Three things of note from Sunday's game
Mayo's back-line is taking on a bit of water
The Mayo defence continues to leak scores and goals in particular, with eight goals hitting the back of the Mayo net over the first four league games. In total Mayo have conceded 8-56 (80 points ) in four games so far, that's an average concession of 20 points in each game. In the same period last year Mayo had conceded 4-45 (57 points ), 23 points less than this year. In both of those four game runs they played Kerry and Tyrone in both years, with Down and Dublin the other two teams Mayo had faced at this stage of the league last year. With Keith Higgins taking up station on the half-forward line these days (Kerry game excepted ) and Chris Barrett and Tom Cunniffe both unavailable at present, James Horan has started trio of Colm Boyle, Ger Cafferkey and Lee Keegan in all three games so far. Kevin Keane, Shane McHale and Brendan Harrison have started three games each and David Drake, Keith Higgins and Donal Vaughan all getting one start in the defence so far this season.
Mayo dominated the ball from kick-outs
There were 31 scores over the seventy minutes and 15 wides kicked over the 70 minutes by both teams combined, giving a total of 46 kick-outs in the game. Mayo were by far the dominant force in coming out on top in terms of possession from these kick-outs, winning possession on 32 occasions and Westmeath 14 times. In the first half there were 26 kick-outs with Mayo winning the ball 19 times to Westmeath's seven. Mayo were particularly dominant winning ten kick-outs in the first ten minutes of the contest before Westmeath managed to come out on top once in this area at all as they built up a 2-4 to 0-1 lead and kicked three early wides in the process.
O'Connor's back in action
The return to action of Cillian O'Connor was a welcome sight for all Mayo supporters in Mullingar. The Ballintubber man's return to action is the latest in a long list of Mayo injury problems that are clearing up. Tom Parson's whose return to Mayo colours only lasted a couple of minutes in Newbridge on the first weekend due to a freak injury had recovered enough to take his place on the subs bench on Sunday, while James Horan was confident that Andy Moran would be ok for next weekends game against Cork after having to sit out Sunday's game in the midlands.
