BACK IN THE MIX Mayo’s Ronan McGarrity is pictured in action against Westmeath in last Sunday’s senior football challenge game in Ballaghaderreen.
Doherty hits a hat-trick as McGarrity returns to action
Mayo 5-10
Westmeath 0-10
Seán Rice
Ballaghadereen
AS early as the 16th minute this challenge — marking the opening of Ballaghaderreen’s new clubhouse and grounds — had to all intents and purposes come to an end. Mayo were eleven points ahead and playing with the intensity of a team in which every player was fighting for recognition.
At the end a whopping fifteen points separated the sides, and bar a couple of regulars most of the squad were given a fair chance to display their talents.
One man took full advantage of the opportunity. Before the game was five minutes old Jason Doherty had notched his first goal, opening the way for a further brace of majors and providing the selectors with plenty to chew on before a left corner forward is chosen for that important clash with Leitrim on June 24.
For the first time this season former star Ronan McGarrity was given an opportunity to impress the selectors at midfield, and for a man who has not been through the rigours of winter training, he did little wrong during the 35 minutes of his duration.
But in general it was one-way traffic throughout the seventy minutes to the extent that you wondered how many of Westmeath’s first choice were in action.
A full fifteen minutes had passed before the visitors got their opening score, a point by Callum McCormack. By then Mayo had galloped into a lead of eight points, and when Westmeath registered their second white flag, almost seven minutes later, the lead had stretched to twelve points.
Doherty’s second goal came in the 14th minute when he fisted the ball home following nice approach work by McGarrity. And two minutes later Alan Freeman in the opposite corner slammed home their third goal.
The Aghamore man took the opportunity well after the initial ground work was done Barry Moran and Cillian O¹Connor, but he had still to round fullback John Gaffey, and he did that superbly before nailing the goal with his left foot.
Westmeath did get through for three further points before the break at which time Mayo had opened the gap to ten points . . . 3-6 to 0-5.
With Shane McHale at full-back, Ger Cafferkey at left corner and Keith Higgins at centre-back, Mayo held a tight grip on the opposing forwards and every one of the six and those who came after them were in form.
They also held sway at midfield where Barry Moran was in command especially in the second half, while up front everyone was out to please.
Westmeath improved somewhat after the break . . . until the Mayo goal rush resumed with Doherty claiming his third, fifteen minutes in, the opportunity provided by Danny Kirby.
And in the final minute Michael Conroy got in on the act with his first and Mayo’s fifth . . . but the goal in truth belonged to Chris Barrett who cut through the defence and had his shot blocked before the Davitts man rolled it into the net.
Mayo
D Clarke; K Keane, S McHale, G Cafferkey; R Feeney, K Higgins, C Boyle; B Moran, R McGarrity (0-1); K McLoughlin, C O’Connor (0-3), P Harte; A Freeman (1-2), A Moran (0-1), J Doherty (3-2).
Subs used: M Forde, L Keegan, D Vaughan, M Conroy (1-1), D Kirby, R Hennelly, E Varley C Barrett.
Westmeath
G Connaughton; B Moran, J Gaffey, K Maguire; D Harte, M Ennis, D McDermott; D Corroon, P Bannon; K Martin (0-1), A Giles (0-1), R Foley (0-2); C McCormack (0-2), D Glennon, P Sharry.
Subs used: G Egan (0-3), M McCallion, D Gavin, M Curley, J Dolan, T English (0-1).
