No McCarthy, no party! Late winner renews Mayo hopes
FAI National League
Mayo FC 2
Letterkenny Rovers 1
Paul O’Malley at Umbro Park
Should Mayo FC turn their season around and advance to the semi-final stage of the FAI National League, they will surely point to Connor McCarthy’s late winner against Letterkenny Rovers last Saturday as the moment that gave their campaign a much-needed shot in the arm.
After three defeats on the bounce, Anthony O’Neill’s side could have done with Sean McAteer’s 60th minute penalty settling matters at Umbro Park. However, the Donegal outfit, who defeated Mayo 3-0 in Letterkenny a few weeks ago, levelled matters with five minutes left to play in normal time.
The home crowd who had been vocal throughout, buoyed consistently by debuting teenager Aron Heaney who was pulling strings in the middle of the park all day, were suddenly quietened by the sudden heist of their three points but Milebush became ecstatic once more when McCarthy smashed home the winning header late on.
It was all square at half-time; a fair reflection on the early proceedings. Mayo had the lion’s share of possession in the opening 25 minutes and their best chance came from the route that would later yield the winner. Sean McAteer sent a searching cross towards McCarthy but the former Glenhest man’s header lacked the power needed to trouble Patrick McGarvey.
Letterkenny’s main threat came unorthodoxly from the arms of long-throw specialist Zach Gorman. Gorman is top scorer in this division but was proving a dual threat on Saturday. His aerial bombardments were causing a lot of nerves in the Mayo penalty area and Ryan Shields came close with an effort that flew wide of the post following a Gorman cannonball.
Mayo hit a purple patch at the start of the second half and would be rewarded for those efforts. Ben Edeh sent a cross into the path of James McGrath but it was yet another header that lacked conviction for the home side. Aron Heaney was setting the tempo in midfield and after a mazey run, put McCarthy through but his shot skewed wide.
After 59 minutes, Heaney-McCarthy linked up again as the striker held up the ball within the penalty area. His pass found Heaney and he was bundled over by Dean McCarry giving the referee not a moment of hesitation to point to the spot.
McAteer was the man entrusted with the task and he rewarded the faith, smashing a penalty towards the bottom right corner of the goal, sending McGarvey the wrong way to put Mayo FC 1-0 up.
Mayo would come to rue sitting back over the next 20 minutes. The warning signs were there when Zach Gorman flashed a cross in front of goal and Brendan McCafferty leaped but headed over the bar. Rovers went to the well once more; Gorman’s cross found McCafferty and this time he made no mistake and levelled matters in the 85th minute.
The loyal Mayo support did not go home disappointed however. McAteer’s 91st minute cross was picture perfect and the header was even better. McCarthy’s second goal of the season gave Mayo the win and a dash of hope that is almost heaven-sent for the remainder of the season.
Mayo FC: Arran Boyle, Gary Armstrong, Daire O’Connor, Noe Baba, Oisin Reilly, James McGrath, Guga Kokaia, Aron Heaney, Ben Edeh, Sean McAteer, Connor McCarthy, Subs: Darragh Forde and Jose Barrios Sanchez (for Kokaia and Heaney 89).
Letterkenny Rovers: Patrick McGarvey, Padraic Gilsenan, Dean McCarry, Keith Cowan, Joel Gorman, Adrian Delap, Zach Gorman, Ryan Lonergan, Ryan Shields, Luke Parke, Cathal McGeever. Subs: Brendan McCafferty (for Lonergan 69), Ultan O’Grady (for Parke 70), Shane McNamee (for McGeever 83), Gareth Doherty (for Z Gorman 83).
Ref: John O’Connor
