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Church and General National Football League Section A Mayo 2-17 - Kilkenny 1-5 From John Melvin in Nowlan Park Just a point in front at halftime, and playing like a team that had never set eyes on each other before, Mayo supporters who turned up to make up around 350 hardy souls on a dreary day in Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, had good reason to scratch their collective head and wonder why they impose such hardships upon themselves in the depths of winter. But suddenly in a blistering spell in the second half the long trek South-East was made all worthwhile as the Kilkenny resistance all but totally collapsed and the Connacht champions finally got around to doing what they came to do-play football. And in that second half it was good football. But banish the though that Mayo have cured any ills in their attack, despite an impressive tally of 2-17 and a victory which keeps them in joint second place with Louth and behind leaders Laois, and in a challenging position for the play-off's. Without putting too much of a damper on Mayo's merited fifteen point victory, if Parke junior footballers were deputising for Mayo my money would be on Parke. Kilkenny football is where it has always been- going nowhere. And it does a disservice to the opposition and to the game itself to put teams, whose abilities and ambitions are at opposite ends of the footballing scale, in the same group. It is no good for Mayo, and it certainly does nothing for morale in Kilkenny where promoting football is like trying to sell pictures of the Pope at an Ian Paisley rally. Of course, what most of us travelled to Kilkenny for, was not the outcome, but the performance of the new names. Ray Connelly, although not new by any means, Ger McNicholas making his debut, Dave Tiernan, Gordon Morley, Sean Carey and substitute Sean Roughneen were really attending their first day at third level, and, it must be said, all performed with a reasonable amount of effort and competence to suggest they will be called back for another exam. Of all the debutantes Ger McNicholas was, to my mind, the most impressive. He worked extremely hard at midfield, took two very good points and linked well in an impressive second half performance. But when the game had to be won it was the regulars who made telling contributions with Pat Holmes, Colm MacManamon, David Brady, James Horan and Kieran McDonald playing leading roles. David Brady's appetite for the game continues to grow and he had a stormer of a game at midfield, but if you were looking to find a show stopper, then you need look no further than Colm McMenamon. The Newport contingent, and there were a few of them sprinkled around the sparsely populated ground, were watching history unfolding before their eyes as their favourite son, Colm Mac, reeled off six wonderful points. Lorded Apart from McMenamon's contribution to the scoreboard he completely lorded his territory with his indomitable strength brushing Kilkenny aside. Seldom has a player commanded his territory with such authority, while Pat Holmes at centre back reigned supreme and was flanked by two tireless workers in Ray Connelly and Gordon Morley, who, was caught a little for pace in very heavy conditions. David Heaney, when he settled down after the first ten minutes, was a commanding figure in his new role at full back while the work rate of Kevin Beirne, showing no ill effects from his exile and Kenneth Morley, was laudable and gives Mayo multiple options in defensive positions. The same does not apply up front, and although 2-17 was a commendable harvest, this was not a day for making any serious judgments. Kieran McDonald reaped a rich harvest of 1-6 at full forward but one suspects he would be happier in the corner. James Horan had another fine display, working extremely hard and taking his goal well, while Diarmuid Byrne, back in the corner, also made a telling contribution. Dave Tiernan, although replaced in the second half, looked a genuine prospect, while Sean Carey provided a lot of good ball and will will have to be viewed against stiffer opposition before a fair judgment can be made. But overall there was some good moments off the ball, perhaps a little too intricate at times, when Mayo got into gear in the second half. They failed to find any gear in that opening half, undoubtedly feeling it wasn't going to take a huge effort to see of their opponents, while a heavy soggy pitch, which suffered from the rigours of a hurling match beforehand, may not have suited players who rely on pace more than strength. But Kilkenny showed pluck in that first half and with a little more confidence and belief in themselves could have had more than 1-2 to their credit at the break. Goal The goal came just before half-time and at a time when Mayo were beginning to pull away. Colm McMenamon, Diarmuid Byrne, Dave Ternan and Byrne again had Mayo four points clear inside eighteen minutes before Damian Walsh opened Kilkenny's account after 22 minutes. Five minutes before the interval McMenamon, who had blazed wide with an open goal chances minutes earlier, added his second point and McDonald, with a neat point on the left boot put Mayo 0-6 to 0-1 clear after 26 minutes. Kilkenny struck 1-1 just before the break, Brian Leahy crashing home the goal from close range to leave his side just one point adrift at the break 1-2 to 0-6. Inside two minutes of the second half Colm McMenamon came in on the end of some good moves to hit two good points. Paddy Mullaly, with a profitable run from his half back position, pulled one back for Kilkenny in the 34th minute but they failed to score again for the next twenty minutes. By then Mayo were on 2-13. McDonald, Carey and McMenamon combined for the latter to score his 5th point before James Horan crashed home Mayo's first goal from the edge of the box following a move involving McNicholas and Carey. McDonald from play and from a free, McMenamon's sixth, and gem on the left foot from McDonald followed before Horan, Gordon Morley and Pat Holmes were involved in the move which finished with McDonald firing home Mayo's second goal from the edge of the square. With ten minutes remaining it was effectively all over with Mayo in control of virtually every sector and they topped up their lead with points from McDonald (free), two from McNicholas and McDonald completing the second half rout. Scorers for Mayo: K. McDonald 1-6; c. McMenamon 0-6; G. McNicholas 0-2; D. Byrne 0-2; J. Horan and D. Tiernan. For Kilkenny: B. Leahy (1-0); D. Walsh 0-3; J. Young and P. Mullaly (0-1 each). Mayo: John Madden, Kevin Beirne, Dave Heaney, Kenneth Morley, Ray Connelly, Pat Holmes, Gordon Morley, David Brady, Ger McNicholas, David Tiernan, Colm McManamon, James Horan, Diarmuid Byrne, Kieran McDonald, Sean Carey. Subs; Sean Roughneen for Tiernan, James Nallen for heaney (inj). Kilkenny: Ed. Mulrooney, Jim Walsh, Niall Morrissey, Paul Fewer, Paddy Mullally, Dave Beirne, Neill Lacey, Pat Brennan, Liam Cassin, James young, Richard Mulally, John Maher, Brian leahy, Dsamien Walsh, Liam Dowling. Subs: M. Gordon and R. Stevenson. Ref: F. Ward (Laois) Division A Table P W D L Pts Louth 3 3 0 0 6 Laois 3 2 1 0 5 Mayo 3 2 1 0 5 Galway 3 1 2 0 4 Leitrim 3 2 0 1 4 Carlow 3 0 0 3 0 Fermanagh 3 0 0 3 0 Kilkenny 3 0 0 3 0
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