Mayo bottom of league table after defeat to Derry
A nine-point haul for Cormac Phillips was not enough as Mayo fell to defeat to Derry. Picture: INPHO/Evan Logan
Despite the return of Tooreen contingent David Kenny, Bobby Douglas, Oisin Greally, Daniel Huane and Eoin Delaney, the Mayo hurlers fell to defeat to Derry this afternoon in Celtic Park on a scoreline of 2-25 to 0-21.
Mayo made a bright start with the opening three points inside five minutes, but Derry hit back with six of the next seven to lead by two. The visitors were back in front soon after thanks to a trio of efforts by Oisin Greally, as well as points from Eoghan Collins and Corey Scahill, but Greally’s third point on 18 minutes would be last for 11 minutes, and Mayo would only score two more points in the half.
Derry got control of the midfield and were dominating Mayo’s half-back line also. Cormac O’Doherty, Fintan Bradley and Darragh McGilligan drew them level on 19 minutes, but it seemed Mayo were weathering the storm as Derry failed to score again until the 26th minute.
That drought was ended though Derry’s first goal, and the warning signs were there a minute beforehand. Michael Lynch was in after turning Michael Gallagher, but Kevin Duffy pulled off a superb stop to deny him. The Mayo goalkeeper was helpless to stop Derry’s first major as Deaghlan Foley picked out Shea Cassidy, who thundered home.
Eamon Cassidy, Sean Martin Quinn and Fintan Bradley extended their lead and Derry were soon gifted a second goal after Kevin Duffy fumbled a Cormac O’Doherty effort that dropped short, with Shea Cassidy tapping in from close range, as Derry led 2-12 to 0-11 at half-time.
Mayo rang the changes at half-time and brought in Bobby Douglas, Shane O’Brien and Shane Boland, but they could never build any momentum in the second half. Cormac Phillips was Mayo’s best on the day, along with Michael Gallagher at corner-back, but Derry kept the scoreboard ticking throughout the second half thanks to Michael Lynch, Shea Cassidy, Deaghlan Foley, Ryan McGill, Fintan Bradley and Cormac O’Doherty as the Red Hands moved off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone.
Mayo, meanwhile, now prop up Division 2 and will need a result against Meath at the end of this month to keep their survival hopes intact.
