Mayo suffer five-point defeat at hands of slick Dubs

Dublin.......... 0-12

Mayo.............0-7

REIGNING All-Ireland champions Dublin proved too strong for Mayo when the two sides met in this evening's National Football League Division 1, round 2, encounter played in Elverys MacHale Park.

It was Dublin who had the better of the exchanges in the opening half despite Mayo getting the opening score in the second minute with a pointed free by Natasha Gaughan.

Dublin, who had Martha Byrne sin-binned in the 17th minute, made plenty of use of their scoring chances as they kicked six points, four coming from their deadly accurate free taker Carla Rowe, which gave them an interval lead of 0-6 to 0-3.

Although Gaughan converted an early free for Mayo on the resumption they continued to miss many good scoring chances.

Indeed, it wasn’t until the 54th minute that they added to their tally, a fine point from play from Lisa Cafferky.

Dublin, on the other hand, kicked six great points to extend their lead to seven as the game entered the closing stages.

Mayo’s Rachel Kearns did manage to convert two frees late on but all it did was put a better look on the final scoreline.

Mayo: L. Brennan, S. Lally, D. Finn, N. O’Malley, K. Sullivan, D. Caldwell, C. Whyte, Clodagh McMenaman, S. Cafferky (0-2), R. Durkin, F. Doherty, A. Duffy, L. Cafferky (0-1), R. Kearns 90-2), N.Gaughan 90-2).

Subs used: L. Duffy, M. Cannon, N. Moran, Ciara McManamon, J. Cawley, S. Golden, T. O’Connor, E. Brennan.

Referee: G. Chapman (Sligo).