COMING THROUGH Galway’s Damien Burke wins possession ahead of Mayo’s Billy Joe Padden and Ger Brady during Sunday’s match at Pearse Stadium, Galway. Pic: Sportsfile
Maroon tide sweeps over Mayo
CONNACHT SFC
Galway 2-10
Mayo 0-9 Mike Finnerty
Galway THERE comes a time in every team’s life when there is no escaping the reality that their best days may be behind them.
Last Sunday afternoon at Pearse Stadium in Salthill Mayo surrendered their provincial title in terribly disappointing fashion and in the process it became apparent that the end of an era has been reached.
On this evidence – and it was compelling – this was the end for some of this particular group of Mayo footballers. All have served the county above and beyond the call of duty but this game proved that time and tide wait for no man.
Galway tore into the match and their opponents and too many Mayo players were unable to respond. The midfield battle was lost overwhelmingly, too many of the match-ups backfired, and only two points from play in 75 minutes underlines the impotency of the attack.
This was a seven point hammering.
Peter Ford produced his team fired-up, supremely organised, well-drilled, and hell-bent on winning the game. They hit hard and often, moved the ball beautifully, and hit some sparkling scores to ease to victory.
Mayo, as always, refused to show the white feather but only David Heaney and Keith Higgins can honestly walk away with their reputations intact.
In too many lines Mayo players were bullied, second-best and left chasing shadows. Galway got in their faces, closed them down, got bodies behind the ball, and brought a level of intensity to the game that Mayo were unable to match.
There was just no going to the well one more time.
From the moment Cormac Bane went around Kenneth O’Malley and rolled the ball into the net after 70 seconds, Mayo were chasing the game. Galway set the tone, forced the pace, and played like a team whose very survival depended on the outcome.
Derek Savage was outstanding and fired over a point in the second minute to keep Galway’s momentum going before Andy Moran wriggled into some space at the other end to open Mayo’s account.
Galway were still three points to the good after 20 minutes when the game’s second goal was crafted. Its origin was in the revolving nature of Ford’s forwardline and with Mayo’s defence distracted, Cormac Bane peeled off the shoulder of Billy Padden to take a pass from Michael Meehan.
Bane was 21 yards out when he took possession and closer to 14 when he lashed the ball into the roof of the net. It was to be a fatal blow that propelled Galway into a six point lead.
A string of frees from Conor Mortimer (3) and Alan Dillon were traded with Nicky Joyce and Michael Meehan before half-time to leave wind-assisted Galway ahead by 2-5 to 0-5 at the break.
By this stage Enda Devenney and Peadar Gardiner had both been taken off with David Brady on at midfield. Mayo’s best-laid plans were being shredded.
However, Conor Mortimer almost snatched a dramatic goal seconds after the restart but saw his weighted shot cannon off the crossbar from close range.
There was some consolation though when Alan Dillon drilled over a superb score from long-range moments later and we braced ourselves for yet another of Mayo’s famous second half revivals.
Galway were in no mood to be reeled in though and the abrasive Niall Coleman swung over an inspirational score before Ja Fallon jinked his way in for another to open up a seven point lead.
Over the final 37 minutes all Mayo managed were three pointed frees from Conor Mortimer. Their cause was most certainly not helped by the sending-off of Pat Harte in the 45th minute after he clashed with Michael Meehan off-the-ball.
Down to fourteen men, not even the introduction of the obviously ring-rusty Ciaran McDonald was of any tangible benefit to Mayo at this stage.
Galway’s backline was taking no prisoners with the uncompromising Kieran Fitzgerald, Damien Burke, Diarmuid Blake and Declan Meehan all in imperious form. One Burke hit on McDonald also helped to galvanise the home side and lifted their supporters.
Incredibly all Galway needed to score in the final thirty minutes themselves to stay comfortably ahead were two further points.
Cormac Bane landed a beautiful score from play in the 53rd minute while Padraig Joyce registered his only point of the afternoon from a free in the 66th minute.
These flags apart, Galway didn’t trouble the umpires yet kept Mayo at arm’s length without any great fuss. In any event the lack of any discernible structure to Mayo’s attack and the aggressive nature of Galway’s backline meant that scoring chances were few and far between.
Niall Coleman’s dismissal for a second booking in the 60th minute did little to disrupt Galway’s rhythm and, predictably, the game ended with Mayo battering aimlessly for a goal that never looked likely to arrive.
The final whistle was an act of mercy for a Mayo team that had run out of ideas long before the end. This was not a day when Mayo’s luck simply ran out. It was a day when time did for some of the finest men ever to wear the county jersey.
GALWAY P Doherty; K Fitzgerald, F Hanley, D Burke; D Meehan, N Coyne, M Comer; J Bergin, N Coleman; J Fallon, M Meehan, N Joyce; D Savage, P Joyce, C Bane. Subs: D Blake for Coyne (13); G Sice for Hanley; B Cullinane for Fallon (70); M Clancy for Bane (71); F Breathnach for Savage (72).
MAYO K O’Malley; L O’Malley, D Heaney, P Gardiner; E Devenney, K Higgins, BJ Padden; J Nallen, P Harte; G Brady, T Mortimer, A Dillon; C Mortimer, K O’Neill, A Moran. Subs: D Brady for Devenney (26); A Higgins for Gardiner (33); C McDonald for O’Neill (42); T Howley for T Mortimer (49); A O’Malley for Dillon (56).
Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan)
