1996/99
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MAYO POISED FOR PROMOTION AND PLAY-OFFS
GAA
4 March 1998
Church and General National Football League
Mayo 1-8 - - - - Louth 1-6
John Melvin reports from Drogheda
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Well almost. The letter for promotion to the elite League division next year, along with the application form for the lucrative National League play-off's, was posted in Drogheda on Sunday. Now all we can do is await it's arrival in Crossmolina on Sunday week where victory over Laois, or even a draw, will guarantee Mayo's interest in the destination of the National League title will continue into April.
But first the tale of two halves from Louth where Mayo opened with one of their most industrious and creative fifteen minutes of football since the heady day's of last years championship, to go 1-2 up playing into the teeth of a very strong breeze, before around 4,000 on a bitterly cold afternoon.
The goal coming after only four minutes was a clever delivery from Diarmuid Byrne into the path of Liam McHale. The Ballina man is not noted for his goal scoring record, but he hit this one with the authority of a man who has been doing it day-in day-out.
James Horan, suffering no ill-effects from his marriage on the previous day, had opened Mayo's account with a fisted point, ignoring the temptation to go for goal, although he made the reverse decision when an identical opportunity arose in the second half when he blazed wide.
The second point, in the 18th minute, had come from Maurice Sheridan from a free earned by Byrne who was shaping up well at full forward before an injury forced him out.
And it could have been more had referee Brian Whyte not ignored an obvious pull on Diarmuid Byrne as he considered his option for a goal or a point, the former being his likely selection, but he ended with neither. It was a one of a few perplexing decision made by the Wexford official who certainly stirred the ire of the huge home support and ignored on or two rash challenges by Louth players.
Cushion
But 1-2 is a nice cushion to carry you home, particularly when you are playing away and into the teeth of a very stiff breeze, but it is not sufficient to rest your head on and Mayo almost paid the price for not making their territorial control into more profitable returns.
For that opening period Pat Fallon and David Brady took it in turn to dominate midfield where Louth were in chaos. Brady once again revelled in the intensity of the psychical battles while Fallon plucked some great ball from the sky. A partnership alight, but which dimmed somewhat in the second half as Louth sought to salvage their pride, if not the match.
David Heaney, getting his first real test at full back, had settled in well and emerged with his reputation as a potential full back, considerably enhanced, while James Nallen was the man who stood out, particularly in the second half, in a defence which once again played splendidly under pressure as Louth ran at Mayo in the second half. And it wouldn't be overstating it to say that Louth looked a little out of their depth as Mayo played with confidence, and indeed a great deal of cohesion for that opening twenty minute period as they controlled the game into the wind..
However, their efforts were not sustained, and Louth's decision to withdraw Paul Kelly from midfield and push Stephen Melia to this sector certainly brought about a marked change in fortunes.
Problems
But if Mayo thought they had problems when it came to finishing, and, in fairness, they did not give particularly bad examples in this game, hitting only eleven, louth won the competition for the best, or worst perhaps, wides by a street. They shot nine in the first half, and fifteen for the game, and although credit rests with the Mayo defence for forcing some of those wides, a few were of the criminal variety.
What was impressive about Mayo's play in that half was their ability to effectively blend the short and long ball, a perfect example being the move which led to their third point, the Crossmolina player latching onto a high delivery before turning and nailing a good point with his favoured left foot.
It put Mayo 1-3 to 0-2 ahead, but substitute Colin Kelly pulled back a point before McDonald provided a fine delivery for Diarmuid Byrne who opted to fist a point in his last contribution in the 28th minute before retiring from the scene with a suspected ham string injury.
So it was a comfortable scenario for Mayo, leading by 1-4 to 0-3, and having the assistance of that very strong wind to push them along in that second half.
But when it came to pushing, it was Louth that began to force the game in the second half. They found an inspirational half-back in Arron Hoey who really stirred up the rest of his colleagues at the Louth backs came forward more and the pressure began to increase on Mayo.
It was Hoey, with a great point after the restart that stirred the Louth passions, as the game moved up in tempo, and indeed temperament in the second hal as the exchanges became more psychical..
Even with the gap at just the goal, Mayo looked in control, mainly thanks to some tremendous defending, particularly from James Nallen, who had a smashing game, while Kenneth Mortimer, James Nallen, Pat Holmes, back on the right wing and Noel Connelly were always working hard, if under pressure at times..
When Martin Farrelly, louth's most dangerous attacker, reduced the gap to just two points the danger signals for Mayo were there to be seen.
Louth were now getting a lot more ball at midfield, but Mayo should have been back in control of this game had Sheridan converted two frees from about thirty yards, the tricky breeze deceiving him on both occasions.
They also had a great chance when McDonald found Dempsey with a perfect long range pass, but the Knockmore player was swallowed up before he could avail of a scoring opportunity.
The danger of a Louth goal was always imminent as their attacks became more frequent and the Mayo defence became more stretched. Only for a timely interception by substitute David Nestor they might have got in earlier, but it was livewire Farrelly who eventually got through for what was a scrambled goal in the end, to leave the sides level with ten minutes to go.
A push on Ray Dempsey under a another high ball earned Mayo a vital free three minutes later and Sheridan put Mayo back in front, but Alan Doherty had the huge Louth support on the edge of their seats when he levelled the game two minutes from the end.
John Casey provided a vital point with his first action having replaced James Horan. He shrugged of two challenges before dropping the ball over the bar form thirty yards and a minute later Louth were finally forced to conceded when Fallon picked out Dempsey with a long ball and the Knockmore man made up from some errant play earlier by swinging it over the bar from over forty yards.
In Louth's last attack a high ball was taken under the posts by Noel Connelly but in the jungle of players Peter Burke picked up an ankle ligament injury and had to be helped to the dressing room bearing the scars, as indeed did a few other, of a hard fought battle.
As we had said some weeks back, it was the match which would probably decide the divisional winners and Mayo, along with Galway, now look destined for the play-off's and the top flight in next season's reconstituted League.
And yet the long term view is without doubt on the championship, and on that score, Mayo still have some way to go to correct the problems up front where a lot of creative play is being negated by poor options, sometimes matched with even poorer finishing, although it should be noted that all six starting forwards scored, and that is an improvement..
From a positive point of view Mayo showed character and confidence under pressure by the manner in which they held their shape and collectively refused to panic in the last few minutes. It will surely stand to them as the pressure increases and the year grows older. But for the moment, Mayo are where they had planned to be at this point in time.
Mayo: Peter Burke, Ken Mortimer, Dave Heaney, Fergal Costello, Pat Holmes, James Nallen, Noel Connelly, Pat Fallon, David Brady, Maurice Sheridan (0-3); Liam McHale (1-0); James Horan (0-1); Kieran McDonald (0-1); Diarmuid Byrne (0-1); Ray Dempsey (0-1). Subs: John Casey (0-1) for Horan, David Nestor for Byrne, John Casey (0-1) for Horan.
Louth: N. O'Donnell, N. Malone, C. Nash, D. Brennan, D. O'Sullivan, G. O'Neill, A. Hoey (0-1); K. Reilly, P. Kelly, O. McDonnelll, S. Melia (0-1); M. Farrelly (1-1); A. Doherty (0-1); C. O'Hanlon (0-1); P. Butterly. Subs: Colin Kelly (0-1) for P. Kelly, S. Whyte for Butterly.
Ref: B. White (Wexford).
Mayo V Kerry
Mayo travel to Manchester this weekend for a match with All Ireland champions Kerry. Peter Burke is likely to miss the Laois game because of ankle ligament damage sustained on Sunday while Diarmuid Byrne is also likely to be out due a ham string injury.
