O'Mahony frustrated as students see off Mayo
NUI Galway 2-10 Mayo 1-8
Monday January 05 2009
Despite missing several key players, NUIG still managed to produce a Connacht FBD League victory against an experimental Mayo outfit at Dangan.
The students -- who took the lead after 10 seconds courtesy of a clever Cathal McHugh goal -- were always in control emerging five-point victors.
McHugh's early major was fashioned by the afternoon's outstanding figure Gareth Bradshaw, who contributed an influential midfield performance.
With Bradshaw pulling the strings, NUIG were dominant and midway through the first half they struck 1-3 on the spin to edge seven points clear.Mayo did summon a response moments later when Mikey Sweeney raised a green flag as NUIG went in at the break 2-4 to 1-3 ahead.
Mayo battled earnestly, but lacked the depth to seriously threaten the students whose confidence soared as the contest progressed.
Deprived the services of several players with college commitments Mayo manager John O'Mahony's post-match appraisal was fair. "It was a good game. From our point of view it is frustrating to look at the likes of Ger Cafferkey at full back there for them. We are going to have new faces in the League and I would like to have them to prepare, but I can't and that is it."
Scorers -- NUIG: C Devanney 1-3 (1f), C McHugh 1-1, G Bradshaw 0-3 (1f), J Connellan 0-2, C Kenny 0-1 (1f). Mayo: M Sweeney 1-0, B Kelly 0-2, A Kilcoyne 0-2 (2fs), A O'Malley 0-2 (1f), A Dillon, P Gardiner 0-1 each.
NUIG -- L Grant; P Healy, G Cafferkey, N Ewing; G Begley, C Leyden, P Domican; G Bradshaw, K Conroy; S Stenson, M Gottsche, C Kenny; C Devanney, D O'Gara, C McHugh. Subs: D Cooron for G Begley (Yellow Card), J Connellan for S Stenson, T Crowe for D Cooron, L McCloone for M Gottsche, K Kelly for C Leyden (Yellow Card), S Stenson for C McHugh.
Mayo -- D Clarke; S Drake, K Keane, C Cafferkey; P Gardiner, P Kelly, C Boyle; P Harte, B Kelly; A Kilcoyne, A Dillon, BJ Padden; M Sweeney, A O'Shea, A O'Malley. Subs: S Prendergast for K Keane, D Caffrey for P Gardiner (Yellow Card), J Gibbons for BJ Padden, B Gallagher for A Kilcoyne, A Moran for D Caffrey (Yellow Card).
Ref -- D Hunt (Roscommon).
- Mayo 1-8
