Mayo hurlers relegated after heartbreaking one point loss

Wicklow 0-16

Mayo 0-15

The Mayo hurlers will be playing in Division 3 next season after a narrow one point defeat to Wicklow at Bord na Mona O’Connor Park, Tullamore.

Central to Wicklow's win was the performance of centre forward John Doyle, who finished with 0-8. He sent over his first in the opening minute followed by a great score by John Toomey.

Mayo responded well and frees by Sean Kenny and Shane Boland, and Adrian Phillips’ first of the day nudged Mayo ahead.

Wicklow would counter with five unanswered points, four coming from Doyle and the other from midfielder Mark Murphy.

Another Sean Kenny free pulled it back to a one score game before Wicklow missed a big goal opportunity to extend their gap. Kieran Conway laid it off to Eoin Kavanagh but on the edge of the small square, he blasted wide.

A well worked move finished off by Adrian Phillips brought it back to two points while Doyle fluffed his lines for Wicklow after missing an easy free to see Wicklow only lead by two at the break, 0-7 to 0-5.

Mayo once again made it a one point game eight minutes into the second half through frees from Keith Higgins and Sean Kenny, and a fine score from Eoin Delaney, with a free from Brandon Ryan and Doyle’s sixth point of the day keeping Wicklow noses in front.

A Doyle free and a score from Kieran Conway restored Wicklow’s three point lead only for Kenny’s fourth free and Brian Hunt’s first of the day to bring the gap back to one.

Wicklow’s Mark Murphy put two between the sides once again but Mayo would take the lead with 12 minutes remaining. Kealan Gallagher and Eoin Delaney made it level game before Gallagher put Mayo in the lead for only the second time.

Brandon Ryan brought the sides level but Brian Hunt’s second point from play put Mayo back ahead with ten minutes to go.

But Wicklow found a second wind as points from Martin O’Brien and John Doyle (free) put them back ahead. Keith Higgins levelled it once more with two minutes to go but just before added time, Mark Murphy sent over what would be the winner to seal Mayo’s fate.

Wicklow: R. Fitzgerald; D. Byrne, B. Kearney, T. Collins; S. Browne, M. O’Brien (0-1), B. Ryan (0-2, 0-1f); M. Murphy (0-3), J. McCall; A. Byrne, J. Doyle (0-8, 0-2f), J. Toomey (0-1); E. Kavanagh, T. Mulconry, K. Conway (0-1).

Subs: E. Young, E. Byrne.

Mayo: B. Douglas; P. Kirwan, S. Coyne, D. Huane; G. Nolan, D. Kenny, M. Phillips, B. Hunt (0-2), S. Kenny (0-4f); E. Roe, K. Higgins (0-2, 0-1f), C. Hession; S. Boland (0-1f), E. Delaney (0-2), A. Phillips (0-2).

Subs: K. Gallagher (0-2), P. Lyons.

Ref: C. Flynn (Westmeath).

*Full match report in Tuesday's print edition.