Mayo 2-14
Fermanagh 1-12
A STORMING SECOND-half performance from Mayo saw them book their place in the next round of the qualifiers on Saturday afternoon.
Trailing by six points at the break, they outscored Fermanagh by 1-8 to 0-2 in the second half, the vital score coming from the penalty spot five minutes from time.
It was questionable if Aidan O’Shea was fouled by Che Cullen, but after not giving one to Mayo earlier in the half when Cillian O’Connor looked to have been fouled, Joe McQuillian awarded the spot kick.
O’Connor drove the ball high to the net and put Mayo into a two-point lead before they rolled off three more points through Aidan O’Shea, Lee Keegan and Alan Dillon.
The introduction of the Ballintubber veteran was a pivotal moment in the game as he kicked a point within minutes of his introduction and had a big influence on the way Mayo played. Barry Moran also had very good showing after coming in off the bench midway through the second half.
The Ulstermen went in leading by six at the break after a first half where their defence sucked the life out of Mayo, forcing them down blind alleys at almost every juncture.
Playing with a strong breeze they raced into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after nine minutes with Aidan Brennan kicking the first of three first half points he registered and Barry Mulrone, Tomas Corrigan and Sean Quigley kicking the other.
Mayo hit a bit of a purple patch over the next four minutes where they reeled off 1-1 on the bounce, Alan Freeman finding the net after he was quickest to react when Keith Higgins’ shot was well saved by Christopher Snow and Cillian O’Connor landing one from play to put Mayo one clear.
But Fermanagh weren’t going to break just yet, and in a three-minute spell they kicked 1-2 of their own without reply. Corrigan kicked a point, then Sean Quigley found himself isolated on Colm Boyle and shoved the Davitts man out of the way before he rounded David Clarke to roll it to the back of an empty net.
Corrigan kicked his side’s fourth point not long after to put the visitors four clear.
Mayo did cut the gap back to two thanks to a brace of Cillian O’Connor points from frees, but over the closing five minutes Fermanagh kicked on again with Breen kicking two fine scores from distance and captain Eoin Donnelly and Ryan Lyons also chipping in to send Pete McGrath’s men in leading by 1-10 to 1-4.
Mayo ate into the Fermanagh lead early in the second half with both O’Connors kicking early scores and Evan Regan landing a free.
Dillion cut the gap to three with 20 minutes left but Mayo had to graft really hard to close that gap.
O’Connor levelled it up with a 45 with 12 minutes left on the clock, but Tomas Corrigan kicked a free to push Fermanagh back in front again before Mayo struck their second goal from the spot.
Scorers for Mayo: Cillian O’Connor (1-5, 1-0 pen, 0-1 45, 0-3f), Alan Freeman (1-0), Lee Keegan, Diarmuid O’Connor and Alan Dillon (0-2) each, Evan Regan, Aidan O’Shea, Colm Boyle (0-1) each.
Scorers for Fermanagh: Sean Quigley (1-1), Thoms Corrigan (0-4, 0-2f) Aidan Breen (0-3), Barry Mulrone(0-2), Eoin Donnelly and Ryan Lyons (0-1) each.
Mayo
1. David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites)
2. Brendan Harrison (Aghamore)
3. Kevin Keane (Westpory)
4. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)
5. Lee Keegan (Westport)
6. Colm Boyle (Davitts)
7. Patrick Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels)
8. Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy)
9. Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore)
10. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)
11. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy)
12. Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber)
13. Evan Regan (Ballina Stephenites)
25. Alan Freeman (Aghamore)
15. Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber, captain).
Subs: 19. Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe) for Durcan, 22. Alan Dillon (Ballintubber) for A Freeman, 20. Barry Moran (Castlebar Mitchels for S Coen, 24. Andy Moran (Ballaghderreen) for E Regan, 14, Jason Doherty (Burrishoole) for A O’Shea.
Fermanagh
1. Christopher Snow (St Joseph’s)
2. Mickey Jones (Derrygonnelly)
3. Che Cullen (Belnaleck)
4. Marty O’Brien (Devenish)
5. Declan McCusker (St Joseph’s)
6. Damien Kelly (Tempo)
7. Aidan Breen (Tempo)
8. Enda Donnelly (Coa)
9. Richard O’Callaghan (Enniskillen Gaels)
10. Barry Mulrone (Devenish)
11. Ryan Jones (Derrygonnelly)
12. Ryan Lyons (Erne Gaels)
13. Ruairi Corrigan (Kinawley)
14. Sean Quigley (Roslea)
15. Tomas Corrigan (Kinawley)
Subs: 26. P McCusker (Naomh Seosamh) for R Lyons, 22. James McMahon (Ros Laith) for M O’Brien, 23. Kane O’Connor (Beal na Leice) for D McCusker, 18. Ciaran Flaherty for (Beal Cu) for R O’Callaghan, 35. Patrick McGovern (Cill Naile) for A Breen.
Ref: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
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