Sligo give Mayo a strong opening test

Although it’s Mayo who march into the Connacht semi- final with Galway, there are positives from this Sligo performance ahead of their Qualifier campaign in a few weeks

MAYO saw past a defiant Sligo to book their place in this year’s Connacht semi- final with Galway, however the quarter- final last Sunday was a different dish to their 2015 obliteration.

That encounter, the last time the sides met, saw Mayo humiliate Sligo with 26 points to spare. However on Sunday, Stephen Rochford’s side came away winners at home in MacHale Park with a somewhat flattering nine points to the good.

Goals from brothers Diarmuid and Cillian O’Connor did the damage either side of the break as Sligo, despite playing with the extremely strong breeze, trailed by four points at the interval, O’Connor’s goal embellishing the Mayo advantage.

The Yeats men were more than aware they needed to be on top alert once referee Seán Hurson deemed proceedings underway, and Niall Carew’s men did just that. They started brightly, showing the hosts they meant business and went into an early lead. It was a different tale from back in 2015; that game was over after ten minutes, this one went right to the remaining ten, substitute Niall Murphy had reduced it to a mere three points with nine minutes to go.

It took two points and then a goal from Cillian O’Connor to finally put the game to bed, with a brace of points from substitutes Danny Kirby and Jason Doherty wrapping up the victory for Rochford’s outfit.

They now progress to meet the Tribesmen but their performance wasn’t as glossy as the large Mayo crowd would have expected.

A mere twenty seconds were on the clock when John Kelly sent a decent ball into the path of Pat Hughes, Stephen Coen collected and fired over the first score of the game for Sligo.

The lead was short- lived as free- taker Cillian O’Connor converted a foul on Kevin McLoughlin which was added to with another fine score from play through Andy Moran with three minutes on the clock.

It was Coen again who levelled a minute later, which was followed quickly through with another good score for the visitors, this time Adrian Marren was on target.

McLoughlin had a chance to level for Mayo through a free on Moran, but his attempt sailed the wrong side of the post. A minute later and the Knockmore man was on target from play as down the other end, a Hughes chance went wide.

A Mark Breheny free saw Sligo leading four points to three on 11 minutes but the slight gap was short- lived after a fine move saw Patrick Durcan getting on the scoreboard for the hosts as the sides registered four points apiece on 14 minutes.

Sligo’s hard- working Charlie Harrison was then charging down before Mayo’s Colm Boyle expertly blocked his move.

Aidan Devaney left his goal line to take a Sligo 45, but it went wide, which was followed by another for Mayo from the boot of Fergal Boland. Both of the number eights, Seamus O’Shea for Mayo and Sligo’s Paddy O’Connor were displaying impressive performances.

Sligo however didn’t have as clinical scoring boots they had in Gaelic Park against New York and were notching up a number of wides, six before the 22 minute mark.

A foul on O’Shea saw Keelan Cawley given a yellow card, as O’Connor slotted over at close range on 24 minutes. Marren sent over another Sligo free as it was five points each before a six- minute scoring lapse was ended by O’Connor after Sligo were penalised for dragging down a Mayo player.

Substitute Jason Doherty was playing well for Mayo after being introduced, while team- mate Tom Parsons saw his goal chance slice wide.

On the brink of half- time Diarmuid O’Connor got the game’s first goal after being fed by O’Shea, questions about how many steps were taken.

The score at the break saw the hosts ahead by four, 1- 6 to five points, as they were switching Sligo’s momentum from earlier on.

Niall Carew’s men got the first score of the second period, Devaney was on target with a well- taken free.

O’Shea again sought out Durcan for another Mayo goal chance and this too skirted wide before Boland fired over a brilliant score after being sought out by Boyle as Mayo went four in front once more.

Moran added his second on the day from play as the Mayo dominance was increasing as they led by five.

There were load cheers from the Mayo support as Aidan O’Shea was introduced as a blood sub for Diarmuid O’Connor who collided with Keelan Cawley and was showing his war wounds. A point from play from Paddy O’Connor and a free on Marren converted by Breheny had the difference down to three but Mayo were not panicking. A move from Keith Higgins found Boland who fisted over with ease, the Aghamore man could have possibly netted Mayo’s goal but instead elected to take the point. Cillian O'Connor and Marren swapped frees before substitute Niall Murphy brought it back to a three- point affair in the final ten. Murphy who was back after a hamstring a possible goal chance but injury spell had a sigh of relief. From here it was the hosts who drifted ahead into an unattainable lead. O'Connor found the net for Mayo’s second goal after a Connor Loftus pass and from there it was no way back for Carew’s charges, who unlike 2015, can take positives from this performance. MAYO: D Clarke, C Barrett, G Cafferky, K Higgins, C Boyle, L Keegan P Durcan ( 0- 1), S O’Shea, T Parsons, F Boland ( 0- 2), D O’Connor ( 1- 0), C O’Shea, K McLoug 5f), A Moran ( 0- 2) SUBS: J Doherty O’Shea for D O’C ( 54), S Coen for O’Shea ( 62) C Lo ( 0- 1) for S O’Shea