Late surge sees Mayo continue perfect start
Mayo’s David Kenny in a battle for possession with Louth’s Conor Murphy during the Nicky Rackard Cup championship at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, last Saturday. Picture: David Farrell Photography
Mayo’s perfect start to the Nicky Rackard Cup continued against Louth at MacHale Park on Saturday where Ray Larkin’s side picked up their third win in three games.
It was neck and neck for most of the game but Mayo were shown a black card after 45 minutes and conceded a goal from a resulting penalty. However, when the numbers were restored, Mayo dusted themselves down to find another gear and outscore the Wee County by 0-11 to 0-1 in the remaining 15 minutes to claim a six-point win.
Darren Geoghegan scored half of Louth’s points tally and scored his first from a free after three minutes in reply to his opposite number Shane Boland opening the games scoring with a well-struck free.
Eoin Delaney and Liam Lavin scored from play, the latter coming after some intricate footwork set Lavin free of his marker. Paddy Lynch scored a point for Louth before Geoghegan fired over a free from beyond the halfway line that had plenty of assistance from the heavy winds billowing towards the Mayo goalposts.
Delaney and Geoghegan swapped scores again, the Louth sharpshooters only point from play before Boland popped over his second free. Back-to-back scores from Mark Gahan and Geoghegan edged Louth ahead before Mayo scored the opening goal to take the advantage. Eoin Delaney played a lovely pass to Kieran McDermott and the Ballyhaunis man applied the finish. Boland scored one from play and another from a free to extend the Mayo lead to four points.
Louth manager Trevor Hilliard made an effective tactical switch in response, shifting half-back Leon Fox up to the full-forward line. Within minutes of the move, Fox received a pass from Mark Gahan, held off Oisin Greally and found the back of the Mayo net. Cormac Phillips kept the gap at two with a point from play but Louth hit a purple patch up to the half time whistle with Fox at the fore.
Conor Murphy scored for Louth before the dangerous Fox hit back-to-back points to put the visitors in front. Phillips was accurate from a ’45 but Louth were motoring along nicely now. Geoghegan scored his fifth of the half before Fox struck again. Paddy Lynch scored the point of the half with a delicious sideline cut and then Sean Flynn put Louth four up with a point from play.
Flynn added another either side of two frees from Cormac Phillips, who was keeping Mayo within arms length with his accurate shooting.
But just as Hilliard had moved things around, his counterpart on the Mayo touchline, Ray Larkin had a few tricks of his own. Half time substitute Simon Thomas made an instant impact; the Castlegar man put the ball in the net within seconds of the restart. Liam Lavin scored to put Mayo in front before Geoghegan responded with a free.
Eoin Delaney scored from play but then on the 44 minute mark, disaster struck Mayo as Oisin Greally was shown a black card for a foul on Paddy Lynch that had the added misfortunate of being inside the square. Leon Fox dispatched the resulting penalty and with a man advantage Geoghegan soon added two more frees to put Louth three points up.
Unfortunately for Louth, when midfielder Conor Murphy went down injured receiving lengthy treatment after 49 minutes, the clock kept rolling on the black card and they lost around 5 minutes of playtime where they would have had a man advantage.
Whether or not that had any psychological boost for Mayo is uncertain, but they did hit a hot streak shortly after this and the next five points went their way. Cormac Phillips scored three of them, two from play and another from a free while Ciaran Finn and Liam Lavin also fired over.
Geoghegan scored Louth’s final point after 64 minutes and Mayo went on to add further scores through Ryan Duffy, Boland, Delaney, a brace for goal scorer Kieran McDermott and Danny Huane put the icing on the cake late on.
Although their place in the final is not yet confirmed, the win here sets Mayo up nicely for the final two games in the competition, the first of which is against Sligo in two weeks time.
