High drama as Mayo bring down the Kingdom

The new rules may still be under scrutiny but following this epic battle at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Mayo are beginning to get the hang of things as they won another tight game against Kerry by 0-21 to 1-16 to move up the Division 1 table, writes John Melvin.

The victory puts Mayo on a more secure footing with five points from five games, which may just be enough to ensure top flight survival.

Having battled back from being nine points down at one stage in the first half, Kerry’s David Clifford had the chance to put Kerry a point ahead on 66 minutes but his free from outside the arc came back off the post.

The drama switched to the other end, where Ryan O’Donoghue had the chance to secure the points for Mayo but his effort from outside the arc drifted to wide, leaving Kerry still with a chance to level the game.

Mayo were clinging on and Kerry had the chance of a goal in the closing seconds, yet it was the cool head of Mattie Ruane who settled the game as he kicked a huge point just seconds before the hooter sounded to secure what is a crucial win for Mayo in the context of this season given the tardy start they had, losing their two opening games.

Mayo were in a very commanding position with half-time beckoning, their press tactics and sheer energy and industry seeing them boss this game to lead by 0-11 to 0-3.

However, they hit a wobbler just before the break, conceding 1-1, Brian Ó Beaglaoich cutting in from the side to fire low into the bottom corner.

It was to give Kerry hope, lots of hope, but before Mayo left the pitch, Ryan O’Donoghue was given the biggest cheer of the day when he nailed an audacious two-pointer from a sideline ball to leave Mayo 0-14 to 1-4 ahead at the break.

Mayo’s dominance in the middle area was one of the keys to their first-half success, but so too was the work of Jack Carney, who picked up a lot of ball around the middle, while Aidan O’Shea was always in the thick of things.

Darren McHale was the man on fire though with a brace of points, while Frank Irwin also hit a brace, Mathew Ruane, Sam Callinan, Colm Reape and Jack Canrey also on target, with O’Donoghue finishing the first half with 0-6, a two-pointer from a free and that stunning sideline effort which earned another two points.

That wobbler towards the end of the half let Kerry back in and gave them hope with the breeze at their backs in the second half.

David Clifford had been redundant for most of the first, which was partly due to the marking job done by Donnacha McHugh but also by cutting off the supply to the Kery attack.

That supply line soon opened up in the second half, Mayo now back-peddling in defence, while they also conceded the ground they had lorded at midfield in the first half.

Dylan Geaney opened with a two-pointer and Paudie Clifford, David Clifford and Paul Geaney reeled off three points, reducing the deficit to two.

Mayo needed a score before panic threatened to destabilise things and it was O’Donoghue who came to the rescue with back-to-back points to put Mayo ahead by four again, but this game was only unfolding.

Dylan Geaney hit his second two-pointer to leave two in it but Ruane popped a vital point before Paul Geaney cancelled that out. Substitute Conor Geaney then brought it back to a one-point game with a fisted point, making it 1-13 to 0-17 as the game entered the final 10 minutes.

Eoghan McLaughlin was sprung from the bench but he was unfortunate to be turned over twice, David Clifford nailing a two-poiner on 58 minutes to edge Kerry in front.

Kerry were then gifted a point when Colm Reape was penalised for delaying his kick-out, presenting David Clifford with a tap-over free in front of the posts to put his side two ahead, the initiative now clearly with the visitors.

David McBrien nailed a vital point before substitute Fergal Boland atoned for a mistake in last week’s match, in which he gifted Armagh a point, by kicking Mayo level and O’Donoghue won himself a vital free which he converted, edging Mayo back in front.

Kerry were still sniffing for an equaliser of even a two-pointer to win the game, however. They had chances but came up short on a few occasions, while the presence of Aidan O’Shea around the middle was crucial in keeping Mayo together.

Ruane calmly popped over the winner just before the hooter sounded to send Mayo to Derry in two weeks' time looking for a win or a draw that should secure their Division 1 status before they face Donegal in their final game.

Mayo: C. Reape (0-1); J. Coyne, D. McHugh, E. Hession; S. Coen, D. McBrien (0-1), S. Callinan (0-1); F. Irwin (0-2), M. Ruane (0-3); F. Kelly, D. McHale (0-2), J. Flynn; A. O’Shea, R. O’Donoghue (0-9, 1tpf, 1tps, 3f), J. Carney (0-1).

Subs used: F. Boland (0-1), E. McLaughlin, B. Tuohy, P. Towey, S. Morahan.

Kerry: S. Ryan; D. Bourke, J. Foley, D. Casey; G. O’Sullivan, M. Breen, B. Ó Beaglaoich (1-0); D. Connor (0-1), J. O'Connor; D. Lyne, P. Clifford (0-1), A. Heimrich; D. Clifford (0-6, 1 tp, 2f), P. Geaney (0-3), D. Geaney (0-4, 2tp).

Subs used: C. Geaney (0-1), M. O’Shea, P. Murphy, R. Murphy, M. Burns, D. O’Sullivan

Referee: S. Hurson (Tyrone).