Mayo win third game in ten days

Mayo win third game in ten days

Mayo 1-13
Westmeath 0-11

MIKE FINNERTY

Mayo clocked up their third successive challenge match win in the space of ten days with a five-point victory over Westmeath last night (Tuesday) in Tarmonbarry.
John O’Mahony brought a very small squad along for the game and only used eighteen players in total. He started six of the side that also started the National League Final against Cork (Chris Barrett, Kevin McLoughlin, Seamus O’Shea, Trevor Mortimer, Aidan O’Shea and Andy Moran).
The Connacht champions started impressively and led at half-time by 0-8 to 0-1.
Westmeath, who introduced Dessie Dolan during the second half, made things more competitive after the restart but Mayo did enough to keep them at arm’s length.
The game also saw Keith Higgins start for the first time in seven weeks after recovering from his knee ligament injury while Tom Cunniffe was again posted at centre-half back.
Peadar Gardiner also got some valuable game-time under his belt while the likes of Tom Parsons (groin), Donal Vaughan (groin) and Alan Dillon (hamstring) all sat the game out.
Mayo now turn their attention to Pat Gilroy’s Dublin on Friday evening in Hollymount (throw-in at 7.30pm) while a full round of club league games will keep players occupied on Saturday evening next.