Mayo: 0-21
Roscommon 0-9
As to what Mayo will have learned from this game in Castlebar will have to be seen later on in the summer, but for the second time in a month they steamrolled their way over another of the big Connacht teams. All that stands in their way from a third Connacht title in as many years is either Leitrim or London. The crowd of 19,867 who paid into McHale Park, got a game; for the first ten minutes or so as Roscommon tried to impose themselves in the middle third of the field, but once Mayo got on top, with Seamus O'Shea in particular they took complete control of the contest. The elder O'Shea was one of a number of contenders for the man of the match award along with the likes of Colm Boyle-once again and a rejuvenated Alan Freeman at full forward. Roscommon took the lead in the third minute through Donal Smith, but it was the only time in the game that they had their noses in front. By half-time Mayo were 0-13 to 0-4 in the lead and that was with Roscommon breaking more than even around the middle third, with David Keenan cleaning up a lot of loose ball that broke around that area.
It took Mayo eleven minutes to open their account through a Kevin McLoughlin point and in the next 24 minutes they managed to hit the target another 12 times. Donal Vaughan kicked Mayo's second score a minute after McLoughlin's point and the Knockmore man landed Mayo's third from a free after Enda Varley was fouled. By the 17th minute it was 0-5 to 0-2 in favour of Mayo with Alan Freeman hitting the next two scores and the game was going away from Roscommon by this early stage. Keith Higgins, dummied his way past two defenders 18 minutes in and could have went for goal, but drove his shot high and over the bar for Mayo's sixth point as John Evans' men were already treading water.
With half an hour gone it was 0-10 to 0-4 in favour of the home side with McLoughlin adding two more points and the teak tough, Colm Boyle who was a live-wire of energy and commitment for the whole 70 minutes once again scoring the first of his two. Richie Feeney, Alan Dillon and Enda Varley all managed to get themselves on the scoreboard before the half time break, with Dillon coming close to adding a goal to the tally when he flicked a David Clarke 45' towards goal only to see it come back off the underside of the bar.
The second half started as the first finished, when from the throw in Aidan O'Shea won the ball and played a one-two with McLoughlin before putting the ball over the bar. Even by this early stage, the fight had gone out of Roscommon and Mayo piled on the scores and had hit the 20 point mark by the 55th minute, with Andy Moran hitting the score of the game only a minute after coming of the bench from the out near the touchline on the stand side of the field. The second half of the game became ragged and error strewn in the final 15 minutes as Mayo had their eyes on their next challenge and missed a number of easy chances for points and a guilt edged goal chance when Richie Feeney failed to score from close range. The only worry for James Horan in the second half was having to replace goalkeper David Clarke early on in the half after he felt a slight pull and decided the best course of action was to come out of the game. Ballinrobe's Kenneth O'Malley came on and put in a fine performance showing plenty bravery under a number of high dropping balls and found his men with his kick-outs.
Mayo excelled all over the park, with Seamus O'Shea as mentioned earlier putting in a big performance and laying down a marker that he intends to hold on to his position there. Kevin McLoughlin buzzed all over the park, offering himself as an outlet throughout the game and linking Mayo's defence and attack superbly. Alan Freeman dominated the full forward line and won a number of high balls played into him, one ball in particular early in the first half he fielded as he was fouled and held on to the ball even after the challenge that set out his intentions for the game.
With one of either Leitrim or London waiting in the final, it'll be hard for Mayo supporters to not be looking to the August Bank Holiday weekend. Mayo can only beat what's in front of them and that's exactly what they are doing, and doing without remorse. Which is a characteristic they are going to need if they are going to take the ultimate step.
Mayo: D Clarke; T Cunniffe, G Cafferkey, K Higgins (0-01 ); L Keegan (0-01 ), D Vaughan (0-01 ), C Boyle (0-02 ); A O'Shea (0-01 ), S O'Shea; K McLoughlin (0-05, 0-04f ), R Feeney (0-01 ), C Carolan; E Varley (0-01 ), A Freeman (0-4, 0-03f ), A Dillon (0-01 ).
Subs: K O’Malley for Clarke (35 mins ), A Moran (0-01 ) for Carolan (44 mins ), D Coen (0-02 ) for Varley (49 mins ), S McHale for Cafferkey (54 mins ), K Keane for Higgins (59 ),
??Rocommon: D O'Malley; N Collins, N Carty, S McDermott; D Keenan, N Daly, C Daly; K Higgins (0-01 ), M Finneran; C Devaney (0-01 ), K Mannion (0-01 ), C Cregg; D Smith (0-01, 0-01f ), S Kilbride (0-03, 0-02f ), D O'Gara.
Subs: C Shine for Smith (35 mins ), D Shine for Cregg (49 mins ), E Smith (0-02 ) for O’Gara (51 mins ), D Ward for Keenan (59 mins ) C Compton for Higgins (61 mins ).??
Referee: Michael Duffy (Sligo ).
