Old posts

FBD League Match Reports

Students see off Mayo with late Ronaldson Goal

NUIG 2- 09
Mayo 0-14
Goals win games and with 32 minutes and a bit minutes ticking by on Roscommon referee Declan Hunt’s watch Shurle corner forward Mark Ronaldson grabbed the decisive score in this first round FBD League clash in Ballinrobe.
The students were looking dead on their feet as John O’Mahony’s switches in the second half looked to have put the home side in the driving seat after an in different first half from the 2006 All Ireland finalists. The pitch in Flanagan Park was in remarkably good condition after the recent weather conditions as both sides went about their business in a less than 100 per cent fashion, but the closeness of the contest made sure there was enough excitement to keep the crowd entertained right up until the final minute on a bitterly cold day right up until Crossmolina’s Brian Benson was unable to arc his kick exactly to land the equalising point with the last breath of the contest.

NUIG who are deep in preparation for upcoming colleges action will be pleased with the win and over the 70 minutes laid down marker for their opponents in the next few weeks with a fine display of free taking from Sean Armstrong, David Conway and Paul Broderick. All three landed numerous placed ball’s from a variety of angles and distances, punishing any sloppy fouling inside their opponents half.
That being said Roscommon whistle man Declan Hunt was very whistle friendly over the course of the contest which was stop start from the offset with every minor indiscretion being called back by the man in black.

Matthew Clancy opened the scoring for the college on one minute with a driven point from 40 yards out, this was quickly cancelled out by John Prenty point after he was played in by Mickey Mullins. Armstrong tacked on two points for NUIG from placed balls inside the next eight minutes as both sides tried to strangle their way into superiority. With 12 minutes on the clock David Conway extended their lead from another free kick. Mayo were struggling to get into the contest as the experimental side tried to get used to playing with each other. Austin O’Malley had two efforts go wide before he finally got on the score sheet on 18 minutes with a free from 35m out.
The first major of the game arrived a minute later when Jeff Farrell shook off Billy Joe Padden to claim the ball in the danger area, Tom Higgins in the Mayo goal was out quick to close down the angles. Farrell laid it back to David Conway who was adjudged to have been fouled by Keith Higgins as he attempted to shoot. Armstrong calmly struck the ball past Higgins to leave the University leading by 1-5 to 0-2. Mayo were able to tack on two points before the turn around from James Gill and Alan Dillon to leave them trailing by four points at the turnaround.

Mayo tried to change things around at the break and introduced U21 player Seamus O’Shea into the midfield in place of Richard Haran with James Gill moving to the wing forward position. Austin O’Malley struck the first minor of the half from a free five minutes in and was quickly followed up by a point on the run from James Gill. The College got their first score of the half through Carlow player Paul Broderick on nine minutes. As the weather began to slowly get worse Brian Benson and Sean Armstrong exchanged points from play before a quick swap of points from frees by O’Malley and Conway kept NUIG up by four points at the three quarter stage of the contest.

At this juncture Mayo took the game by the scruff of the neck and O’Malley hit two quick fire points before Pear Gardiner was able to clip the ball over the bar from near the end line and the impressive Alan Dillon who was moved to the full forward line and swung over a solid point to put the home side into the lead for the first time in the contest with ten minutes left on the clock. Mayo were unable to capatilese on their lead and seven minutes later Sean Armstrong hit an effort for a point that dropped short, Tom Higgins in the Mayo goal was unable to gather the ball and it dropped to the foot of the onrushing Ronaldson who finished the ball to the back of the net.
Pear Gardiner hit a point back for Mayo, but NUIG went back up the park and Sean Armstrong landed another free for his side to seal the win for the students.

