Donegal surge past Mayo with dominant second-half display

Donegal outscored Mayo by 13 points to six in the second half to deservedly win their round two Nicky Rackard Cup encounter in O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny, on Saturday afternoon. The home side were victorious in the end by 0-21 to 0-14.

After an even first half left both sides locked on eight points apiece by the break, Donegal upped the ante in the second to power their way to victory.

For Mayo it was a reversal of last week's clash with Monaghan, where they recovered from an iffy first half to thunder home in the second.

This week's second-half display was tepid by comparison after they appeared to be a decent position at the break.

Donegal enjoyed a whirlwind start, with Ger Gilmore – in a sign of things to come – scoring immediately following throw-in.

Goalkeeper Luke White (free) and Ruairi Campbell added one each to leave the home side three points to the good on five minutes, but Mayo rallied with three in a row themselves, Eoin Delaney, Oisin Greally and Luke Connor all on target, and it remained a nip and tuck affair for the remainder of the half.

Donegal – for whom Ger Gilmore scored four (one free), added to by points from Oisin Grant and Liam McKinney – would probably have felt a big aggrieved to be level at the break given that they had hit eight wides to Mayo's four, and they set about righting that wrong in the second period.

Mayo had a greater spread of scorers in that first half – Liam Lavin was the only man to score two, with Cormac Philips (free), Shane Boland and goalkeeper Bobby Douglas (free) all finding the range as well.

When Douglas scored an early second-half free, it might have suggested Mayo could go on to take something from the game.

It was still level at 0-11 each on the 45-minute mark, but Donegal – with Gilmore in incredible form – outscored their guests by 10 points to three from there until the end, leaving them firmly established among the favourites for overall honours.

Mayo, on the other hand, have a bit of work to do yet to fully establish their credentials as title challengers.

Donegal: L. White (0-2f); C. Curran, S. McBride, D. Coulter (0-1f); S. Gillespie, S. McVeigh, J. O'Loughlin; G. Gilmore (0-8, 3f), C. O'Grady, B. McIntyre, O. Grant (0-1), C. Gartland (0-2); J. McGee Cronolly, L. McKinney (0-3), R. Campbell (0-2).

Subs used: P. Kelly (0-1), S. Ward (0-1), D. Harvey, C. O'Brien.

Mayo: B. Douglas (0-4, 3f 1 45'); L. Connor (0-1), O. Greally (0-1), C. Hession; M. Connor, D. Kenny, E. Collins; A. Phillips, J. Heraty; E. Delaney (0-1), C. Phillips (0-2f), L. Lavin (0-3, 1f); S. Boland (0-2, 1f), S. Regan, S. Kenny.

Subs used: J. Burke, M. Farrell, C. Murray, K. Gallagher, E. Heraty.

Referee: J. Clarke (Cavan).