C Boyle (L Keegan 29), P Durcan; D O’Connor, J Gibbons; F Boland (S Nally 55), K McLoughlin, C O’Shea (M Plunkett 59); E Regan (L Irwin 66), A Moran (C Loftus 50), C O’Connor. Black card: C Boyle 28, Scorers: C O’Connor 1-4 (1-0 pen, 1f); F Boland, B Harrison, L Keegan, C Loftus 0-2; D O’Connor, C O’Shea, K McLoughlin, E Regan, A Moran, D Vaughan, J Gibbons 0-1. roSCommoN: C Lavin; D Murray, S Mullooly, N McInerney; R Stack (N Kilroy 58), S McDermott (G Patterson 54), J McManus; S Killoran (C Cafferkey 25), T O’Rourke; F Cregg (K Higgins 44), C Murtagh, E Smith; D Smith, T Corcoran, C Devaney (B Murtagh 61). Yellow cards: S Mullooly, T O’Rourke, E Smith, C Cafferkey. Black card: S Killoran. Scorers: C Devaney, D Smith 0-3; E Smith, C Murtagh 02; T Corcoran, N Kilroy, S Killoran, F Cregg 0-1. referee: J McQuillan (Cavan)