Tuesday, 09 April 2013 14:30

Cork 0-10 Mayo 0-11 ... JAMES Horan may not quite attain the biblical status of Moses but his charges produced an amazing feat of their own by parting the red sea of Cork as the fate of so many teams hung in the balance as the final round of national league division 1A matches were played out amidst high drama on Sunday.

While so many permutations were possible in deciding Mayo’s fate, the one security they could rely on was their own belief and determination and it was those characteristics, rather than a helping hand from Dublin or Tyrone, which ultimately decided their destiny.

Mayo grasped the national league nettle at Pairc Ui Chaoimh but it was Cork who felt the sting of a defeat on their home turf on a day when victory would have secured them a place in the semi-final and leave Mayo relying on other results to retain their presence in the top flight.

Mayo made the long trek to Cork hoping at best that a draw might salvage their division one status for another year, but this win, conjured up by the artistry of a sideline kick from Cillian O’Connor, brought with it a bonus prize of a semi-final meeting with Dublin in Croke Park this Sunday.

Not surprisingly, James Horan was tempered in his response to the result but lavish in his praise of the workrate of this team, who looked to be heading for another hiding when they drifted six points behind, only to harness the wind and their self belief in the second half to reel in Cork, draw level, go behind again, but ultimately get a richly deserved win.

The victory was also more praiseworthy against a background of injuries to several key players, including Keith Higgins and Barry Moran, while both Tom Cunniffe and Jason Doherty were withdrawn prior to the throw-in, with Kevin Keane and Donal Vaughan drafted in from the bench.

As news trickled through the grapevine that Kerry were giving Tyrone a lesson in real football and Donegal had the measure of Dublin, Mayo’s situation looked bleak.

Tuesday, 09 April 2013 14:27

MAYO’S national league group stages, which started on a high with a good victory over Kerry, finished in similar fashion with a vital win over Cork in Cork on Sunday.

Not alone was mission one accomplished, keeping their division one status intact for next season, but Mayo got the added bonus of a semi-final spot and a trip to Croke Park where they face Dublin on Sunday next.

The victory over Cork was well-merited as Mayo battled very hard throughout and came back from a six-point deficit at one stage to carve out a deserved one-point victory.

The victory was all the more sweeter as it was achieved by an injury-hit Mayo side. Along with long-term injuries Andy Moran and Alan Dillon, they had to line out without Barry Moran, Keith Higgins, Chris Barrett and Jason Doherty, although Barrett and Doherty did come on as late second half substitutes, all of whom will be challenging strongly for starting places on the championship side.

Having to pull out all the stops against a Cork side who were chasing their fourth national league title in a row, and needing a victory in this encounter to stay in contention, illustrates in sure and certain fashion how well Mayo played.

Tuesday, 02 April 2013 13:35

Holy Trinity's Michael O'Neill feels the weight of this tackle from Joe Geraghty of Davitt College, Castlebar, while colleague Diarmuid O'Connor awaits the outcome during last Saturday's All-Ireland Vocational Schools semi-final at EnniskillenIN-FORM Barry Moran has been ruled out of action by injury ahead of next Sunday’s crucial national football league match against Cork, an encounter that will decide Mayo’s fate.

The Castlebar Mitchels star, who has been outstanding for the county throughout the league campaign so far, picked up a nasty ankle injury while assisting his club against Breaffy in the first round of the Mayo senior league on Sunday.

The game was less than three minutes old when Moran seemed to twist his ankle and had to leave the field before being transferred to the Mayo General Hospital for an x-ray.

The real extent of Moran’s injury won’t be known for a number of days but as of now it seems highly unlikely he will be able to line out for Mayo next Sunday.

Should Moran be unable to play, it will be a massive blow to Mayo’s chances against Cork.

With Keith Higgins also ruled out after he picked up a hamstring injury in the Donegal game, which could keep him out of the game for up to six weeks, James Horan and his management team have been left with a major headache ahead of the Cork game.