Christy Ring Relegation/Promotion Play-Off.

MAYO 1-21 DERRY 1-14

Kevin Egan Reports from Ballinamore

Mayo will hurl in the Christy Ring Cup in 2017. They withstood a mid-match surge from Derry before powering ahead to record a seven point win at the picturesque Sean O’Heslins GAA club grounds in Ballinamore this afternoon.

These two sides came into this fixture with very different mindsets, Mayo on a high after beating Antrim to win the Nicky Rackard Cup at Croke Park last week while Derry were still chasing their first competitive victory in 2016.

That difference in confidence was plain to see in the early stages as there was far more life and energy to Mayo’s play. Shane Farren opened the scoring for Derry with a neat point on the turn but Mayo tacked on 1-4 without reply, including two long range scores from Cathal Freeman and centre back David Kenny, who has enjoyed an incredible year in the Mayo colours after winning an All-Ireland medal in the under-21 football championship earlier this year.

Top scorer Kenny Feeney was on the mark as well but he turned provider for the Connacht county’s goal, slipping a handpass into Darren McTigue as the corner forward cut in from top of the right. McTigue blasted the ball past Darryl McDermott and it looked at this stage as if a lopsided contest was on the cards. 

Gradually however Derry worked their way back into the contest, starting with an improved display at the back. They cut out the flow of Mayo scores and with Rúairí Convery offering a strong physical presence under the dropping ball, they began to win a fair share of their own puck-out and establish a meaningful attacking platform.

A foul on Michael Conway offered Convery the chance to blast home a goal from a 25m free, but the Mayo defence was able to deflect the big man’s strike out for a ’65. That ’65 was pointed and despite accumulating seven first half wides, Derry kept plugging away and trailed by just a goal at half time, 1-9 to 0-9.

The loss of Kevin Hinphey, Liam Hinphey and Rúairí McCloskey to retirement were blows that Derry never really recovered from this year but as they walked into the dressing room they looked like a side with a restored sense of self-belief and they maintained their momentum after the interval, replying to Kenny Feeney’s free with superb points from Alan Grant and Shane Farren.

A goal was always likely to be crucial to their cause and with Man of the match Gerard McManus dominating the edge of the square for Mayo, chances to raise a green flag were extremely rare. When a second opportunity arrived it was again from a placed ball, this time a penalty awarded when Convery was hauled down by two defenders. Shane Farren’s strike was inch-perfect and with 25 minutes to play, Derry led for the first time since the 4th minute.

Joseph McManus, brother of full back Gerard, replied with an elegant strike from out on the right wing and within minutes Mayo hit the front through Seán Regan. Again Derry drew level but by now Mayo were able to move through the gears and the scores started to flow. Joseph McManus and Feeney added magnificent points as Mayo tacked on six in succession between the 50th and 65th minute to pull comfortably clear.

Derry again were reduced to chasing goals and while several good deliveries were sent into the Mayo full back line, they continued to be repelled with ease, meaning that Mayo’s stay in the Nicky Rackard cup was restricted to just twelve months – a slim ray of hope for Derry fans in the aftermath of a dismal year for hurling in the Oak Leaf county.

**Mayo Scorers: **K Feeney 0-11 (0-8f), J McManus 0-4, D McTigue 1-0, C Freeman, K McDermott, D Kenny, S Regan, C Charlton & J Cotter 0-1 each.

Derry Scorers: R Convery 0-8 (0-4f, 0-1 ’65), S Farren 1-3 (1-0 pen), A Grant 0-2, M McGrath 0-1. 

**MAYO:  **D O’Brien; B Hunt, G McManus, E Collins; P Connell, D Kenny, C Freeman; K McDErmott, C Charlton; S Regan, J McManus, F Boland; D McTigue, K Feeney, C Scahill.   
Subs: G Nolan for McDermott (11), A Connolly for Scahill (54), J Cotter for Nolan (62), S Mulroy for McTigue (68)

DERRY: D McDermott; E McGuckin, C Quinn, D McCloskey; B Óg McGilligan, P Kelly, S McCullagh; M McGrath, O McCloskey; R Convery, M Conway, McGuigan; SF Quinn, S Farren, A Grant. 
Subs: C McSorley for McGilligan (46), T McCloskey for Conway (46), G O’Kane for SF Quinn (51), B Quigley for McGrath

**Referee: **John Keane (Galway)