Mayo get back on track against Galway

Back on track


Strong second half display carries Mayo into decider

Semi-Final
Mayo 1-12
Galway 1-6

Mike Finnerty
Castlebar

THERE was no mistaking the collective sigh of relief that echoed around McHale Park last Sunday as the final whistle signalled a Mayo victory that was as as eagerly-awaited as it was comprehensive.
It mattered little that this hadn’t been a game for the purists; a blustery wind, intermittent mist, a greasy ball and the jangling nerves saw to that. Not to mention the fact that both sides had so much to lose.
This was a game that Mayo simply had to win if the graph was to remain on an upward curve and confidence was to be restored after the chastening defeats in Sligo and Longford last summer, not to mention the London experience last month.
The sight of Mayo manager James Horan clenching his fist quietly, and defiantly, at the end of the game spoke louder than any of his succinct comments a little later. This was a huge result for all involved in this Mayo set-up.
After being competitive for the first half, and leading at the change of ends by 1-5 to 0-4, TomΡs Ó Flatharta watched his Galway side fall to pieces after the restart.
They were outscored by 1-8 to 0-1 in the second period and their weaknesses were exposed time and again by Mayo’s purposeful approach.
The midfield diamond of Donal Vaughan, Aidan O’Shea, Seamus O’Shea and Alan Dillon were in complete control of this pivotal sector from an early stage while the performances of Richie Feeney, Trevor Mortimer, Kevin McLoughlin and Andy Moran meant that Galway never threatened to usurp the homeside’s dominance in this area.
The story of the game is a fairly straightforward one. Mayo dominated in terms of possession in the first half but a plethora of missed frees, against the strong wind, and a Paul Conroy goal on 34 minutes meant Galway were flattered by their half-time lead of four points.
The tide turned on Alan Freeman’s goal on 57 minutes and a string of unanswered points from Freeman, and substitutes Ronan McGarrity and Enda Varley, pushed Mayo out of Galway’s reach.
A large portion of the crowd of 19,375 were on their way home when the final whistle sounded as Mayo freewheeled across the finish line and Galway chased a late goal in vain.
The chastened visitors managed just one point in the entire second half (an effort from Eoin Concannon on 54 minutes that could, and really should, have been a goal), and they looked a beaten docket long before the end.
Both sides struggled to find their rhythm in the opening half and there were no shortage of unforced errors, misplaced passes, and basic mistakes.
Mayo, in particular, were experiencing the ‘yips’ up front with Alan Dillon and Aidan O’Shea both missing a number of scoreable frees while Robert Hennelly was also off-target after making a couple of trips upfield.
However, even with a stiff breeze behind them, Galway weren’t asking many hard questions.
In fact, apart from three confidently-struck frees from Cormac Bane, and a neat effort from play, they seldom threatened Mayo’s revamped defence.
Padraic Joyce did escape from Keith Higgins’ shackles once to post a trademark angled score but, approaching half-time, due mainly to Mayo’s malfunctioning forward division, Galway only led by 0-5 to 0-4.
However Paul Conroy’s soccer-styled goal, which came against the run of play after a long ball had broken into his path, opened up some clear daylight between the sides for the first time.
Unfortunately for Galway it turned out to be a false dawn as they were made to look very ordinary from there to the finish.
The Tribesmen were outplayed, outmuscled around the middle, and, most importantly, outscored dramatically after the restart as Mayo made the most of the strong wind at their backs.
Alan Dillon (free), Alan Freeman and Cillian O’Connor all nailed early second half points before Kevin McLoughlin slotted over the equaliser on 45 minutes.
The tireless Andy Moran then nudged Mayo ahead four minutes later and we awaited a shell-shocked Galway’s response.
When Eoin Concannon spooned over the levelling point soon after it seemed like Galway might make a game of it.
Instead, Mayo mustered up a big last quarter and reeled off 1-3 without reply to get the job done.

Mayo
R Hennelly (0-2, 1f, ‘45); T Cunniffe, A Feeney, K Higgins; R Feeney, D Vaughan, T Mortimer (0-1); S O’Shea, A O’Shea; K McLoughlin (0-1), A Dillon (0-1, 1f), A Moran (0-1); C O’Connor (0-1), A Freeman (1-2), J Doherty (0-1, 1f).
Subs used: R McGarrity (0-1) for S O’Shea (62 mins), E Varley (0-1) for O’Connor (65 mins), P Gardiner for McLoughlin (70 mins).

Galway
A Faherty; A Burke, C Forde, J Duane; G O’Donnell, G Higgins, G Sice; J Bergin, F Hanley; E Concannon (0-1), M Hehir, G Bradshaw; P Joyce (0-1, 1f), P Conroy (1-0), C Bane (0-4, 3fs).
Subs used: D Blake for Hehir (43 mins), M Clancy for Conroy (50 mins), M Meehan for Bane (53 mins), D Cummins for Sice (67 mins).

Referee: R Hickey (Clare).