A WIN we anticipated. A massacre of this size was not really envisaged. The dilemma for Mayo manager James Horan is to put one of the biggest winning margins on his watch - 22 points- into context ahead of a Connaught Final meeting with Sligo in four week’s time.

This victory will undoubtedly provide a boost as Mayo defend their Connaught title but even the manager was struggling to explain this stunning performance which saw goals rain down on Leitrim, 10 of the starting 15 score and four substitutes hit the target. Happy Christmas and it is only June but in the GAA Santa only comes once a year and is in September and that now has to be Mayo’s target.

It was difficult to find fault with any of the Mayo players with the team showing a hunger and a determination which has not surfaced in their play for quite some time.

Having chased their quarry into a corner Mayo were not just content to go in for a quick kill but they really tore Leitrim asunder bit by bit with unrelenting pressure up to the very end, a ruthless streak in a Mayo attack which plundered four quality goals and a string of excellent points from play.

There was also good movement and balance to the team and that can only augur well ahead of the bigger obstacles that will be faced before the September road comes to an end.

Of course, the game was not entirely as lob-sided as the winning margin would suggest, unflattering and all as that margin was to the defending champions.

Leitrim took the game to their opponents in the fist 20 minutes and were able to give as good as they got, their centre-forward, Emelyn Mulligan one of their brighter stars on the day.

The centre-forward was the main source of scoring power for Leitrim but in the modern game the one trick pony is a thing of the past but credit to Mulligan for giving everything he had to this game as they chased Mayo in that opening quarter to go level on two occasions after twice going behind.

Leitrim also traded punches with Mayo around the middle of the field and they did ask a few questions from the Mayo defence where Ger Cafferkey produced a superb game.

Ultimately, the gulf in class between division one and division four was exposed and from once Mayo scored their opening goal on 20 minutes, Leitrim seemed to wobble.

When Andy Moran nailed his first- put through by Donal Vaughan after a terrific 40-yard run- and Mayo’s second before half-time, Leitrim, who were just one point adrift -0-6 to 0-5- before the opening goal from Alan Freeman, found themselves eight down at the interval -2-9 to 0-7.

They never recovered adding just three points in the second half as Mayo topped up with Andy Moran getting his second goal and Kevin McLoughlin firing home Mayo’s fourth when substitute Michael Conroy slipped him a pass in space.

By then a good number of the official attendance of 14,393 were heading out the gates.

For Leitrim supporters it had to be particularly painful and while they will be consoled by a genuine feeling of sorrow for a small county ravaged by emigration, it hardly disguises the pain which such a humiliating defeat brings with it.

For Mayo it is time to look ahead instead of behind.

It was a good solid workmanlike performance and you certainly can’t quibble with the effort put in all round.

The goals were well-taken Freeman firing home from a tight angle, Moran’s brace finished with style and equally so the fourth from the superb McLoughlin.

Each was well worked as indeed were many of the 20 points scoured but a good 10 of them were gift-wrapped with no pressure on players as Leitrim heads had dropped long before the end of this game.

Putting all this into contest will be the challenge for the management but it was always going to be a no-win situation.

A narrow victory would raise as many questions as this landslide victory has and it will only help to ensure Mayo go into the Connaught final with their eyes wide open .

Match Stats……………Match Stats………………

Scorers for Mayo: C. O’Connor 0-6 (6f), A. Moran 2-0, K. McLoughlin 1-2, A. Freeman 1-0, A. Dillon 0-3, C. Mortimer 0-2 (1f), B. Moran, D, Geraghty, K. Higgins, L. Keegan, E. Varley, R. McGarrity and M. Conroy 0-1 each. Scorers for Leitrim: E. Mulligan 0-7 (6f), R. Cox, D. Sweeney and D. Beck 0-1 each.

 

Mayo D. Clarke, K. Keane, G. Cafferkey, K. Higgins, L. Keegan, D. Vaughan, C. Boyle, B. Moran, D Geraghty, K. McLoughlin, C. O’Connor, A. Dillon, A Freeman, A Moran, J. Doherty. Subs used: R. Feeney for Boyle (45min), R. McGarrity (0-1) for Geraghty (50mins), M. Conroy for Doherty (53mins), C. Mortimer for Freeman (53mins), E. Varley for A. Moran (65mins).

Leitrim: C. McCrann, D. Beck, F. McMorrow, P. Maguire, C. Clarke, E. Williams, W. McKeon, D. Sweeney, S. Moran, P. Brennan, E. Mulligan, P. McGowan, R. Cox, J.T Glancy, A. Croal. Subs used: R. Lowe for McKeon (inj 7mins), B. McDonald for Croal (53mins) G. Hickey for McGowan (56mins) K. Conlon for Lowe (58mins).

Referee: M. Higgins (Fermanagh).

Talking point

The fact that 10 of Mayo’s starting 15 got on the scorehseet and four of the substitutes also hit the target was very much the talking point in a contest that was over by the interval. The only noticeable absentee from the scoreboard was Jason Doherty, while the return of Ronan McGarrity, who also hit the target, was viewed as one of the many positives James Horan can take from this game with a lot of players now pushing for places.

Maybe to suggest we have an abundance of riches might be stretching it but I’d be hard pressed to name the team that will face Sligo.

 

Turning point

 

Leitrim were wel into this game up to the 20 minute mark but from once Alan Freeman nailed for the first of four Mayo goals their self-belief seem to drain away and their hesitance all but collapsed with the second half still to be played.

 

Man of the match

 

What a confidence booster this was for Barry Moran who was under pressure to deliver a big performance at midfield. The Castlebar Mitchels man took this game buy the scruff of the neck in the second half to command his area, displaying his fielding skills and a willingness to lend a hand all over the field.

 

Next up

 

Mayo now meet Sligo in the Connaught Final on July15. The venue has yet to be decide but with Mayo making the call for a neutral venue it does like we will be heading for the Hyde.

Stats table

 

MAYO		First Half		Second Half		Total		LEITRIM		First Half		Second Half		Total
Goals		2		2		4		Goals		0		0		0
Points		9		11		20		Points		7		3		10
Wides		3		6		9		Wides		5		3		8
Frees awarded		9		12		21		Frees awarded		12		10		22
45’s awarded		1		0		1		45’s awarded		0		0		0
Yellow cards		1		1		2		Yellow cards		2		2		4
Red cards		0		0		0		Red cards		0		1		1