Defeat in Sligo confirms Mayo's relegation from the Christy Ring Cup

Mayo have suffered relegation from the Christy Ring Cup with defeat away to Sligo, the home side winning by 2-26 to 1-23 in Markievicz Park.

It was a fourth straight defeat in the campaign for the Green and Red, rendering their final game away to Derry next weekend academic from their point of view – though possibly not for the Oak Leaf men – as demotion to the Nicky Rackard Cup has already been confirmed.

Mayo appeared to be well up for the battle in the first half on Saturday evening against a Sligo team hoping to keep their chances of a place in the Christy Ring Cup final alive.

Buoyed by a purple patch towards the end of the half in which they landed five points on the trot without reply, Mayo led by three at half-time, 0-16 to 1-10.

At one stage the lead had been six points (0-14 to 0-8) but a Sligo penalty, dispatched by Andrew Kilcullen after Conor Griffin was adjudged to have been held back illegally while contesting for a high delivery, changed the complexion of the contest.

That score left Sligo just a point behind but the dismissal of Joe McHugh on a straight red card and the concession of two quick-fire points, scored by Cormac Philips (free) and Fergal Boland, left Mayo ahead by three at the break.

With a three-point and one-man advantage, one might have expected Mayo to push on in the second half. They did get the first point, another free by Philips, but thereafter it became a difficult evening.

The home side, after going four points down (1-10 to 0-17), reeled off seven points in succession to go three ahead (1-17 to 0-17) and even at a numerical disadvantage, they appeared to have the measure of their opponents.

While Mayo rallied to end the third quarter to end it just a point behind (0-21 to 1-19), Sligo then produced another stunning run of scores that culminated in a goal for Kilcullen after great work by Conor Hanniffy.

Now 2-25 to 0-21 ahead, Sligo looked home and hosed with still five minutes plus injury time to be played.

Mayo, to their credit, fought to salvage something from the game and the campaign. Points from Joe Mooney and Adrian Philips were followed up by a David Kenny goal, who pounced in the scramble after a 65' had been lobbed into the danger area.

Hanniffy replied with a point for Sligo but Mayo kept the pressure on and kept looking for the goals the needed to save their season, James Murphy going closest with a flick that forced the Sligo 'keeper, Declan Reidy, into a good save.

Sligo held on to claim the full points on offer – deservedly so based on their second-half display – and so leaving Mayo in the Nicky Rackard Cup for 2024.

Sligo: D. Reidy; F. Connolly, N. Feehily, K. O'Kennedy; G. Connolly, R. McHugh, E. Comerford; A. Kilcullen, R. Molloy; C. Hanniffy, E. O'Donaghue, D. Hanniffy; J. McHugh, C. Griffin, T. Cawley.

Subs used: F. Moylan, N. Kilcullen, L. O'Kelly Lynch, R. Brennan.

Mayo: B. Douglas; J. Lyons, G. McManus, C. Murray; D. Kenny, J. Mooney, J. Murphy; F. Boland, S. Kenny; A. Philips, M. Farrell, C. Philips; K. Gallagher, E. Delaney, J. Coyne.

Subs used: J. Cassidy, J. Heraty.

Referee: T. Conway (Derry).