Mayo too good for Galway in Oscar Traynor

Oscar Traynor Cup

Galway League 1
Cunningham 34 (pen)

Mayo League 4
Browne 14, Edeh 20, 22, 90+4

THIS was a magnificent performance by Mayo.
They sat in and hit Galway on the counter, and staged tactical and defensive masterclasses to outwit a very good home side at Eamonn Deacy Park on Sunday.
The discipline and graft of Mayo was a joy to watch.
Ben Edeh had the game of his life, scoring three goals, and if you are into Americanisms had an ‘assist’ for Darren Browne’s opener.
Westport ‘keeper, Gary Cunningham proved once again why is the Irish Junior International goalkeeper. He pulled off a string of world-class saves as Galway pounded the Mayo rearguard for the entire second-half.
But if Galway were there until the time you read this, they wouldn’t score against a defensive unit that excelled to a man. Centre backs Ioseph O’Reilly and Killian Redmond were assisted by Cillian McGlade on the right and Harrison Quinn on the left, with Oran Groarke in front of them.
Quinn, in for the injured Andrew Shally, was replaced near the end, by Kiltimagh/Knock’s Dan Duffy after he took a series of knocks,
While Galway dominated possession they were unable to deal with the Mayo breaks, especially the incredible pace of Ben Edeh. The big Ballyheane man, operating on the wing, headed down Oran Groarke’s corner for Darren Browne to tap in and give Mayo a 14th minute lead.
Edeh then went on to claim the match ball with three excellent goals of his own.
Galway ‘keeper, TJ Forde, might claim the sun was in his eyes for the first on 20 minutes, when Edeh’s shot cut diagonally across the goal to beat the Athenry man on the far side. Forde can have no excuses for the other two.
A beautiful ball from Jordan Loftus set up the second three minutes later and Edeh’s hat-trick — and Mayo’s fourth — came at the end when the Ballyheane man drove home from distance.
Headford native, Padraic Cunningham, a Galway United player until a couple of seasons ago, scored from the spot after Cillian McGlade handled in the box in the 34th minute.
Cillian White was excellent too in the middle of the park and, despite Galway’s possession dominance, Mayo always looked threatening on the break.
Substitute Adam Nugent might have added two more near the end as cracks appeared everywhere at the back for Galway but, just in, he needed a few more minutes to settle.
Mayo have qualified now for the knock-out stages but have a home tie against the Roscommon & District League in a month’s time in Castlebar to complete the Connaught stage of the competition.