One goal enough for Mayo to beat Sligo/Leitrim

Oscar Traynor Cup

Mayo 1
Sligo-Leitrim 0
Browne (12, pen)

A PENALTY after 12 minutes by Darren Browne and an excellent overall team performance were enough to give Joe Kelly and his Mayo team an ideal start to their Oscar Traynor Cup campaign on Sunday in Castlebar.
This win was well deserved and puts Mayo in a good position in the Connaught group, with two to qualify for the last eight of the competition.
The homeside started the brightest and might have been two goals up in the opening ten minutes. Ben Edeh should have scored on a one-on-one and, after doing the hard work, Jack O’Connor’s shot hit the bar.
An O’Connor free-kick then sent Dylan McKee into the box, but he was upended by Sligo/Leitrim defender Stephen Keenan.
Westport United’s Browne calmly stroked the ball past Ronan Callaghan to put the hosts in front.
Mayo had the better of the exchanges and looked hungrier throughout.
Sligo/Leitrim had their moments but Mayo’s dominance continued with Mayo News man of the match, Oran Groarke, putting in an outstanding shift as the holding midfielder.
This was also the day Cillian Redmond came of age, with an outstanding performance in a very solid defence.
Niall Brennan was excellent in the number ten role for Sligo/Leitrim, as was defender Ryan McManus and winger Mark McGoldrick.
Substitute Bradley Fowley was red carded by referee, Martin Regan, in stoppage time after an unsavoury challenge on Mayo sub’ Oisín Tighe.

You can read a full match report and reaction in Tuesday’s edition of The Mayo News.

Mayo
G Cunningham, C McGlade, I O’Reilly, C Redmond, A Shally, O Groarke, D McKee, D Browne, J O’Connor, B Lavelle, B Edeh.
Subs: O Tighe, C White, R Mikuckis, A Nugent, D Duffy.

Sligo/Leitrim
R Callaghan, S Keenan, M Hannon, R McManus, C Griffin, C Kelly, M McGoldrick, S Armstrong, D Gallagher, N Brennan, J Muldoon.
Subs: B Fowley, M Spratt, K Nibbs.

Referee: M Regan