Mayo 3-15
Westmeath 1-14
Fintan O’Toole reports from Croke Park
MAYO PROGRESSED AS expected to an All-Ireland senior quarter-final meeting with Tyrone next Saturday but they had to sweat nervously before their passage was assured at Croke Park this evening.
Stephen Rochford’s side were clinging anxiously to a three-point advantage entering injury-time against a Westmeath side who had battled heroically in the second-half.
Westmeath were reduced to 14 men in the 64th minute when Denis Corroon was shown a second yellow card yet they never wilted in the closing stages.
But an injury-time free from Cillian O’Connor and a blast to the net from Aidan O’Shea for their third goal eventually sealed Mayo’s triumph.
It was a result that had looked assured after almost a half hour of play when Mayo had cantered ahead 2-10 to 0-4. In a cagey opening, Westmeath were within touching distance when John Heslin – who shot 0-10 overall – pointed a free to leave them 0-5 to 0-3 adrift.
But then Mayo exploded to life as they outscored their opponents by 2-5 to 0-1. The first goal arrived in the 23rd minute when Donal Vaughan popped the pass to Jason Doherty and he rifled home a shot with his left foot.
Then they were awarded a penalty eight minutes which was slammed home by Cillian O’Connor for Mayo’s second goal, after Westmeath netminder Darren Quinn was adjudged to have over-carried the ball.
Despite facing a 12-point deficit, Westmeath launched a recovery operation. James Dolan scythed through the Mayo rearguard before despatching a low shot that saw the ball nestle in the corner of the net.
A Heslin free ensured they trailed 2-10 to 1-5 at the interval and then Tom Cribben’s side hit four points without reply at the start of the second-half.
Mayo looked to have quelled that revival with a scoring spree themselves and Keith Higgins pushed them 2-13 to 1-11 clear by the 56th minute. Yet they could never shake Westmeath off albeit Stephen Rochford’s side struck the woodwork twice in the closing stages with O’Connor and O’Shea going desperately close to goals.
Twice Westmeath had shaved the gap to three points to leaves Mayo’s nerves frayed. But they could finally breathe a sigh of relief in injury-time when O’Shea billowed the back of the net.
Scorers for Mayo: Cillian O’Connor 1-5 (0-4f, 1-0 pen), Jason Doherty 1-1, Aidan O’Shea 1-0, Evan Regan 0-3 (0-2f), Andy Moran 0-2, Keith Higgins, Patrick Durcan, Donal Vaughan, Kevin McLoughlin 0-1 each.
Scorers for Westmeath: John Heslin 0-10 (0-7f), James Dolan 1-1, Kieran Martin 0-2, Francis Boyle 0-1.
Mayo
1. David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites)
10. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)
3. Kevin Keane (Westport)
2. Brendan Harrison (Aghamore)
6. Colm Boyle (Davitts)
5. Lee Keegan (Westport)
7. Patrick Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels)
8. Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy)
9. Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe)
11. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy)
4. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)
24. Jason Doherty (Burrishoole)
13. Evan Regan (Ballina Stephenites)
14. Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen)
15. Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber, captain)
Subs
20. Barry Moran (Castlebar Mitchels) for Boyle (53)
22. Alan Dillon (Ballintubber) for Regan (55)
23. Conor O’Shea (Breaffy) for Doherty (58)
25. Alan Freeman (Aghamore) for Moran (65)
17. Chris Barrett (Belmullet) for Keegan (67)
18. Tom Parsons (Charlestown) for Seamus O’Shea (69)
Westmeath
1. Darren Quinn (Tyrrellspass)
17. Alan Stone (Castledaly)
4. Killian Daly (Mullingar Shamrocks)
5. Jamie Gonoud (Tyrrellspass)
7. James Dolan (Garrycastle)
2. Kevin Maguire (Caulry)
3. Francis Boyle (Killucan)
6. David Lynch (St. Malachys)
14. John Heslin (St. Loman’s Mullingar)
9. Ger Egan (Tyrrellspass)
10. John Egan (Athlone)
11. Paul Sharry (St. Lomans Mullingar)
6. David Lynch (St Malachy’s)
13. Callum McCormack (Maryland)
12. Kieran Martin (Maryland)
15. John Connellan (Athlone)
Subs
19. Denis Corroon (Mullingar Shamrocks) for Stone (21)
8. Darragh Daly (Mullingar Shamrocks) for Lynch (32)
16. S Gallagher for Quinn (inj) (half-time)
25. Shane Corcoran (Tyrrellspass) for John Egan (45)
21. Dean McNicholas (Tyrrellspass) for Connellan (53)
26. Daire Conway (Shandonagh) for McCormack (66)
Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare)
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