HITTING THE SPOT Mayo’s Pat Harte buries a first half penalty down the middle of Philip Greene’s goal during
last Sunday’s Connacht SFC semi-final at McHale Park, Castlebar. Pic: Michael Donnelly
New start begins with easy victory
Goals prove decisive as Mayo advance to take on Galway in Connacht final
SEMI-FINAL
Mayo 3-11
Sligo 0-7
Sean Rice
Castlebar
IT was not so much victory as annihilation as Sligo collapsed without a whimper. In an atmosphere that bore no reality to what had been expected, Mayo cruised into the Connacht final, and no one is still much wiser about their true worth.
Sligo had come determined to retain their championship interest. But they failed miserably to fulfil their dream presenting only token resistance to a Mayo side that played with purpose and efficiency.
As the opposition melted before their eyes, however, Mayo will not read too much into their victory, thorough though it was. John O’Mahony and his selectors would surely have wished for a more demanding challenge before meeting their old rivals in the final.
All over the field Mayo were in control — so dominant in almost every position they could afford to fade into patches of mediocrity which would not have gone unpunished against other sides. Before they had settled, Sligo did almost catch them out.
Barely five minutes had elapsed when they lost possession through over elaboration in defence. From the scramble in front of goal Michael McNamara, who had moved to the attack in a switch with Brendan Egan, emerged with only David Clarke to beat. But the goalkeeper denied the St John’s man with a super save.
What effect that had on the game we’ll never know, but from that moment on there was no similarity between the sides. Mayo were streets ahead, the gap in technique and speed widening as the game progressed. It the end it was one big yawn of a semi-final, a one-sided flop for the crowd of 12,317.
From the start Sligo had lost the battle at midfield. Tom Parsons ruled the air magnificently and added a significant edge to his game with some clever running and passing. Ronan McGarrity’s positional sense and high fielding completed a successful midfield package.
David Heaney turned in a storming performance at centre-half back and Keith Higgins, Colm Boyle, Kieran Conroy, James Nallen and Tom Cunniffe left only scraps for the Sligo forwards. Yet David Clarke spared the blushes of the defence on two occasions with exceptional saves. And Colm Boyle was forced to clear the ball off the line after John McPartland was allowed steal inside their ramparts late in the game.
By the time Mark Brehony had Sligo’s opening point in the 15th minute Mayo had set the pattern. Moving quickly and decisively, they varied their game with solid support play and clever delivery to the wings. Points by Parsons, Conor Mortimer, Austin O’Malley and Pat Harte ensued from thoughtful moves, but their lead did not fully reflect their authority.
Sligo defended in packs and for a while slowed Mayo’s progress. But when Conor Mortimer was dragged down in the penalty area in the 29th minute, following brilliant play by Andy Moran and Trevor Mortimer, the writing was on the wall. From the penalty spot Pat Harte, who turned in a fine performance at centre-half forward, made no mistake.
Having striven hard to too keep Mayo in check, Sligo had to face the second half trailing by 1-6 to 0-3. Their worse fears were realised three minutes into the second half when Trevor Mortimer, whose work rate was once again immense, killed the game off as a contest.
Ross Donovan was surprised by the speed of the ball that came spinning in from Tom Parsons, and in attempting to clear it left an opening for Trevor Mortimer. Capping another diligent performance, the Shrule man was not found wanting.
Although their hopes of causing an upset had taken a severed nose-dive, Charles Harrison and Donovan were not at fault for Sligo. Nor could any fault be attached to the work of Brendan Egan or David Kelly who strove to find some way through the Mayo defence. John McPartland almost did, but Colm Boyle came to Mayo’s rescue.
It was the champions’ last throw of the dice. Mayo swarmed all over the place, queuing up for scores. Austin O’Malley, Andy Moran and Pat Harte were at the root of most moves, and after David Kelly scooped over a couple of Sligo points, were back building for their third goal.
Conor Mortimer, efficient and resourceful as ever, and Parsons set it up. Substitute Aidan Kilcoyne took the final pass, and despatched the ball sweetly to the net.
It was the final straw for Sligo. Nothing they did was a threat. Brehony added a couple of points and the hard-working Kelly grabbed one back. But all of them came amid a flurry of Mayo points. A tame end to Sligo¹s dreams of rekindling last year’s fire.
Mayo
D. Clarke; C Boyle, K Conroy, K Higgins; T Cunniffe, D Heaney, J Nallen; R McGarrity, T Parsons (0-2); P Gardiner, P Harte (1-1, 1-0 pen), T Mortimer (1-0); C Mortimer (0-5), A O’Malley (0-2) A Moran. Subs used: A Kilcoyne (1-1) for Gardiner; BJ Padden for O’Malley; M Mullins for T Mortimer; M Ronaldson for Moran.
Sligo
P Greene; C Harrisson, P Naughton, R Donovan; P McGovern, M McNamara, J Davey; K Quinn, E O’Hara; B Curran, M Brehony (0-4,3fs), B Egan; G Gaughan, E McHugh, D Kelly (0-3). Subs used: N McGuire for Naughton; B Phillips for McGovern; Naughton for McNamara; S Gilmartin for Quinn; J McPartland for McHugh.
Referee: J Bannon (Longford)