NUIG: L. Grant; P. Healy, S. Drake; C. Barrett, G. Bradshaw, P. Domican; D. Duffy, B. Guckian; P. Broderick, M. Clancy, S. Armstrong; j. Connellan, J. Farrell, D. Conway Subs: M. Ronadlson, D. Gavigan, G. Warde, C. Healy, J. Healy

Mayo: T. Higgins; C. Moran, BJ Padden, T. Howley; C. Cafferkey, L. O’Malley, K. Higgins; P. Gardiner, J. Gill; R. Haran, A. Dillon, M. Mullins; B. Benson, A.O’Malley, J. Prenty. Subs: S. O’Shea, A. Higgins.

Ref: Declan Hunt

Mayo take pass grade against Sligo IT

Connacht FBD League Rd 2

Mayo 1-12

IT Sligo 1-6

In Charlestown

John O’Mahony may say that he is using the FBD league as an extension of the trials for new players, but it was one of the old guard who lead his side to a six point win over IT Sligo in Charlestown yesterday. He may still be only 25 but Alan Dillon has become one of the veterans of Mayo’s quest to claim an All Ireland title, the venerable Ballintubber man has played in countless All Ireland finals, in every grade from minor to senior and in schools competitions only ever picking up a solitary vocational schools inter-county winners medal in all those show piece occasions. But yesterday he showed once again why he is worth his weight in gold to Mayo, by bagging five points and leading the forward line superbly.

Micheal Mullins was given his second start in as many weeks in the corner forward slot and really staked a claim for an extended run in the side when the national league comes around next month. He tackled hard, chipped in with two points one supreme slice from a 45 (an area Mayo have struggled in ever since Maurice Sheridan hung up his boots) and his lightning break on 40 mins saw him earn Mayo a penalty when the goal truly belonged to him. In the other corner Brian Benson chipped in with 1-2 and put in solid 70 minutes work for the day, while in the half forward line James Gill was busy and bustling breaking up play and supporting both defence and attack when needed. Achill’s Donal Corrigan was a late replacement for Richard Harren and although he left the action at half time having scored a point from a free, overall the islander looked a little lightweight and out of sorts at this level of comptition.

Austin O’Malley was given his chance to impress once again this time from the marquee number eleven slot, the Louisburgh man who has undoubted ability on the ball, just seems to never make it happen when the chance is given to him (exp: the 2005 QF v Kerry). He’s far from guilty of not trying, he ran himself ragged all day, but it’s so frustrating to watch him work a good position and take too much out of the ball. He opened the scoring with his only score of the day on seven minutes and even with that point, he had worked an easier shooting position only to keep the ball to long and force himself to shoot under pressure.

Peadar Gardiner lined out at mid-field once again, this time partnered by Seamus O’Shea from Breaffy. While he’s not going to line out in the middle come championship time, he could quite easily be deployed as a third midfielder come June 22. This was O’Shea’s second weekend getting a run in the side, he looked far from in top fittness and was slow to the breakdown often trailing behind his man, while he has been out since mid-july with a series of nagging injuires he’ll be keen to pick up his game if given the oppertunity against Roscommon on Sunday. Shane Nallen got the not to play between the sticks yesterday and he’ll be having nightmares about what happened in the 50th minute, Mark Gordon shot for a point which dropped short, Nallen decided to catch it in his chest rather than to come and attack the ball, however when he landed he stepped back over the line and brought the students back within two points of Mayo. In the full back line Aidan Higgins did as he does, while Billy Joe was solid but is not going to be a realistic full back come June, while John Brogan battled hard and showed that he’s well worth and extended look. Trevor Howley looked a lot more at home in the center half back berth on and powered his way to the ball a number of times.

The first half was a story of two half’s, it took seven minutes for the first score to be registered from Austin O’Malley but by the 18th minute Mayo were 0-5 to 0-1 up with the other points coming from Corrigan, Benson and a brace of Dillon free’s the IT Sligo score came from an Alan Costello free. The Balla man put in a solid display and would have been keen to impress the Mayo management ahead of the the NFL. The IT worked their way back into the game and at the break Mayo led by 0-6 to 0-3, with Mayo’s final point of the half coming from Billy Joe Padden after a break up field, the third level side hit back with a brace of points from Enda Kenny.

