Mayo FC narrowly beaten in opening pre-season friendly
The Mayo FC starting team pictured before the game.
Mayo FC’s first pre-season friendly ahead of the start of the FAI National League season ended in a 2-1 defeat this afternoon following a late winner by Bonagee United.
Mayo were behind inside two minutes when they failed to clear the ball away from inside their area and a cut back to Aidan Brennan was placed into the bottom corner.
Bonagee were happy to sit deep and hit Mayo on the break, getting joy early on down the right flank but the hosts soon settled, with Ben Edeh, Conor McCarthy and Darragh Forde looking a threat. The latter was through after clever play between Edeh and McCarthy only for his effort to be smothered by Andrew Nicholls and away for a corner. The resulting set-piece almost saw Mayo equalise, with James McGrath’s inswinger going off the bar and post.
McGrath would be involved in Mayo’s leveller on 16 minutes. Padraig Heinz and Sean McAteer combined for McGrath, and he laid it off to McCarthy, who lifted his effort over the keeper and into the net.
Mayo had the majority of possession for the remainder of the first half. They did little to trouble the goalkeeper, but they will feel they could have gone ahead shortly after the restart when Aron Heaney played in Edeh, only for the forward to take an extra touch and see his shot saved.
A raft of substitutions made at the break saw a largely disjointed start to the second half for Bonagee, but the visitors were unfortunate not to take the lead on 62 minutes through Michael Doherty, who saw his initial effort knocked off the line by sub goalkeeper Aaran Boyle and the rebound cleared away by Guga Kokaia.
McGrath hit the post from a free kick for Mayo on 73 minutes, while a thunderous strike from Jayden Reynolds flashed just wide.
Bonagee would net the winner a minute before the end. Shane Moran squared it to Luca Baratte and he rifled his shot into the roof of the net from close range.
Despite the defeat, there will be plenty of encouragement for manager Anthony O'Neill, who was down a number of players due to injury. Mayo will continue their preparations for the upcoming season with a friendly away to Mervue United on August 15.
