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Mayo 1-18
Dublin 2-9

ANYBODY EXPECTING a rip-roaring contest that went right to the wire would have been disappointed as Mayo produced a businesslike display to get the better of a disappointing Dublin at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar.

Andy Moran’s side racked up a second successive win without being at their best, but they were still too good for a Dublin outfit that badly missed the absent Con O’Callaghan and never recovered from the dismissal of Seán MacMahon shortly after half-time.

Mayo managed to get out in front midway through the opening half, and a 46th-minute goal from Darragh Beirne gave them some breathing space heading into the final quarter as they kept Ger Brennan’s side at arm’s length.

Dublin’s cause wasn’t helped by having to play for the majority of the second half with 14 men after a straight red card for full-back Seán MacMahon just four minutes after the restart, following an off-the-ball incident with Ryan O’Donoghue.

This allowed Mayo the luxury of using substitute Aidan O’Shea in a free role, and they managed the game out to run out winners in front of an attendance of 15,197.

Dublin, who are still searching for a first league win, also lost Brian Howard to an injury during the opening half, with Ethan Dunne and Killian McGinnis also replaced before the break as Ciarán Kilkenny and Seán Bugler both entered the fray.

But the experienced duo were unable to make much headway against a well-organised Mayo defence that was bolstered by the return of captain Jack Coyne and the experienced Paddy Durcan.

The winners outscored their guests by 1-8 to 1-4 in the second period with man of the match Ryan O’Donoghue (2), substitute Diarmuid O’Connor, Jack Carney and Jordan Flynn landing the pick of the Mayo scores.

Darragh Beirne’s goal came after a mazy run through the Dublin defence, and he finished low past Evan Comerford, although there was some debate about the number of steps he took during the build-up.

The 19-year-old attacker could have had a hat-trick were it not for a couple of fine saves by the aforementioned Dublin goalkeeper.

Paddy Small hit the net for the Metropolitans in the 53rd minute with a fine finish, while Cormac Costello also landed an excellent two-pointer.

But Dublin’s only score of the last quarter came in additional time from Seán Bugler.

A frantic first half had ended with Mayo leading by 0-10 to 1-5 after both teams had played on the front foot at every opportunity.

The Westerners could have been further ahead, but both Darragh Beirne and James Carr saw their goal-bound efforts well saved by Evan Comerford.

Andy Moran’s side hit the ground running and raced into an early lead with scores from Sam Callinan and Fergal Boland inside the opening 90 seconds.

But Dublin hit back impressively with a Luke Breathnach goal in the second minute to take the lead, and they extended their advantage when Cormac Costello drilled over a ‘45.

Mayo were aided by a stiff breeze in the opening half, and they harnessed it superbly on two occasions to land a couple of two-pointers from Ryan O’Donoghue and David McBrien.

These orange flags left the locals ahead by 0-7 to 1-2 after a breathless opening 15 minutes.

The second quarter saw both sides cancel each other out as they traded scores three times; Stephen Coen, Fergal Boland and Ryan O’Donoghue (free) on target for Mayo with Killian McGinnis, Paddy Small and Cormac Costello raising flags for the visitors.

The game looked set up for an enthralling second half, but Seán MacMahon’s dismissal was a watershed moment, and Mayo took control of the contest from there to the end.

Scorers for Mayo: Ryan O’Donoghue 0-5 (0-2 tp, 0-1f), Darragh Beirne 1-1, David McBrien 0-3 (0-2 tp), Sam Callinan 0-2, Fergal Boland 0-2, Stephen Coen 0-1, Jack Carney 0-1, Jordan Flynn 0-1, Diarmuid O’Connor 0-1, Cian McHale 0-1f.

Scorers for Dublin: Cormac Costello 0-5 (0-2 tp, 0-1f, 0-1 ‘45), Paddy Small 1-1, Luke Breathnach 1-0, Killian McGinnis 0-1, Jack Lundy 0-1, Seán Bugler 0-1.

MAYO:

1 Rob Hennelly (Raheny)
2 Jack Coyne (Ballyhaunis)
3 Rory Brickenden (Westport)
4 Enda Hession (Garrymore)
5 Sam Callinan (Ballina Stephenites)
6 Paddy Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels)
7 Stephen Coen (Hollymount-Carramore)
8 Bob Tuohy (Castlebar Mitchels)
9 David McBrien (Ballaghaderreen)
10 Jack Carney (Kilmeena)
11 Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet)
12 Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina)
13 Darragh Beirne (Claremorris)
14 James Carr (Ardagh)
24 Fergal Boland (Aghamore)

Subs: Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy) for Durcan (HT), Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber) for Carr (50); Cian McHale (Moy Davitts) for Beirne (56); Paul Towey (Charlestown) for Boland (65); Donnchadh McHugh (Castlebar Mitchels) for Coen (67).

DUBLIN:

1 Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams)
2 Eoin Murchan (Na Fianna)
3 Seán MacMahon (Raheny)
4 David Byrne (Naomh Olaf)
5 Conor Tyrell (St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh)
6 Nathan Doran (Clontarf)
7 Cian O’Connor (Kilmacud Crokes)
8 Ethan Dunne (Skerries Harps)
9 Brian Howard (Raheny)
10 Killian McGinnis (Skerries Harps)
11 Niall Scully (Templogue Synge Street)
12 Luke Breathnach (Ballinteer St John’s)
13 Paddy Small (Ballymun Kickhams)
18 Cormac Costello (Whitehall Colmcilles)
15 Jack Lundy (Ballinteer St John’s)

Subs: Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock) for Dunne (22); Kevin Stephenson (Castleknock) for McGinnis (23); Seán Bugler (St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh) for Howard (33, inj); Greg McEneaney (Skerries Harps) for Breathnach (60); Eoin Kennedy (Cuala) for Byrne (70).

Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)