MAYO BOOK MEATH

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Fermanagh 0-7-------------------------- Mayo 0-9

John Melvin reports from Irvenstown

A quarter-final meeting with Meath in April, probably at Hyde Park, was the bonus Mayo picked up at Irvenstown on Sunday, where they finished champions of Division three of the National Football League with an unbeaten run. However, the celebrations on a bitterly cold day in Fermanagh were very muted as the players trooped into the dressing room knowing too well, that even in victory, they had probably played some of the worst football in all of their seven match league campaign.

The challenge now facing John Maughan and his team is whether they are capable of raising their game sufficiently to compete with the likes of Meath, who finished in second place in division two?

That is a meeting Maughan and his men will face with a certain amount of trepidation given the poverty of this display, particularly up front, but they do have several weeks to prepare for what will undoubtedly be their biggest challenge before they step into the championship arena in June. We will live in the belief that they will be capable of rising to the occasion and that when their true mettle is tested they will be able to respond. So far they have been able to shrug off what ever challenge division three could throw at them, but there were times on Sunday when they wavered before getting back on track with a typical late burst of scores. However, the real lack of scoring power, as evidenced by the meagre return in their last three games in particular, will be the main source of concern as they come up against quality division one opposition.

There were seven points scored from play but too many of the Mayo forwards were beaten in one-on-one situations by a very tight marking Fermanagh defence with only James Horan, Tom Reilly and Kieran McDonald making any impression although P.J. Loftus and Ray Dempsey did make a difference when introduced.

The withdrawal of Pat Fallon with a hamstring before the game saw Anthony Finnerty posted to full forward and James Horan switching to the forty. And while the attack did not impress it must be said they were very badly serviced from the midfield where both Liam McHale, who had been spirted from Tralee after his basketball duties on Saturday night, and David Brady never stamped their authority on the game but they did respond when they needed to in the last ten minutes.

Mayo's lack of urgency seemed to spread to the defence and at times it took some heroic work from Kevin Beirne, who had an excellent game and Dermot Flanagan was again to be found cutting out so many menacing threats. There were some good moment from James Nallen, Kevin Cahill, Fergal Costello and Kevin Connelly but the defence in general did not play with the same cohesion or authority that has been a feature of some of their past performances.

But, at least, they have achieved two objectives in gaining promotion and making the play-off's.

However, there was a stage in this game when Mayo looked very vulnerable as a tough Fermanagh side kept running at them and, not for the first time, Mayo left it extremely late, the last three minutes in fact, before they booked that place in the quarter-final.

The game was balanced at 0-7 each with eight minutes remaining n a draw, which would have done the visitors, looked a distinct possibility. But the confidence that Maughan has instilled into this team surfaced in the closing stages and it was Mayo who were attacking in numbers from the back. However, victory wasn't secured until David Brady earned a free in front of the posts which Kieran McDonald tapped over and in injury time substitute Ray Dempsey finished off a good move involving two of the veterans of the side, Tom Reilly and Anthony FInnerty.

Fermanagh, who are no in a play-off to avoid relegation, had the visitors rattled for long periods and had they availed of all of their chances Mayo could well have suffered their first defeat in the league.

The pressure was fairly intense in the first half with the Mayo backs putting necessary pressure pressure on themselves by the over use of the short ball, which seemed to even confuse themselves on occasions. Fermanagh's willingness to attack the ball at all times, particularly Rory Gallagher, Raymond Gallagher, Ciaran Donnelly and full forward Martin Gallagher, saw them enjoy a 0-2 to 0-1 lead after fourteen minutes. Donnelly picked up one of those loose clearances from the Mayo defence to knock over the opening score in the 3rd minute but John Casey, w ho was withdrawn from the action t halftime, levelled the game with a good point from play in the 7th minute.

Raymond Gallagher had Fermanagh back in the lead and it was Anthony Finnerty who finished off a very good move involving McHale and Horan but which Cahill initiated when he robbed the full forward Kevin O'Neill put Mayo into the lead for the first time in the 17th minute but it was Fermanagh who went back in front with points from Rory and Ray Gallagher, the latter point coming again from Mayo's failure to clear their lines.

David Nestor provided the pass to Kieran McDonald to tie te game at 0-4 each in the 23rd minute and that's they it remained as the sides emerged for the second half when Tom Reilly was brought in for John Casey. However, the initiative was soon back with the Fermanagh men with an early point form Ray Gallagher followed by another from Mark Gallagher to give them a two point lead for the first time. P.J. Loftus was introduced for Mayo and by the 48th minute Mayo had reeled Fermanagh back on level terms.

James Horan, who was surprisingly withdrawn and Finnerty combined to set up Tom Reilly for an important point and a foul on Nsstor provided McDonald with the free which levelled the game at 0-6 each.

A typical burst of pace from P.J. Loftus had Mayo back in front by the 50th minute but Rory Gallagher tied the game for the sixth time with eight minutes remaining.

With both Brady and McHale picking up some good ball in the last few minutes Mayo were able to attack in numbers and despite making life very hard for themselves they were able to keep their heads and land the winning scores from McDonald (free) and Finnerty and Reilly combining to set up Dempsey for the match clinching point in injury time.

Mayo: J. Madden, K. Beirne, K. Cahill, D. Flanagan, F. Costello, J. Nallen, K. Connelly, L. McHale, D. Brady, K. O'Neill (0-1); J. Horan, J. Casey (0-1); K. McDonald (0-3); A. Finnerty (0-1); D. Nestor.

Subs; T. Reilly (0-1) for Casey, P.J. Loftus (0-1) for O'Neill, R. Dempsey (0-1) for Horan.

Fermanagh: C. McAdam, T. Callaghan, S. Breen, N. Cox, P. McGrady, M. O'Rourke, K. Gallagher, M. Green, C. Courtney, K. Cassidy, R. Gallagher (0-3); C. Donnelly (0-1); Raymond Gallagher (0-4); M. Gallagher (0-1); S. Kenny.

Subs: B. Carty for Cassidy.

Ref: J., Connoly (Dublin).

Connaught Telegraph - News - February 1996

Connaught Telegraph - Sport - February 1996