Mayo FC's league play-off hopes brought to a controversial end

Mayo FC’s semi-final hopes ended with two red cards and a late fightback that fell just short against Salthill Devon.

Ronan Kerin scored twice for the visitors. Sean McAteer pulled one back from the spot, but it was not enough for the hosts who battled to the bitter end.

Salthill dominated the early exchanges of the first half. They won the ball, kept it on the deck and pinned Mayo back. Kerin opened the scoring with a header early in the first half.

Mayo’s first real chance came from a deep Guga Kokaia cross. Darragh Forde met it with a looping header, but it drifted wide.

Kerin tried an acrobatic effort that went wide. McAteer ran onto a clearance after Mayo pressure, but his shot dribbled wide. Salthill’s Canadian forward Lapointe-Guevara sent a looping effort the wrong side of the post.

Mayo felt they should have had a penalty on 25 minutes. Connor McCarthy looked to have been held as he was played in behind the Salthill Devon defence, but referee Brian Higgins waved play on.

Aran Heaney then made space outside the box and let fly on his left boot. Salthill keeper Sam Begley failed to hold it first time. McCarthy followed up, but Begley gathered at the second attempt.

McAteer produced a superb cross-field pass for Forde, who was one-on-one. His shot went straight at Begley. Daire O’Connor then headed a Kokaia corner wide at the back post.

These were the main chances Anthony O'Neill spoke about post-match that ultimately cost Mayo a result.

It was 1-0 at the break as Mayo failed to make their period of domination count.

The game turned on Oisin O’Reilly’s red card. He was sent off for a high tackle on Kerin, and Mayo were down to ten.

Aran Boyle kept Mayo in it with a fine save from Dalia Princewill. The goalkeeper got a toe to the shot. But Salthill doubled their lead when Kerin scored from a swung-in corner.

The game looked lifeless. Then the ever industrious Guga Kokaia won a penalty after a positive dribble into the box. McAteer stepped up and scored. It was 2-1 with 22 minutes remaining.

Umbro Park came alive. Alfonso Barrios Sanchez almost levelled when McAteer whipped in a back-post ball. Sanchez took his eye off the delivery and missed it. Salthill relief was felt across Milebush.

Barrios Sanchez was then sent off. He had picked up a first yellow for entering the pitch too early as a sub. A late tackle brought the second. Mayo were down to nine.

Salthill had chances to seal it. Kerin set up Ben McDonnell, but Boyle collected. Kerin then had a hat-trick chance, but shot straight at the keeper.

There was one last Mayo chance. Aidan Coyle got on the end of a short Begley kick-out and tried to chip the keeper from distance and it sailed agonisingly wide.

Mayo FC: A. Boyle, O. O’Reilly, N. Baba, D. O’Connor, G. Kokaia, S. McAteer, J. McGrath, G. Armstrong, A. Heaney, C. McCarthy, D. Forde.

Subs used: B. Edeh, A. Coyle, A. Barrios Sanchez.

Salthill Devon: S. Begley, A. Obasa, C. Idemudia, C. Crowe, N. Nneji, T. Molloy, D. Princewill, D. MacGiollarnath, J. Carroll, R. Lapointe-Guevara, R. Kerin.

Subs used: B. McDonnell, D. Darcy, C. Loomes, K. Cooney-Murray.

STAR RATING: Sean McAteer - He was at the heart of every Mayo FC attack.