Mayo move up the gears to sweep Sligo students aside

Mayo joint manager Noel Connelly

January 11 2015 10:54 PM

Mayo made it two from two in the Connacht senior league with a performance which drew praise from the new management team of Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes who drafted in twelve new players to the side that defeated NUIG.

However, Gavin Duffy's debut for his county remains on hold until his paperwork is sorted and his place on the team was taken by Alex Corduff, the Ballinman putting in another strong performance before his home crowd along with Barry Moran in midfield.

Mayo led by 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval but turned up the heat in the second half with a string of unanswered points from Corduff, Alan Freeman, Evan Regan, Peter Dravins and the inspirational Kevin McLoughlin, who put in a huge game.

The Sligo students had a great chance to reduce the deficit in the second half when Ryan McHugh faced up to a penalty-kick after he had been hauled down.

However, his effort was driven wide, despite sending David Clarke the wrong way and after that it was very much one-way traffic as Mayo took control all over the field.

The only negative for the Connacht champions was their failure to find the net but it wasn't for the lack of chances with the butt of the upright denying Morgan Lyons, while the Sligo side's goalkeeper Alvin McCallig came to the rescue several times.

Afterwards, Noel Connelly admitted that their biggest problem now will be reducing their panel.

"We were pleased with the attitude and work of the lads and all the new players really put in big displays so we have some issues to dwell on before we reduce the panel but it is good to see so much competition for places."

scorers - Mayo: A Freeman 0-4 (1f), E Regan and K McLoughlin (2f) 0-3 each, P Dravins, M Sweeney, M Lyons, P Dravins and M Ronaldson 0-1 each. IT Sligo: C Clinton 0-4 (4f), B Gallagher and R McHugh 0-1 each.

MAYO - D Clarke, K Keane, D Vaughan, S Duffy, M Hall, K Rogers, P Durcan, A Corduff, B Moran, K McLoughlin, M Lyons, P Dravins, E Regan, A Freeman, M Sweeney.Subs: D McHugh for K Keane (ht), C Barrett for P Durcan (45, J Doherty for M Hall (45), J Gibbons for A Corduff (51), M Ronaldson for M Sweeney (55).

IT SLIGO - A McCallig, S Doak, M McWeeney, D McConnor, C Kenny, S McManus, P Varley, S Henry, B Gallagher (0-1), R McHugh, E Jordan, C Mulryan, D Quinn, D Quinn, C Thomson, C Clinton. Subs: T Taylor for D Quinn (17), R Gallagher for D McCormack (40), M Rock for S McManus (BC, 43), J Mannion for A MCallig (55).

ref - Michael Duffy (Sligo).