Mayo dig deep to foil Armagh comeback

Mayo continued their winning ways in Division 1 of the Allianz National Football League when they got the better of Armagh, albeit by a single (2-17 to 0-22), in front of 10,988 spectators at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, writes Aiden Henry.

As a result of this latest victory, Mayo lie second in the table, a point behind Donegal and one ahead of Kerry - their opponents in round six on Saturday week.

It now very much looks like whoever comes out on top between Mayo and Kerry will more than likely qualify for the league final.

The desperate weather conditions last Sunday made life very difficult for both teams. Yet, despite this, the game developed into a very exciting encounter, with the final result in doubt right up to the final whistle.

Overall, Mayo were not at their very best. Although they went in leading by nine points at the break, they hadn’t played very well in the first half. They just played in fits and starts, and had an early goal from Jordan Flynn and four two-pointers in a nine-minute spell to thank for the healthy position they enjoyed at half time after they had played with the very strong wind.

However, they showed great character in the second half when Armagh came roaring back into contention at different stages, especially in the final quarter. Indeed, in the end it was Mayo's battling qualities that got them over the line in front.

While most of the Mayo players gave a good account of themselves, there were some outstanding performers. Goalkeeper Robbie Hennelly made two or three great saves, including one in the closing stages when the game was in the melting pot. Sam Callinan, who continues to impress, chipped in with two points as well, while Conor Loftus is another man showing great form and had scored three points before having to leave the field late in the first half with an injury.

Paddy Durcan had his best game to date since returning from injury and would appear to be getting back to his best. In the attack, Jordan Flynn was again to the fore, while Cian McHale, Paul Towey and Ryan O’Donoghue all had good outings. Kobe McDonald also made an impact from the bench in just his second appearance at senior level and his first at Mayo GAA headquarters.

*See Tuesday's print edition for a full report on the game