17 September 1997
MAYO 2-14 DONEGAL 0-12
Gaelic Games-----
John Melvin
Mayo footballers couldn't have asked for a better send-off from their devoted supporters, who turned out in huge numbers, as hooters and horns sounded during a great atmosphere at Balla on Sunday, where many got the last glimpse, before All Ireland Final day, of the Mayo team in this final of the Dr Cunnane Cup against a new look Donegal side under manager Declan Bonnar.
It was a relieved John Maughan who wisely elected to withdraw eight of his starting fifteen at the end of the second quarter of a four quarter game in which the only scare came when Colm McMenamon limped off having run himself into the ground. However, despite the obvious discomfort, it will take a lot more to stop the Burrishoole man from appearing in Croke Park on Sunday week.
And what was probably foremost on most players minds, although a few Mayo players tackled quite hard and David Brady looked like a man determined to make up for lost time. Those who came to look for faults in Mayo's armoury for Sunday weeks' All Ireland final clash with Kerry will have left disappointed.
It was a controlled performance by Mayo who were obviously holding back a couple of gears for the more demanding task in two weeks time. Tony Corcoran stood in for the absent Noel Conneely, while Kenneth Mortimer moved to the full back position left vacant by tonsillitis stricken Pat Holmes, and Brian Heffernan took over Mortimers role in the corner.
David Brady partnered a very sharp looking Pat Fallon at midfield, and while the Ballina man spared nothing in effort, his sharpness has been blunted slightly by such a long lay-off, but what a player to be able to spring from the bench. Without doubt the most commanding performance came from Colm McMenamon who was literally all over the place but very much together in his play. John Casey too looked eager at corner forward, but Ciaran McDonald was, without doubt, the attacker who impressed most, scoring a gem of a goal with the left foot and a delightful point from the tightest of angles having cut in along the end-line.
Liam McHale was again posted to full- forward, but you felt his mind was on more important things that what was really a stroll in the park. By the time Mayo withdrew Burke, McHale, Mortimer, Nallen, Fallon, Brady, Sheridan, McDonald and Casey, Mayo were leading by 1-7 to 0-5, having led at the end of the first quarter by 0-4 to 0-2.
McDonald opened their scoring a very good point on the left foot and from the left corner position, and two from Sheridan, along with one from Fallon brought Mayo's tally to 0-4 before McDonald struck with a very good goal after Brady and Nallen had created the opening.
Golding, Costello, making another productive run forward, and McDonald added points for Mayo, who relaxed somewhat in the second quarter as Donegal, working extremely hard for each other, were kept in the game by the excellent free taking of John Duffy.
Diarmuid Byrne, James Horan and Tony Morley were the most impressive of ten Mayo subs brought in for the second half, the others being Kieran Carey, P.J. Loftus, Ray Connelly, Kevin Byrne, Declan Sweeney, Michael Gardiner and John Madden. Byrne picked off two points, one from a free, Horan also had a good pint and McMenamon, before departing the scene having taken a knock, also added to the score before leaving Mayo 1-10 to 0-6 ahead entering the final quarter.
Byrne and Loftus added further points before P.J. Loftus put his name to another well taken goal and the final point came from Golding, who replaced McMenamon.
Mayo: P. Burke, B. Heffernan, K. Mortimer, D. Flanagan, F. Costello (0-1); J. Nallen, T. Corcoran, P. Fallon (0-1); R. Golding (0-1); C. McManamon (0-1); M. Sheridan (0-2); C. McDonald (1-2); L. McHale, J. Casey (0-1). Subs: J. Madden, K. Carey, K. Byrne, P.J. Loftus (1-1); M. Gardiner, J. Horan (0-1); R. Connelly, T. Morley, D. Sweeney, D. Byrne (0-3).
Donegal: P. Callaghan, J.J. Doherty, R. Sweeney, J. Scanlon, N. McGinley, N. Hegarty, d. Dever, C. Brennan (0-1); J. Harran, S. Bradley (0-1); J. Duffy (0-7); M. McShane, J. McGuinness, A. McFadden (0-1); B. Devaney. Subs: S. Carr (0-1); B. Roper.
Ref: S. Mullaney (Roscommon).
