Mayo FC suffer play-off blow after loss to Salthill Devon
The hosts finished the game with nine men but their Galway opponents were the better side on the day
FAI National League
Salthill Devon 2
Mayo FC 1
In Milebush
Nine-man Mayo FC were beaten by their own naivete on Saturday afternoon, losing 2-1 to Salthill Devon in the sunshine of Umbro Park, in the FAI National League.
The top of the table clash never lived up to expectations, and the defeat makes it very difficult for the home side to qualify for the play offs.
Salthill pressed up on Mayo from the off, and went in front from a corner with just two minutes on the clock, when player of the match, Ronan Kerin headed home unattended in front of goal. It was a really cheap goal for Mayo to concede.
Mayo settled after quarter of an hour and created a few chances but were unable to find an equaliser before the break.
Ten minutes after the restart, Mayo lost experienced defender, Óisin O’Reilly, when he reacted illegally with a Salthill player on the ground. O’Reilly immediately saw referee Brian Higgins’s red card which was a big setback for Anthony O’Neill’s side.
Five minutes later Kerin struck again from another corner and the game seemed all but over. Mayo’s best player, Seán McAteer, then scored from the spot to pull one back for Mayo, on 76 minutes after Timmy Molloy had fouled Guga Kokaia in the box.
Late on, Alfonso Barrios Sanchez picked up a second yellow five minutes after he was introduced to end his brief involvement. Mayo’s next game sees them travel to Dublin to face St Francis FC. That game will take place on October 31.