"It won't be roses every day," says Moran as Mayo lose in Letterkenny

TODAY was a learning day for Mayo and the lesson was a harsh one. The Green and Red were beaten – well-beaten, but team manager Andy Moran was philospoical afterwards.

“It won't be roses every day,” he told the assembled press afterwards, before adding that his side were beaten by the better team in Letterkenny.

“I wish we could just erase the first 26 or 27 minutes,” he said, “but I'm very pleased with the second half, we lost that by two points against the wind and created four or five goal chances,” he explained.

However, the Ballaghaderreen man didn't hide his disappointment when it came to explaining what had happened in a very disappointing first half. He laid the blame at the feet of his attack which didn't spark at all in the first half despite Mayo winning almost all of their own kick-outs in the first period.

The non-functioning attack allowed huge pressure grow at the other end of the field and the more accomplished, experienced and effective home side left Mayo chasing shadows at times as Conor O'Donnell and Oisin Gallen cut loose.

Donegal's seasoned and well-rehearsed playing style ripped Mayo assunder on numerous occasions in the first half and the men from the hills laid the foundations for victory in the first 35 minutes.

The home boys led 0-11 to 0-5 at the interval and with the wind behind Donegal in the second period, one worried for Mayo, but they showed great fighting spirit at times after the interval.

Conor Loftus and Paddy Durcan were among those who had arrived from the bench and they made a big impression.

Darragh Beirne had two goal chances and Ryan O'Donoghue and Conor Loftus had others, but Gavin Mulreany stopped them easily.

At the other end, a goal form the excellent Conor O'Donnell sealed the deal long before the end. Mayo kept trying and with Seamus Howard and Diarmiuid Duffy coming off the bench late on and catching the eye, the guests were game and gallant, despite being well-beaten on the scoreboard.