Allianz Football League Division One

MAYO 1-19 ROSCOMMON 0-14

By Declan Rooney at Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar

Mayo claimed a second win in the competition against Roscommon in Castlebar.

Despite a bright start, Roscommon then suffered as Mayo kicked eight points without reply. Cillian O’Connor hit a goal from a penalty three minutes after the break to end any hopes of a Roscommon comeback.

It doesn’t get any easier for Kevin McStay’s side as they welcome Kerry to Hyde Park next weekend.

At midfield Mayo dominated entirely as Diarmuid O’Connor and Jason Gibbons formed an impressive partnership in the absence of Tom Parsons.

Keith Higgins was solid, while Lee Keegan also impressed after he was introduced for the black carded Colm Boyle in the first-half – just six days on from his AIB Intermediate Club All-Ireland heroics with Westport.

At the back they were breached on a few occasions though and just before half-time Roscommon had three excellent goal scoring opportunities, but Enda Smith, Donie Smith and Sean Mullooly were all denied by Higgins and David Clarke on a couple of occasions.

All 14 of Roscommon’s scores came from play, clearly Mayo’s defensive intent was to be disciplined and take their chances at the other end.

As well as their good scoring tally, Mayo kicked 15 wides, but Rochford will be delighted with the impact that his bench made, with Lee Keegan, Brendan Harrison and Conor Loftus all contributing two points each as they helped their side over the finish line.

Roscommon were bright early on and they led 0-3 to 0-1 after eight minutes, but from that point their challenge faded. Mayo picked up their effort after three poor wides, and a couple of points from play from Cillain O’Connor started them on a run of eight without reply.

Roscommon did tag on a couple of more points from Donie and Enda Smith before half-time, but as both teams lost players to black cards – Colm Boyle and Shane Killoran – Mayo were good value for their 0-11 to 0-5 lead at half-time.

A foul by Seanie McDermott on Evan Regan saw Cillian O’Connor rattle the net three minutes after the break to put the result beyond doubt, and with the bench making an impact along with the impressive Diarmuid O’Connor at midfield, Mayo easily held on for the win despite the efforts of Conor Devaney and Enda Smith.

Scorers for Mayo: Cillian O’Connor 1-4 (1-0 pen, 1f), Fergal Boland, Brendan Harrison, Conor Loftus, Lee Keegan 0-2 each, Conor O’Shea, Donal Vaughan, Jason Gibbons, Kevin McLoughlin, Diarmuid O’Connor, Andy Moran, Evan Regan (1f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Roscommon: Conor Devaney, Donie Smith 0-3 each, Ciaran Murtagh, Enda Smith 0-2 each, Shane Killoran, Fintan Cregg, Tom Corcoran, Niall Kilroy 0-1 each.

**MAYO: **David Clarke; Donie Newcombe, Keith Higgins, Donal Vaughan; Stephen Coen, Colm Boyle, Paddy Durcan; Jason Gibbons, Diarmuid O’Connor; Fergal Boland, Cillian O’Connor (c), Conor O’Shea; Kevin McLoughlin, Andy Moran, Evan Regan.

Subs: Lee Keegan for Boyle (29 BC), Conor Loftus for Moran (50), Brendan Harrison for Vaughan (53), Shane Nally for Boland (55), M Plunkett for O’Shea (60), Liam Irwin for Regan (67).

**ROSCOMMON: **Colm Lavin; Seanie McDermott, Niall McInerney, David Murray; Ronan Stack, Sean Mullooly, John McManus; Enda Smith, Tadhg O’Rourke; Shane Killoran, Ciaran Murtagh (c), Fintan Cregg; Donie Smith, Tom Corcoran, Conor Devaney.

**Subs: **Ciaran Cafferkey for Killoran (24 BC), Kevin Higgins for Cregg (44), Gary Paterson for McDermott (54), Niall Kilroy for Stack (59), Brendan Murtagh for Devaney (62), Cian Connolly for D Smith (67).

**REFEREE: **Joe McQuillan (Cavan).