Shaughnessy's efforts fails to halt Mayo win

Mayo 1-21 IT Sligo 1-15

Mayo’s Liam Irwin attempts to brush of Philip Neilan of Sligo IT during the Connacht FBD League clash in Ballina. Photo by David Maher/Sportsfile

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Mayo got their first win of 2017 under their belt but not before they were pushed all the way by IT Sligo in this second round league match at James Stephens Park, Ballina.

Mayo manager Stephen Rochford fielded a much stronger side to that which lost to NUIG last week, with six of the Mayo senior championship panel in the starting 15, including goalkeeper David Clarke (pictured right) who captained the side.

Cillian O'Connor and Donal Vaughan were also called up in the second half but Vaughan failed to see out the game as he picked up a black card, followed by a straight red card after some verbal exchanges with the referee deep in injury-time.

By then Mayo had finally put their seal on the game having led at one stage by nine points (1-17 to 1-8) but it was Claremorris student, James Shaughnessy, who kept the visitors hanging in with a contribution of 1-8 as they hit Mayo for six unanswered points during the second half.

That nine-point lead was pared back to three, but late points from substitutes Cian Costello and James Durcan, along with a fine effort from the impressive Fergal Boland, saw Mayo kick on to a round three meeting with Roscommon next Sunday.

Mayo led by 1-12 to 1-6 at half time, with Shaughnessy firing home from the penalty spot for IT Sligo, while Alan Freeman, who finished the day on 1-7, scored an excellent goal when he rose high above his man before firing to the Sligo net.

David Clarke, Mayo. Photo: Sportsfile

SCORERS - Mayo: A Freeman 1-7 (6f), L Irwin 0-4 (3f), F Boland 0-3, E Regan 0-2, D Kirby, M Plunkett, J Durcan, C Carolan, C Costello 0-1 each. IT Sligo: J Shaughnessy 1-8 (5f), J Brennan 0-2, R Connolly, C McGettigan, A McClean, C Reape B Walsh 0-1 each.

MAYO - D Clarke; D Kenny, R O'Malley, D Newcombe; D Drake, E O'Reilly, M Plunkett; S Nally, D Kirby; F Boland, C Carolan, J Doherty; E Regan, L Irwin, A Freeman. Subs: J Durcan for Doherty (inj, 10), C Costello for Irwin (50), C O'Connor for Freeman (57), Crowe for O'Reilly (58).

IT SLIGO - S Kilker; R Gallagher, E Gallagher, P Neilan; R Gorman, E McGrath, D Curran; R Connolly, K McBrearty; A McClean, C Reape, J Brennan; B Walsh, J Shaughnessy, C McGettigan. Subs: S Meehan for Curran (inj, 20), A Wharton for Meehan (54), C Surlis for Walsh (56), E Broderick for Reape (58).

REF - S Hehir (Galway)