High drama as handy Andy rescues Mayo

Handy Andy rescues Mayo

Mayo 1-19
Down 1-16

 

THERE was high drama in Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar, where Mayo saved their Division 1 status, but just by the skin of their teeth, writes John Melvin.

Leading at one stage by seven points, Mayo appeared to be on course to ease to victory but Down, playing only for their pride having already been relegated, refused to wilt and an injury-time goal from Donal O’Haire threw a spanner in the Mayo works and a clearly rattled Connaught champions clung on for dear life with their lead cut to a single point.

But cometh the hour cometh the man and substitute Andy Moran produced a stunning point to ease Mayo’s worries and the deal was sealed by man of the match Evan Regan, who kicked his ninth point to ensure Division 1 football for the Connaught champions again next season.

A relieved Mayo manager Stephen Rochford said individual mistakes were a concern for the team and almost cost them again, while the defensive performance was disappointing.

“We have a lot to work on ahead of the game in London in seven weeks time. Our individual mistakes were costly, but we able to soak it up after the Down goal but we have lots to do.

“We set out to stay in Division 1 at the start of the season and despite being heavily beaten by Cork in the first round we have achieved that.”

Down had a great goal chance in the first half when Ryan Mallon drove just wide when clean on through on a one-on-one with David Clarke, but the miss of the half fell to Aidan O’Shea, who had the goal opportunity put on a plate for him by his brother Conor, only for the big Breaffy man, one of three O’Shea brothers playing, to blaze wide with a gaping goalmouth in front of him.

Mayo did find the net when Evan Regan, who was picked out with a quick free from Cillian O’Connor, was fouled as he was about to pull the trigger and O’Connor nailed the resultant penalty to put Mayo 1-7 to 0-4 clear on 20 minutes, Regan having hit four of those points, including three frees, while Adrian Freeman (2) and Chris Barrett scored from play.

But it was Down who brought the energy and drive to this game as they outscored Mayo by 0-6 to 0-2- to trail by just two at the break, 1-9 to 0-10, the unerring Donal O’Haire punishing Mayo indiscipline with four pointed frees.

Two early frees from Cillian O’Connor in the second half suggested Mayo were about to kick on but they just chould never shrug off a dogged team and were a shade fortunate to hold out in the end.

Mayo: D. Clarke, B. Harrison, K. Keane, C. Barrett (0-1), L. Keegan, C. Boyle, S. Nally, T. Parsons, S. O’Shea, C. O’Shea, A. O’Shea (0-1), J. Doherty (0-1), E. Regan (0-9, 7f), A. Freeman (0-2), C. O’Connor (1-4, 4f, pen).

Subs used: P. Durcan for Barrett (28), A. Dillon for Freeman (55), B. Moran for S. O’Shea, C. Carolan for C. O’Shea, A. Moran (0-1) for C O Connor.

Down: M. Cunningham (0-2, 2f), G. Collins, G. McGovern, D. O’Hagan, D. McKibbin (0-1), A. Carr, D. O’Hanlon (0-1), P. Turley (0-1), H. Browne, M. Poland (0-1), K. McKernan (0-1), R. Mallon (0-1), C. McGovern, D. O’Hare (1-5, 5f), S. Dornan (0-2).

Subs used: P. Devlin (0-1) for Mallon (40), C. McGinn for Browne (41), D. Turley for D. O’Hanlon (55), B. O’Hagan (6) for M. Poland (61), J. Murphy for Carr (70).
Referee: J. McQuillan (Cavan).