Mayo draw comfort from London trip
Mayo's Ronan Fallon emerges from a ruck of London players during last Sunday's drawn game in Division 2 of the National Hurling League at McGovern Park in Ruislip. Picture: Sheila Fernandes
A last-gasp Corey Scahill point earned Mayo what could turn out to be a hugely valuable point in this Division 2 clash in Ruislip on Sunday.
Scahill impressed off the bench in Mayo’s heavy opening round defeat to Laois and earned a start for the flight to London. He justified Ray Larkin’s faith in him by coming up with the goods with the very last act of a game, rounding off an impressive late comeback by Mayo.
London looked to be in control when Jack Morrissey’s exquisite point put them 0-19 to 1-13 in front on 68 minutes.
But from there to the end of injury time, Mayo rallied superbly and, indeed, could have snatched victory.
Scahill’s equaliser came just moments after Darren Murray had seen his goal chalked off for a square ball.
Both teams lost on the first day out – Mayo by 29-points to Laois and London by ten to Meath.
Given that Mayo are still getting back to full-strength as the Tooreen contingent gradually return, they may be the happier of the two with the draw. But next week’s trip to Derry, who are also winless, is a massive game for Mayo’s hopes of staying up.
While experienced Tooreen players Eoin Delaney, Daniel Huane, Shane Boland and David Kenny were togged for Mayo, it was telling that Ray Larkin did not call on them, putting his faith in the same players who played against Laois the first day out.
Just like against Laois, Ryan Duffy was the scorer-in-chief for Mayo, hitting 0-11 on Sunday to go with 0-10 against Laois.
A Duffy free and ’65 eased Mayo 0-5 to 0-3 in front at the one quarter mark and a Diarmuid Phillips point made it double scores.
David Devine (two frees), Paul Kennedy and Dylan Dawson had the sides level at 0-7 but Mayo went in at half-time 0-8 to 0-7 in front, Padraic Mooney coming up from corner-back to fire over.
It was the Exiles who began the second period the sharper.
Rory Lodge pointed straight from the throw-in with good work from Jack Loughnane setting up Kennedy to fire London back in front (0-9 to 0-8).
Inevitably it was Ryan Duffy who levelled, only for Lodge and Devine (free) to put London into a 0-11 to 0-9 lead.
The visitors immediately struck for the only goal of the game with a well-worked move in which they always had an extra man on the right, provided they worked it right. They did, and Cormac Phillips delivered a finish to match the build-up play.
That sent Larkin’s men into a 1-9 to 0-11 lead – and captain Eoghan Collins extended the margin further.
London recovered well and were back in front (0-14 to 1-10), but the underlying feeling that this was a contest which could go right to the wire was now undeniable.
The home side’s lead was still the minimum when Jack Morrissey and Donnacha Leahy combined for a goal chance, with Mayo caught two-against-one at the back.
The visitors’ scramble defence ensured the Exiles left emptyhanded, however. For London it was an opportunity missed.
When Leahy bisected the posts with an effortless flick of the wrists, and captain Seán Glynn followed suit, the London lead was 0-18 to 1-12.
That man Ryan Duffy inevitably came up with Mayo’s reply, before Jack Morrissey struck a sublime score from beneath the McGovern Park stand.
The home side led 0-19 to 1-13 at that stage with 68 minutes on the clock and it looked like they might have done enough to take the two points on offer.
Ray Larkin’s men had other ideas, however.
Scorers – London: David Devine 0-5 (4fs), Paul Kennedy 0-4, Rory Lodge, Jack Morrissey (1f), Donnacha Leahy 0-2 each, Ronan McGrady, Noah Quinlan, Dylan Dawson, Seán Glynn 0-1 each Mayo: Ryan Duffy 0-11 (7fs, 1 ’65), Cormac Phillips 1-1, Eoghan Collins, Padraic Mooney, Diarmuid Phillips, Corey Scahill 0-1 each.
London: Padraig Collins; Barry Morrissey, Conor Byrne, Ruairi Cummins; Niall Fitzgerald, Ronan McGrady, Stephen Whelan; Rory Lodge, Orann Donnelly; Noah Quinlan, David Devine, Tom Hanifin; Paul Kennedy, Fionn Whelan, Dylan Dawson. Subs: Jack Loughnane (for Fitzgerald 29), Seán Glynn (for Dawson ht), Jack Morrissey (for Donnelly 42), Donnacha Leahy (for F Whelan 49), Niall Eames (for Cummins 69).
Mayo: Kevin Duffy; Michael Gallagher, Eoghan Collins, Padraic Mooney; Connor Murray, Diarmuid Phillips, Eoin Ryan; John Heraty, Oisin Ivers; Ronan Fallon, Cormac Phillips, Corey Scahill; Brendan Sheridan, Darren McTigue, Ryan Duffy. Subs: Colm Enright (for McTigue ht), Anthony Rowland (for Gallagher 53), Sean McGhee (for D Phillips 61), Darren Murray (for Sheridan 61), Darren McTigue (for Ivers 72).
Ref: Alan Tierney (Tipperary).
