THE DIRECT APPROACH Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea is pictured on his way to scoring a late point, despite being pursued by Roscommon's Colm O'Neill, during last Saturday's Connacht Minor Championship quarter -final in Castlebar.
Pic: Michael Donnelly
Dempsey’s men get off to a solid start Mayo 0-12
Roscommon 0-8
Mike finnerty
Castlebar THERE was probably no better way for Mayo to begin their Connacht Minor championship campaign. A four-point victory last Saturday evening sets them up for a home semi-final against Sligo next month but there is still plenty of room for improvement. It panned out the just the way Ray Dempsey would have wanted.
His team played enough good football to win and that will do for now. They established a platform for victory in the first half and withstood Roscommon’s inevitable rally in the last quarter. They did so by sticking to the game-plan, working hard and doing the simple things well.
Dempsey and his backroom team seem to have decided that the direct approach suits this particular group of footballers. On the evidence of the first half and last quarter, it was hard to argue with them. Ten points from play and a handful of goal chances tells its own story.
Some players acclimatise quicker than others to the demands of championship football and the likes of Robert Hennelly, Kevin Keane, Cathal Freeman, Shane Nally, Aidan O’Shea, James Cafferty, Aidan Walsh and Daniel O’Hara were not found wanting on their first outing last weekend.
Keane gave an exhibition at full-back and it will take a very good opponent to cause him serious problems. Freeman was the epitome of the St Jarlath’s graduate at wing-back and hardly put a foot wrong. And Daniel O’Hara? Well, his four points from play in the first half and elusive style reminded many of us of a certain other Ballina corner-forward of yesteryear.
We were also treated to an odd glimpse of the phenomenal talent that is Aidan O’Shea. The Breaffy teenager worked hard throughout but often without any tangible reward. That was until the 47th minute when a spectacular catch and 50-yard run was finished with a confident point.
He also kicked Mayo’s first score of this championship campaign after 45 seconds but when Roscommon’s Darren McDermott swung over the equaliser a couple of minutes later, the large travelling support were in full voice.
Ironically they had very little to shout about over the next thirty minutes as Mayo took control of the pivotal positions and moved the ball swiftly into the scoring zone. They had an abundance of players who were capable of delivering a 40-yard kick pass and opened up the Roscommon defence time and again as a consequence.
O’Shea delivered one exquisite pass to set up Dean Gavin for the lead score on eight minutes before Ray Geraghty extended the advantage moments later. It was 0-3 to 0-1 and Mayo looked like they were enjoying themselves.
It was at this stage that Daniel O’Hara came into his own; four points from play arrived in the space of 15 minutes via his sweet left foot to leave Mayo 0-8 to 0-3 clear at the break. Two of O’Hara’s scores came after flowing moves that spanned the length of the field and involved the likes of Cathal Freeman, Aidan O’Shea, James Cafferty and Kieran Charlton.
It was the kind of football that wins matches and despite Roscommon’s best efforts, Mayo looked ready to press on after the restart. Instead, Gary Wynne’s team came roaring back into contention as their free-taker Dara Lennon stepped into the spotlight.
The centre-forward is a beautiful striker of the ball and he converted three frees and a ’45 in quick succession to leave Roscommon trailing by just a single point after 39 minutes. The visitors were getting in amongst Mayo at this stage and their work-rate had increased dramatically.
But there was always a suspicion that Mayo had another gear and they finished the match strongly. Over the final fifteen minutes they outscored their opponents by four points to one as Shane McHale, Kevin Keane and David Dolan shut up shop in the full-back line and the half-back line pushed on.
Two Aidan Walsh frees settled the nerves before Aidan O’Shea hit one of the scores of the game. Roscommon were a beaten docket at this stage and Walsh crowned an impressive individual display by lashing the ball over the bar from close range in the final minute.
Mission accomplished. And after the Leaving Cert will come the next exam.
MAYO
R Hennelly; S McHale, K Keane, D Dolan; C Freeman, D Quinn, S Nally; A O’Shea (0-2), J Cafferty; K Charlton, A Corduff, D Gavin (0-1); A Walsh (0-3, 2fs), R Geraghty (0-2), D O’Hara (0-4).
Subs used: J Carney for Corduff; D Drake for Charlton.
ROSCOMMON
D O’Malley; P Brogan, N Collins, N Daly; E Bannon (0-1), M Keavney, M Higgins; C O’Neill, E Stritch; E Sheehy, D Lennon (0-5, 4fs, ‘45), T Hanly; B Carthy, C Shine, D McDermott (0-2).
Subs used: S Byrne for Keavney; S Regan for Hanly.
Referee: Michael Duffy (Sligo)
