Four-goal hero Walsh guides Mayo to final

MAYO have qualified for the Connacht MFC final against Galway on July 5 in Tuam with an emphatic victory over Sligo at Elverys MacHale Park tonight by 5-7 to 1-10.

The hero of the triumph was Castlebar Mitchels corner forward Paul Walsh who struck four of his side's five goals.

Mayo laid the foundations for their penultimate round win in the first half with the aid of a strong wind.

Despite kicking 11 wides, they went in at the interval leading by 2-6 to 0-3, the goals being struck by Walsh in the 8th and 10th minutes.

Walsh also registered the game's opening point and it was followed by further points by Frank Irwin, Paddy Heneghan, Ciaran Mylett, Shaun Dempsey and Rory Morrin.

The unstoppable Walsh killed off the Sligo challenge with a third goal in the 43rd minute before he and Mylett raised further green flags before the end.

An impressive nine-point win by the home side with no shortage of positive signs.