Mayo get the better of Kerry

All-Ireland SFC Series Group 1

Round 1
Mayo 1-19
Kerry 0-17

MAYO may have beaten Kerry for the first time in championship football at Fitzgerald Stadium, and ended the All-Ireland champion’s 39-game unbeaten run there in the process, but Kevin McStay was keeping his feet firmly on the ground afterwards.
The Mayo manager had just seen his team win their opening game in the group stages of the All-Ireland series, and admitted he was ‘very pleased with the result and the performance’ but he was also keen to stress that ‘there will be another two points’ up for grabs against Louth in two weeks’ time.
That may be the mantra from the Mayo camp, but there was no disguising the spring in the steps of their supporters in the crowd of 23,138 was they made their way up Lewis Road on Saturday evening.
“We’re very pleased,” admitted McStay. “We stayed at it, we played well for long patches of the game, and the consistency of application was very pleasing from our point of view.
But what was on offer was just the two points and there will be another two the next day [against Louth]. I’m not for a second saying that they weren’t valuable, but they were hard earned. We had to go at this full tilt.”
A brilliantly-taken 60th minute goal from substitute Eoghan McLaughlin was the score that put the issue beyond all doubt after a game that was dominated by the visitors from start to finish.
Midfielder Matthew Ruane and forwards Aidan O’Shea and Ryan O’Donoghue were among the front-runners for man of the match, while Mayo’s rookie defence — where Jack Coyne, David McBrien, Sam Callinan and Donnacha McHugh had two championship starts between them — performed superbly.
Only three of Kerry’s starting forwards scored from play, with David Clifford (0-8, five frees) and Paul Geaney (0-3) carrying the most threat on a day when Mayo’s defensive structure passed another stress test.
Mayo led at half-time by 0-12 to 0-7 with James Carr (3), Ryan O’Donoghue (4, one free) and Aidan O’Shea (two frees and a mark) causing Kerry’s full-back line constant issues.
There was only a point between the sides after 30 minutes but Mayo finished with a flourish with a string of points from O’Donoghue (2), Jack Carney and the outstanding Carr to take the initiative.
David Clifford led the Kerry revival in the third quarter with a succession of stunning points, but the closest that the Munster champions got to their guests at any stage was three points.
And with Mattie Ruane and Diarmuid O’Connor continuing to drive Mayo forward, a briliant goal from substitute Eoghan McLaughlin pushed the winners out of reach once and for all.
A couple of scores from the relentless Clifford were cancelled out immediately by Mattie Ruane and Paddy Durcan as Mayo kept the homeside at arm’s length.
It was a similar story in the closing stages with late Kerry scores from Sean O’Shea (‘45) and Tom O’Sullivan answered by a long-range effort from Jordan Flynn to seal Mayo’s victory.
“The lads were up for this challenge and the disappointment of our exit in Connacht.
People kind of questioned them, but that’s the nature of our sport. That’s a big part of performing at this level. You’re questioned every day you go out,” said Kevin McStay afterwards.
Mickey Harte’s Louth will be asking the questions in Castlebar in a fortnight.

Mayo
C Reape; J Coyne, D McBrien, S Callinan; P O’Hora (0-1), C Loftus, D McHugh (0-1); M Ruane (0-2), D O’Connor; J Doherty (0-1), J Carney (0-1), J Flynn (0-1); A O’Shea (0-3, 2fs, 1m), J Carr (0-3), R O’Donoghue (0-5, 2fs).
Subs used: P Durcan (0-1) for Doherty, E Hession for Callinan (both 48 mins); T Conroy for Carr (53 mins); E McLaughlin (1-0) for O’Hora (56 mins); S Coen for Coyne (60 mins).

Kerry
S Ryan; D Casey, J Foley, T O'Sullivan (0-2); G O'Sullivan, T Morley, G White; D O'Connor, J Barry; D Moynihan (0-01), S O'Shea (0-03, 2fs, 1 ‘45) P Clifford; T Brosnan, D Clifford (0-8, 3fs), Paul Geaney (0-3).
Subs used: P Murphy for Casey; A Spillane for Brosnan (both half-time); R Murphy for Moynihan (46 mins), B Ó Beaglaíoch for Morley (59 mins), S O’Brien for Barry (64 minutes).

Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone)