Mayo's rock and roll football earns narrow win in Salthill

THERE has rarely been a more beautiful January day in Salthill. A bright sky, not a breath of wind and the waves lapping up on The Prom. The fact that a hugely exciting football match broke out in the middle of it all added to the occasion.

Mayo people left the seaside with broad smiles painted on their faces – once their heart-rates subsided – after their team recorded a hard-earned 3-18 to 2-18 victory. The fact that Andy Moran's men were eleven points clear twice in the second half yet left Pearse Stadium just a goal to the good is an aspect that will require some work but that didn't dim the delight of the large Mayo following in the 11,515 attendance.

The first half ended with Mayo six clear, 1-12 to 0-10, and they left the pitch to a huge ovation from the big traveling support. The first period had been end-to-end, thrill-a-minute football with both sides moving forward with pace at every opportunity.

Mayo's goal came after 19 minutes when a flowing move ended with Bob Tuohy finding Aidan O'Shea in the goalmouth and the Breaffy man found the net. That left Mayo two clear, 1-6 to 0-7, after the Green and Red had started impressively only to be pegged back by the home side.

Robbie Hennelly had opened Mayo's account with a two-point free after just two minutes and with Sam Callinan, Ryan O'Donoghue and Darragh Beirne to the fore they found themselves four points up after eleven minutes.

However, Robert Finnerty was winning more than his share of ball whenever the home side attacked directly and when debutant corner-forward Oisin McDonagh kicked a two-pointer from the left after 18 minutes the Galway boys were in front.

That changed when O'Shea found the net, but Galway were creating goal chances of their own and only the post kept out Ciran Mulhern before Kieran Molloy sent another effort over the crossbar.

Mayo, who had lost impressive corner-back Eoin McGreal to injury at that stage, settled again and when Hennelly kicked a two-point free from out near Connemara and Jordan Flynn becoming more prominent they finished the half strongly with a two-pointer from Jack Carney to lead by six.

The second half was rock and roll football in its finest. Goals, points, blocks and bawdiness entertained the vocal attendance. Darragh Beirne slipped home Mayo's second goal nine minutes into the new half and Moran's men were 2-15 to 0-10 in front and looking good.

However, Galway began to get a foothold around the middle and with Mulhern and McDonagh to the fore they came back into it.

Their cause was boosted significantly when Shane McGrath ran in from the right and slipped home a goal after 24 minutes of the half, but Mayo roused themselves and when David McBrien sent Cian McHale through for a fine goal at the other end the lead was out to seven again.

Nothing was spared on the pitch as chances came and went at both ends, but when Fionn McDonagh crashed home another Galway goal the home side sensed victory. In the following minutes more Galway goal chances were stopped by Callinan, McBrien, Paddy Durcan and two superb saves from Hennelly.

Fergal Boland came off the bench to stretch the lead out to five again with three minutes to play, but when Ahern kicked a two-pointer the prospect of a Galway goal earning a share of the spoils became live.

However, one last high ball into the mixer was gathered by Sam Tuohy and when the hooter sounded the game was over and a beautiful day in Salthill got even better for the large Mayo following.