Second exam passed

Experimental Mayo pass second exam

A late scoring burst earns newcomers deserved win

Second round
Mayo       1-12
IT Sligo    1-6

Mike Finnerty
Charlestown

SLOWLY but surely Mayo begin to move forward. A six point win over a team of students will do for now and there are reasons to be cheerful as the graph definitely rose ever so slightly last Sunday and four more players were handed a first senior start.
Team Mayo will return to training this week galvanised by this result and the prospect of facing a bona fide county team [Roscommon] next Sunday will not seem quite so daunting now.
It is worth remembering that John O’Mahony has been without at least a dozen of his first-choice squad this month. The manner of this win and the means employed to achieve it are therefore all the more notable as Mayo were both committed and organised from beginning to end.
They also started and finished well, racing into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after 20 minutes and closing the game out with four unanswered points down the home stretch. In between, Mayo competed for everything, created some good chances, and responded positively to potential adversity.
O’Mahony made six changes in personnel from the side beaten a week earlier and there was a marked improvement in the opening stages. Mayo seemed more comfortable in possession, they moved the ball quickly, and there was certainly a better understanding between individuals.
The net result was a 0-5 to 0-1 lead as Austin O’Malley, Donal Corrigan (free), Brian Benson and Alan Dillon (two frees) all hit the target. They had the breeze at their backs and with both Peadar Gardiner and Mickey Mullins roaming far and wide, a steady stream of possession was pumped in the direction of Benson and Dillon close to goal.
Davitts’ Colm Boyle did all he could to get IT Sligo moving and a brace of frees from Enda Kenny meant that the students closed to within two points of Mayo by the 32nd minute. Heading towards half-time, the homeside needed somebody to step forward and stop the rot.
That man turned out to be Mickey Mullins who, not for the first time, got in amongst the IT Sligo defence, won back possession, and began a move that ended with Billy Padden swinging over an inspirational score.
It was an upbeat note on which to end the half and sent Mayo to the dressing-room with a 0-6 to 0-3 advantage, a meagre reward for some impressive, wind-assisted passages of football.
The sides traded scores after the restart before Mayo hit the game’s most important score. It was conceived from one of their best moves of the match; James Kilcullen and Seamus O’Shea both intercepting passes before Brian Benson released Mickey Mullins in behind the IT Sligo cover. The elusive Claremorris man used his pace and side-step to evade the defence but his goalbound shot was touched on the ground by a stray hand. A penalty was rightly awarded and Brian Benson swept the kick confidently past Alvin McCallig. Mayo led by 1-7 to 0-4 and looked home and hosed.
Instead, their lead was almost wiped out entirely more by accident than design. First, Jamie Murphy converted a free to keep IT Sligo in touch but in the 50th minute they were thrown a life-line.
There seemed little danger when Mark Gordon’s attempt for a point dropped short and was gathered under the crossbar by Shane Nallen. Unfortunately for the debutant, the umpires decided that he had carried the ball behind the line and they signalled a goal after some hesitation. Now it was 1-7 to 1-5 and the heat was on.
It was at this juncture that we saw what Mayo were made of. The likes of Trevor Howley, Peadar Gardiner, Austin O’Malley and James Gill began to take the initiative and they started to run at their opponents.
This led to chances that were taken by Alan Dillon (two frees), Mickey Mullins (a point from play and a sweet ‘45) and Brian Benson. The game was over as a consequence. The scores from Mullins and Benson epitomised Mayo’s mood on the day and drew loud applause from the home crowd.
There may be greater tests ahead but everybody is doing their best in difficult circumstances. A decent start has been made and building some momentum is now the next objective.

MAYO
S Nallen; J Brogan, B Padden (0-1), A Higgins; David Geraghty, T Howley, K Higgins; P Gardiner, S O’Shea; D Corrigan (0-1, 1f), A O’Malley (0-1), J Gill; M Mullins (0-2, 1’45), A Dillon (0-5, 5fs), B Benson (1-2, 1-0 pen).
Subs used: J Kilcullen for O’Shea (inj); S O’Shea for Corrigan.

IT SLIGO
A McCallig; E Hegarty, G Reynolds, C Bane; S Molloy, C Boyle, M Killelea; R O’Connor (0-1), T Parsons; F Quinn, J Murphy (0-1, 1f), A Costello (0-1); A McTigue, E Kenny (0-3, 3fs), M Gordon (1-0).
Subs used: T O’Reilly for Molloy; A McManamon for Costello; C Kelly for Kenny

Referee: G MacConamha (Galway