DUBLIN 1-12 MAY0 0-7
Mayo pay another heavy price as Cormac & Co keep Dublin in League contention
Published by MGN Ltd at One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AP (020 7293 3000) and printed at Meath Chronicle Print, Meath and Interpress N.I. Ltd, Belfast. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office Serial No.8102 E
GAA NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
OLD habits clearly die hard for the five-in-a-row chasing Dublin who scored yet another significant win over Mayo at Croke Park last night.
Cormac Costello’s 1-4 haul did the damage this time as the League and All-ireland holders ended Mayo’s 100% start to the campaign.
It was a familiar feeling for James Horan who is in his second stint as manager having previously managed Mayo to a one-point loss to Dublin in the 2013 All-ireland final.
Mayo wasted a first half penalty but could not claim they were hard done by overall as Dublin won at ease, drawing a remarkable six saves from Mayo keeper Rob Hennelly.
The unseasonably good weather brought a 35,213 crowd out and while Dublin rarely slipped into top gear, they delighted home fans with a commanding display and their second top flight win.
Ciaran Kilkenny got among the scorers and enjoyed his first action of the year along with Cian O’sullivan, Darren Daly and David Byrne, bringing to 32 the number of players Dublin have used so far.
Mayo came to Croke Park looking to reignite their old rivalry with the Dubs whom they lost All-ireland finals to by just a point in 2013, 2016 and 2017.
Blues supporters perhaps question the legitimacy of that rivalry given that they never once lost to Mayo under Gavin.
And after an even enough first 20 minutes or so, the All-ireland holders hit the afterburners to assert their authority over the Westerners once again. It was 0-2 to 0-2 in the 19th minute when Costello scored Dublin’s opening goal, leaving Keith Higgins for dead on the left before darting clear and beating Rob Hennelly at his near post.
Paul Mannion, Kilkenny, Costello and Jack Mccaffrey all added points to put Dublin seven points ahead and they held a commanding 1-6 to 0-3 lead at the interval.
It could have been so much more with three Dublin point attempts dropping short and Hennelly pulling off no less than four first half saves.
Mayo scored just one point from play in the first half, an 18th minute score from talented newcomer Fionn Mcdonagh with Hennelly converting their other two scores from placed balls.
Mayo did have their chances but also dropped a number of point attempts short while Andy Moran blazed a shot wide and Jason Doherty had a 33rd minute penalty saved.
The second half was a damp squib as Dublin went through the motions and outscored Mayo by 0-6 to 0-4 to stretch their lead to eight points by the final whistle.
It was all too easy for the hosts who held Mayo to just two points from open play after the break, from Matthew Ruane and sub Kevin Mcloughlin.
The most intriguing moment was a bizarre collision between Mayo’s Colm Boyle and an umpire which left the official requiring a lengthy period of treatment.