Mayo make winning start to national football league

MAYO defeated Galway 3-18 to 2-18 in what was an absorbing contest at Pearse Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

This Division One League encounter was played in almost Spring like weather conditions and drew an attendance of 11,515 for the opening round of the National Football League.

Mayo had many standout performers, particularly Robbie Hennelly with the custodian scoring six two-pointers from frees. One of those six pointers was scored from almost 60 metres during a keenly contested first half.

Galway made the brighter start, with Daniel O’Flaherty guiding over the opening point of the contest inside the first minute.

Mayo responded impressively, and a two-pointer free from Robbie Hennelly was buttressed with points from Jordan Flynn, and Ryan O’Donoghue.

Galway could well have plundered a goal on six minutes, however, Robert Finnerty’s effort flew over the crossbar.

Darragh Beirne produced a tidy display at corner-forward and his point on 11 minutes shunted Mayo into a 0-6 to 0-2 lead.

Galway bounced back though and Oisin McDonagh’s magnificent two-pointer helped muster a 0-7 to 0-6 lead for Padraic Joyce’s outfit on 18 minutes.

If Mayo were rocked then they didn’t show it, and Aidan O’Shea rustled the back of the net on 21 minutes, with Bob Tuohy supplying the pass.

Hennelly’s awesome two-pointer from 60 metres was warmly greeted by the large Mayo following on 27 minutes, and Jack Carney’s point on the stroke of half-time ensured a healthy 1-12 to 0-9 interval lead for Andy Moran’s troops.

Hennelly guided over another two-pointer free on 38 minutes, with his team-mate Berine adding a goal on 39 minutes, which helped garner a 2-15 to 0-10 lead for the visitors.

Ryan O’Donoghue then galvanized Mayo’s lead when he added a well-taken two-pointer free.

Mayo appeared to be in control of proceedings, however, a goal from Galway’s Shane McGrath reduced the arrears to an attainable six points (2-17 to 1-14).

The Tribesmen continued to press, but a sweeping counteroffensive move by Mayo on 60 minutes ended with substitute Cian McHale finding the back of the net and the green and red now led 3-17 to 1-16.

But this absorbing encounter continued to ebb and flow and when Galway’s Fionn McDonagh rustled the back of the net after 62 minutes, a grandstand finish was in store.

However, the Galway comeback suffered a set-back when their substitute Mattius Barrett received a black card.

Fergal Boland then landed a crucial point for Mayo, before Hennelly produced two outstanding saves in quick succession to deny Galway’s Sean Kelly and Finnerty certain goals.

Ciaran Mulhearn added a late two-pointer for Galway; however, Mayo had done enough to claim the spoils.