‘This is what we set out to achieve’ - Ray Larkin reacts to league title win over Sligo

WATCHING David Kenny raise the cup aloft at MacHale Park in Castlebar was the goal set by joint team managers Ray Larkin and Brian Finn along with trainers Nigel Shaughnessy and Padraig Mannion at the start of the league.

That ambition was realised in style on Sunday when Mayo duly obliged in securing victory after a well contested game against neighbours Sligo.

Ray Larkin, who guided Tooreen to their fifth Connacht Intermediate Hurling Championship title last year, was pleased with the outcome of the league season.

Under his stewardship, Mayo secured five wins from five games in Division 3A prior to Sunday’s final victory.

“This is what we set out to achieve ahead of the Nicky Rackard championship and we are pleased with how the season has gone so far,” Larking told The Mayo News.

“The lads put in a strong and settled performance. They never panicked on the two occasions Sligo got the game back to three or four points.

“I thought there was a fine fluency to our play. Our shooting was very good, and our tackling skills were good too. They have been improving with every game and we are in a good spot now ahead of our first championship game against Monaghan in MacHale Park on Saturday week (April 13).

“We were also delighted to see a decent support for the game. That is a great encouragement to the lads and we hope we will have the same for the game against Monaghan in two weeks time,” added Larkin.

_{Connacht GAA chairperson Vincent Neary presenting the cup to captain David Kenny after Mayo's victory over Sligo in the Allianz Hurling League Division 3A final} 

A full report on Mayo’s National Hurling League Division 3A final win over Sligo will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.