Mayo may have just missed out on a fourth league final appearance in five seasons by virtue of results elsewhere, but they will take plenty of consolation from this landslide win over their neighbours in Castlebar on Sunday.
Andy Moran’s makeshift side racked up their fifth victory of a very productive campaign with a facile victory over a disappointing Roscommon, who never got to the pace of a one-sided encounter.
An attendance of 9,301 watched the homeside score four goals in the second quarter that set Mayo on their way to victory and they freewheeled to their ninth successive league win over their Connacht rivals.
However, it still wasn’t enough to see them into another league decider as Kerry’s draw with Armagh, coupled with Donegal’s victory over Monaghan, meant that Mayo missed out on a trip to Croke Park next weekend.
Both sides fielded much changed sides from their previous outings and used this match to run the rule over some of their extended squads. Mayo’s selection made maximum use of their opportunity with the likes of debutants Jack Livingstone and Hugh O’Loughlin, newcomers Diarmuid Duffy and Seamus Howard, and experienced duo Tommy Conroy and Cillian O’Connor all showing well.
Colm Neary of Roscommon scores a point
Roscommon, on the other hand, badly missed the experience and quality of the likes of Enda Smith and Ciaran Murtagh, and were unable to make a game of it once the hosts had pulled away by half-time.
Mayo’s four-goal salvo in the opening half had left them 15 points up at the interval.Such a scenario had seemed unlikely when Roscommon attacker Ben O’Carroll buried a goal in the 21st minute to level the match for the third time at 0-05 to 1-02.
Mayo had hit the front thanks to well-taken scores from Aidan O’Shea, Diarmuid Duffy and Cian McHale, but O’Carroll’s clinical finish from close-range left the Rossies on level terms.
But that was as good as it got for the visitors as Mayo cut loose and fired in two goals in less than sixty seconds from Paul Towey and Jack Carney to surge ahead.
Roscommon tried to stay in touch with points from Colm Neary and Shane Cunnane, but their over-worked defence were unable to keep Mayo’s ravenous runners at bay. Ryan O’Donoghue drilled over a two-point free before Jack Carney cut through to fist over to leave nine points between the sides.
Mayo kept the pressure on in the closing stages and the impressive Aidan O’Shea netted in the 36th minute to pile more misery on Roscommon. The homeside’s pace and running power paid off again in added time when the outstanding Sam Callinan galloped through the opposition cover, and was denied a clear goalscoring opportunity by Roscommon defender Caelim Keogh.
Referee Conor Lane duly showed Keogh a black card and Ryan O’Donoghue swept the penalty past Conor Carroll to leave Mayo 15 points ahead when the hooter sounded.
Mayo boss Andy Moran gives instructions
Roscommon shipped six points without reply after the restart while down to 14 players as Jordan Flynn, Michael Plunkett, Aidan O’Shea, Jordan Flynn, Jack Carney and Hugh O’Loughlin all hit the target.
That scoring burst settled the argument although Roscommon did pull a goal back through substitute Eoin Colleran in the 46th minute and battled away valiantly until the bitter end. Daire Cregg kicked four points from play, including a two-pointer, while Jack Duggan also got on the scoresheet.
But these rare moments for Roscommon’s supporters to shout about as Mayo continued to gloss the final scoreline with the pick of their scores coming from substitute Tommy Conroy (2), Jack Coyne, Frank Irwin, David McBrien and a brilliant two-point effort from Cillian O’Connor in added time to put the seal on an emphatic victory.
Mayo: J Livingstone (0-01, ’45); J Coyne (0-01), R Brickenden, D Duffy (0-01); S Callinan, M Plunkett (0-01), H O’Loughlin (0-02); S Howard, D McBrien (0-01); J Carney (1-02), R O’Donoghue (1-04, 1-0pen, 1tpf, 1f), J Flynn (0-03); C McHale (0-03), A O’Shea (1-02), P Towey (1-00).
Subs: C O’Connor (0-02, 1tp) for O’Shea (48); T Conroy (0-02) for Towey (48); F Irwin (0-01) for Howard (54, inj); J MacMonagle for Plunkett (58); K Callaghan for McHale (63); S Morahan for O’Loughlin (65, inj).
Roscommon: C Carroll; T Lambe, E McCormack, N Higgins; C Neary (0-01), C Keogh, R Dolan; S Cunnane (0-01), C Ryan; P Carey, C Hand, C Lennon; B O’Carroll (1-01), D Cregg (0-02, 1tp, 1f), C Heneghan.
Subs: P Frost for Lambe (10, inj); D Kenny (0-01) for Frost (18, inj); E Colleran (1-01) for Heneghan (29); A Brady for Carroll (HT); J Duggan (0-01) for Lennon (47); R Heneghan for Carey (71).
Referee: C Lane (Cork)