The Mayo League exited the EA Sports Cup at the first round stage on Tuesday night when they were thrashed 8-0 by League of Ireland Premier Division side Sligo Rovers in the Showgrounds. Owen Heary’s side progressed to the next round, thanks to the drubbing handed out to the Mayo League selection which included a hat-trick from youngster Liam Flatley.
Morton Nielsen put Sligo Rovers in front just before the half-hour mark. Mayo held out until just before the break, with David Hoban going close for his team, before Gary Armstrong finished after being picked out by Raff Creataro.
The second half saw Rovers run Mayo ragged with Flatley grabbing his hat-trick from the bench over the final 45 minutes. Their first goal of the half came from Armstrong’s second goal after he skipped past two Mayo challenges. Sander Puri made it 4-0 not long after with a long range effort. Creataro got his second of the night when he slotted home from the penalty spot after he was upended. Flatley finished off the scoring by bagging the final three goals in the final 20 minutes, rounding off the scoring in the final minute of normal time.
Sligo Rovers: R Coulter; G Boylan, J Dykes, R McManus, D Ledwith; R Creataro, G Armstrong, E Wearen, S Puri; Ward; M Nielsen. Subs: L Flatley, D Connolly.
Mayo League: G Cunningham; S Tagg, S Ryan, J Lawless, P Moran; P Fitzgerald, D Browne, D Hoban, C Rowland; B Lavelle. Subs: P Bourke, M McNally.
Referee: Ray Matthews.
