Mayo ease their relegation fears with emphatic win
Mayo ............. 1-19
Kildare ............1-12
MAYO eased their Allianz National League Division 1 relegation fears following their comprehensive victory over Kildare in Newbridge today.
In what was an impressive and much improved performance by Mayo they now know that a win over either Tyrone next Sunday in Castlebar, or against Donegal away the following Sunday will almost guarantee their Division 1 status for next year.
However, let us not get carried away by this victory as Mayo will find it much harder in their final two league encounters. Kildare were very poor, especially in the forward division.
They must be still wondering how they went in at half time five points down. They had matched Mayo for most of the half except where it mattered most, on the scoreboard.
This was down to poor shooting where the recorded a total of eight wides. Mayo on the other hand made the most of their chances and didn't have even one wide.
In the first half Mayo started brightly and finished it with a flourish. They raced into a an early three-point lead but as the Lilywhites settled into their stride they came a lot more into the game.
With Mayo still leading after the 20th minute mark they were stunned by a Kildare goal. It wasof thesoft nature as Daniel Flynn was allowed far to much freedom before hitting a well drilled shot to the back of the net.
However, Mayo hit back in style and after failing to convert two or three good chances, Cillian O'Connor fired two fine points to level matters before the impressive Adam Gallagher put them back in front after a well worked point.
This was followed by a great goal from Aidan O'Shea before Diarmuid O'Connor brought the half to a close by landing a delightful point to send Mayo in at the break leading by five, 1-9 to 1-4. Indeed, their grand stand finish to the half by Mayo really set them up for this crucial victory.
On the resumption Mayo controlled matters and never really allowed Kildare back into the game. As the half progressed they began land some magnificent points from play and always kept their opponents at bay.
Such was it so comfortable for a rampant Mayo side who grew in confidence with every minute that passed that their winning margin of seven points could and should have been a lot more.
They created some brilliant upfield movements and were a little unlucky not to raise another green flag or two. But in the end it was a welcome victory and one which gives them a great chance of staying in the top flight for next season.
Mayo: R. Hennelly (0-2), C. Crowe, G. Cafferkey, E. O’Donoghue (0-1), C. Boyle, L. Keegan, S. Coen, T. Parsons, A. O'Shea (1-1), D. O'Connor (0-2), A. Gallagher (0-2), K. McLoughlin (0-1), A. Moran (0-3), C. O'Connor (0-4), Jason Doherty (0-1).
Subs used: S. O’Shea, C. Loftus (0-2), F. Boland, D. Drake, B. Moran, S. Nally.
Kildare: Kevin Feely (0-5, 4f ), Daniel Flynn (1-0 ), Kevin Flynn (0-2 ), Paddy Brophy (0-1 ), Fergal Conway (0-1 ), Niall Kelly (0-1 ), Ben McCormack (0-1 ), Fionn Dowling (0-1 )
Kildare: M. Donnellan, P. Kelly, D. Hyland, M. O’Grady, C. O’Donoghue, E. Doyle, K. Flynn, K. Feely, T. Moolick, F. Conway, N. Kelly, K. Cribbin, D. Slattery, D. Flynn, P. Brophy.
Subs used: B. McCormack, J. Byrne, P. Cribbin, F. Dowling, C. Healy, J. Hyland.
Referee: M. McNally (Monaghan).