Mayo make it two from two with deserved win over Dublin

Let's get this out of the way first. This wasn't a great game. Missed chances, misplaced passes, rucks and slips decorated proceedings, but that won't overly concern Mayo who won their second game in eight days.

The final scoreline of 1-18 to 2-9 doesn't flatter the home side who created numerous goal chances, but only took one. Indeed, the winning margin could have been much wider if more composure was shown up front.

Dublin lined out without star forward Cormac Costello and while they found room straight through the heart of Mayo on a number of occasions in the first half, they didn't have the clinical edge to severely punish the home side.

Ger Brennan was obviously distressed by his side's showing in the first half and called three of his starting team ashore before the first 35 minutes had been played.

Mayo began explosively with Fergal Boland and Sam Callinan pointing inside 90 seconds. However the home side were rocked back on their heels less than a minute later when Luke Breathnach found the net.

Dublin were finding room in attack but shot selection and direction was poor.

Mayo weren't much better with their execution, but had enough possession to build a lead as Ryan O'Donoghue and David McBrien kicked two-pointers. James Carr made a big impression at full-forward. The Ardagh man looked dangerous when the ball came his way. His finishing wasn't all it could be, but he gave glimpses of things to come.

Darragh Beirne was popping up everywhere in attack, while Jordan Flynn and Jack Carney were also catching the eye.

Mayo went to the break, leading by two, 0-10 to 1-5, but Dublin came out fighting after the interval. Cormac Costello hit the crossbar with a rasper after three minutes and the guests seemed to be putting more heat on Mayo men in possession. However, that all changed after 40 minutes when Sean MacMahon was sent off for an off-the-ball foul on O'Donoghue.

Mayo powered forward and Carr had a goal chance saved before McBrien blasted an effort over the bar. The Green and Red eventually got the goal they desired when Beirne slalomed through after 46 minutes and when points followed from O'Donoghue and the returning Diarmuid O'Connor the deal was sealed.

However, there was still a kick in Dublin and Paddy Small got in for a goal after some poor defending, but there was no sense of panic in the Mayo ranks and with Aidan O'Shea coming on and handling a lot of the football, they eased home.

The victory leaves Mayo sitting pretty after two rounds of the league. Wins over Galway and Dublin are nothing to be sniffed at and all eyes will now turn to the next challenge against Donegal.

Today's game might not have been all bells and whistles, but the learning continues for this new Mayo set-up where the task of marrying adventurous attacking football with solidity in defence continues apace.