Masters lose to Mayo
HAVING gone unbeaten through the championship, Sligo, with home advantage, looked well-placed to deliver an All-Ireland title last Saturday. A huge crowd turned up in Ballymote to watch a tough and competitive affair that saw Mayo win their 9th All-Ireland at this grade, and their second on the trot.
Mayo settled better and with Sligo sitting deep they drove in waves. Points from Declan and Shane Sweeney, Kieran Lavelle and Russell Gibbons with Sligo’s sole point from a Dessie Sloyan free saw Mayo well in control. A key moment came when Easkey’s Dessie Sloyan rattled the woodwork with a left-footed piledrive after being put in by Eamonn O’Hara. At the other end Gerry Dooner got down low to keep Shane Sweeney out. Declan Sweeney added another long-range score with two Johnny Kenny points before half-time saw Sligo just two down, 0-05 to 0-03.
On the resumption Sligo went man-to-man and it reaped rewards. Mayo were forced to kick long and Sligo were winning more possession. However, but for Gerry Dooner’s bravery in intercepting a hand-pass for what looked like a certain goal it could have been worse for Sligo. Frees from Taylor and Sloyan meant it was a draw game at 0-05 apiece and Sligo looked to be finding their rhythm. A number of wides at this stage let Mayo off the hook, and when Kieran Lavelle netted after a Mayo break they were back in control at 1-05 to 0-05.
Taylor kicked another free for Sligo but Kevin Filan replied with a free from the right. Mayo’s Eugen O’Toole put it out to four again, with Malone, Sweeney and Gerry Jennings keeping Mayo in comfort despite a trio of fantastic points by Sligo captain and Man-of-the-match, David Durkin.
Sligo, try as they might, couldn’t find the net. A hopeful ball in broke across the square but Paraic Doohan’s shot came back off Mayo ‘keeper Darran Madden.
Afterwards, the Masters’ founder Dr. Mick Loftus presented the cup to Knockmore’s Declan Sweeney. Sligo captain, David Durkin, was awarded man-of-the-match, and in his speech thanked the Sligo players and management for a great year that unfortunately had a disappointing conclusion. He pointed to the attraction of the Masters to players, and, as evidenced by the attendance, to supporters as well.
Unfortunately for Sligo the free-flowing football they had displayed in their semi-final win over Cavan and in their group games wasn’t evidenced last weekend. Though they lacked nothing in effort it wasn’t to be for a group that have served their clubs and counties so well in the last number of decades. However, building on their return last year that yielded only one victory, contesting an All-Ireland final in a 15-county competition shows great progress. With an influx of excellent ‘young’ players like John McPartland, Noel Maguire, Eamonn Cawley, Kenneth Morley and Sean Davey eligible they can look to go one better next year. It’s fantastic for these players to have an inter-county competition where they can show their wares.
Well done to Pat McGrath and Ballymote GAA for their co-ordination of the day, with Corran Park well set-up to accommodate the huge attendance. While conditions were difficult the pitch held reasonably well given the rain it took in the days preceding the final. SLIGO panel: Gerry Dooner; Damien Kelly, Declan Cawley, Mark Boland; David Killoran, David Durkin captain and man-of-the-match (0-3), Morgan McCormack; Con O’Meara, Michael Moyles; Eamonn O’Hara, Paraic Doohan, Nigel Clancy; Paul Taylor (0-2), Johnny Kenny (0-2) , Dessie Sloyan (o-2). Subs: Paul Durcan, Fergal Kelly, Francis Candon, Dermot Browne, Fintan Kennedy, Christy Walsh, Martin Nealon, Blair Foley, Ronan Keane, Gerry McGowan, Pat Fenton, Pascal Gillard, Garrett Mullaney, Gary Mullen, and Terry Farrelly.