Mayo ousted from Connacht championship by Roscommon

The big story of the opening weekend of the Connacht SFC this year was undoubtedly New York's victory over Leitrim, but Roscommon ran them close with a win over Mayo by 2-8 to 0-10 in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park this afternoon.

Mayo were fresh from capturing the Allianz National Football League Division 1 crown at Croke Park last Sunday and were hoping to give supporters something to celebrate on home soil on the first weekend of the Connacht championship.

Roscommon hadn't read the script, however, and from first minute to last they were up for this contest.

Their win keeps alive a great record for Roscommon, who had knocked Mayo out of the Connacht championship on each of the past three occasions they were crowned league champions. Make that each of the last four times now.

The first half was an exercise in endurance. With a strong breeze aiding Mayo, it could have been reasonably expected that they would made good use of it, but it just didn't transpire.

In fact very little went right for Mayo, and Roscommon were good value for their 2-2 to 0-4 lead at the break.

The first goal came on 25 minutes from the penalty spot after David Murray was adjudged to have been fouled by Conor Loftus as he tried to win possession on the follow-up from Dylan Ruane's blocked goal attempt. Enda Smith confidently stroked the ball to the net beyond Mayo goalkeeper Colm Reape.

Just two points had been scored prior to that goal, one for each team. Diarmuid Murtagh opened the scoring on two minutes with a free, while Ryan O'Donoghue responded in kind just a minute later before the game went into a lull – though it would have been much different had Stephen Coen found the net with a great goal chance on eight minutes. His effort crashed off the crossbar and out to safety, to Roscommon's relief.

There was plenty of effort but little end product during much of that first half, though Mayo came to life somewhat following the penalty. Paddy Durcan scored their first point from play on 26 minutes, while Colm Reape landed a free and a 45' to leave the minimum between the sides.

There was a sting in the tail, however, as Donie Smith scored a second goal for the visitors shortly before the break, finishing first time past Reape after Ciarán Lennon's initial shot had been blocked by Jack Carney.

That left the visitors leading by double scores – 2-2 to 0-4 – at the change of ends, and they would have the aid of the breeze for the second half.

In fairness to Mayo, they started well in that second period, outscoring their opponents by four points to one to leave the minimum in it with 20 left to play.

Donnacha McHugh, Matthew Ruane, Tommy Conroy and Aidan O'Shea all found the range, with a free by Diarmuid Murtagh sandwiched in the middle of that run of scores.

But from there on Roscommon managed the game well – with the aid of some dubious refereeing decisions, it must be said. Murtagh scored two in a row (one free) to stretch the gap to three with just under 10 minutes to go, and each time Mayo threatened a comeback, Roscommon responded. Substitute Cillian O'Connor scored a beauty but Murtagh replied on the break after sustained Mayo pressure.

When Conor Cox scored again for Roscommon on 67 minutes, it left four between the teams and his side looked good for the victory.

Ryan O'Donoghue split the posts at the other end with a free deep into injury time, meaning a goal would have levelled the game, but Roscommon had the final say as Enda Smith punched the ball over to leave his team deserving 2-8 to 0-10 winners.

A black card for Diarmuid Murtagh late on couldn't dampen their day in Castlebar and a Connacht semi-final against Galway now awaits Davy Burke's charges.

Mayo: Colm Reape (0-2); Jack Coyne, Stephen Coen, Donnacha McHugh (0-1); Eoghan McLaughlin, Conor Loftus, Paddy Durcan (0-1); Matthew Ruane (0-1), Diarmuid O'Connor; Fionn McDonagh, Jack Carney, Jordan Flynn; Aidan O'Shea (0-1), Tommy Conroy (0-1), Ryan O'Donoghue (0-2.

Subs used: Darren McHale, Cillian O'Connor (0-1), Jason Doherty, Conor McStay.

Roscommon: Conor Carroll; Conor Hussey, Conor Daly, David Murray; Niall Daly, Brian Stack, Eoin McCormack; Dylan Ruane, Keith Doyle; Ciaráin Murtagh, Ciarán Lennon, Enda Smith (1-1); Donie Smith (1-0), Diarmuid Murtagh (0-6), Ben O'Carroll.

Subs used: Cian McKeon, Conor Cox (0-1), Richard Hughes, Niall Kilroy, Cian Connolly.

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).