Mayo beaten but advance to quarter-final
Mayo League's Johnnie Cocozza clears the danger. The Castlebar Celtic man was Mayo's best on the day. Picture: Bernie O'Farrell
Mayo League are into the knockout stages of the FAI Oscar Traynor Cup for the second year in a row despite falling to defeat to Roscommon & District League last Sunday afternoon.
The visitors could have few complaints about the result. Too often their final ball let them down and they were guilty of a number of unforced errors. Mayo were down a number of players from their previous game against Galway, with Niall Brennan, Ioseph O’Reilly and vice-captain Ben Edeh all missing due to various commitment while captain Jordan Loftus picked up an injury in the warm-up.
Jack O’Connor and Kevin Kitterick were drafted in as a result, while Brennan was replaced by Castlebar Celtic teammate Johnnie Cocozza in the middle, who was playing through the pain barrier due to a foot injury.
Yet he was Mayo’s best player of the day. His dazzling runs and close ball control were always a handful for Roscommon to deal with and he was unfortunate his efforts were not rewarded with a goal.
Through all the absences, however, Mayo were expected to navigate a safe passage to the next round. Roscommon needed to win by three goals to go through but when they went 2-0 up with 20 minutes remaining, Mayo’s worst fears looked a possible reality.
Jason Hunt’s free-kick on 87 minutes however, gave Mayo the cushion required to get out of Lecarrow with a place in the last eight, even though they were beaten.
It was goalless at half-time, with Roscommon’s best chance coming six minutes into the game but Jack Higgins’s header was brilliantly saved by Stefan Heaster.
From that chance Mayo had a quick counter but Jack O’Connor should have done better when through on goal. Mayo were unfortunate not to go ahead shortly after as Darren Browne’s header, which looked destined for the net, was cleared off the line.
A strong wind was blowing in Mayo’s favour, which was making handling duties difficult for both goalkeepers throughout, and Roscommon goalkeeper Gary Reynolds was under more pressure minutes later as he spilled a shot from Jason Hunt before a Roscommon defender cleared away the danger.
Roscommon started the second half brighter and a header from former Westport United player Paul Mee was cleared off the line, as the referee waved away Roscommon pleas that the ball had crossed it. Mayo were struggling to get going but won a penalty on the hour mark after goalkeeper Gary Reynolds took out Johnnie Cocozza as he was in on goal. Upstepped Darren Browne for the penalty but his effort was too tame and close to the centre, and Reynolds easily saved.
The miss was punished by Roscommon as took the lead two minutes later. A free kick was floated in, Jack Higgins took it down and fed to his centre back partner Rian Carpenter to bury it in the net.
On 73 minutes, they doubled their lead. A lovely pirouette by Roscommon captain Keith Murphy in the middle created the space to release Cian Kelly down the right side. From here, he held off three Mayo defenders and cut inside, nutmegging Andrew Shally, before finishing past Hester.
Mayo rang the changes, with Cormac Caulfield and Owen McHale the most effective. Both were involved in the free-kick awarded to Mayo with three minutes of normal time remaining and Jason Hunt gave Reynolds no chance with his strike on the edge of the area.
Mayo will be in the hat for quarter-finals, where they will be drawn away, but manager Joe Kelly will hope to have several key men back for the encounter.