The second half started with Dillon and Rory O’Connor swapping points and then on six minutes Seamus O’Shea blocked down the ball to set off Brian Benson who clipped it into Mullins who turned on the pace and burst towards goal, skipping around his club-mate Alvin McCallig in the IT Sligo goal only to see his goal bound effort illegaley stopped on the line by a IT Sligo defender. Benson dispatched the penalty and from then on it was plain sailing for Mayo with the only slip coming from Nallen to allow IT Sligo back into the game, but quick reply from Dillon saw the lead kept to three points and allowed Mayo to tack on four more before the final whistle.
Mayo:Shane Nallen; John Brogan, Billy Joe Padden, Aidan Higgins; David Geraghty, Trevor Howley, Keith Higgins; Peadar Gardiner, Seamus O’Shea; James Gill, Austin O’Malley, Donal Corrigan; Michael Mullins, Alan Dillon, Brian Benson. Subs: James Kilcullen for O’Shea, O’Shea for Corrigan.

IT Sligo: Alvin McCallig; Eunan Hegarty, Gary Reynolds, Cillian Bane; Shane Molloy, Colm Boyle, Michael Killelaa; Rory O’Connor, Tom Parsons; Francis Quinn, Jamie Murphy, Alan Costello; Aidan McTigue, Enda Kenny, Mark Gordon. Subs: Adrian McManamon fo Costello, Ciaran Kelly for Enda Kenny, Tomas O’Reilly for Shane Molloy.

Ref: Gerry Kinneevey (Galway)

Mayo see off Ross with fine win, but hit 17 wides in the process
FBD League Round 3

Mayo 2-14

Roscommon 2-8

In the good/bad old day’s of the late to mid nineties under John Maughan Mayo would gobble up the possession but put the ball wide as many times as they found the target. Yesterday it was as if the sight of the Crossmolina man in the opposing dugout sparked that sort of shooting in the brains of the Mayo 15 who took to the field. By half time Mayo had eight wides to go with their 1-6 on the scoreboard and 35 minutes later they had added on another nine past the post with their 1-8 to hit the target.

Not that it was all doom and gloom for Mayo with Alan Dillion hitting seven points, four from play, but he hit as many wides in the process, James Gill continued his good run of form since getting his chance to impress once again and clipped in four points for the day. Peadar Gardiner continued his role in the middle third and was busy all afternoon and a season as a roaming wing forward Brian Dooher could be in the offing. Seamus O’Shea also continued his run alongside Peadar Gardiner in the middle of the park and the Breaffy man claimed some good ball’s in the air and battled gamely against Seamus O’Neill for the afternoon.

On a down note though Mayo fans were given a vision of what could happen latter in the summer unless a specialist full back is found, twice in the second half a diagnol ball into the full back line and despite his best efforts, cleared Billy Joe Padden’s hands and gave Ross two goal scoring chances. Mayo’s first goal was one of the most bizzare your bound to see all year, Brian Benson hit a effort that was tailing wide as everyone thought expect for Michael Mullins. The Claremorris attacker managed to claim the ball before it crossed the end line and turned to find Mark Miley in the Roscommon goal with another ball in his hand ready for the kick out and had the easy task of finishing to the unguarded net. It was Mullins who hit the best point of the day right at the end of the contest. Seamus O’Shea claimed the ball in the air, fed it to Austin O’Malley who took it on the turn and slipped it back to a breaking Keith Higgins who swung the ball wide to Mullins who on the turn clipped it over the bar to end a fine move.

Mayo: Shane Nallen; Conor Moran, Billy Joe Padden, Liam O’Malley; David Geraghty, Trevor Howley, Colm Cafferkey; Seamus O’Shea, Peadar Gardiner (0-1); James Gill (0-4), Austin O’Malley, Alan Dillon (0-7); Michael Mullins (1-1), Enda Varley (0-1), Brian Benson (1-0). Subs: Keith Higgins for Geraghty, James Kilcullen for Benson, Aidan Higgins for Cafferkey.

Roscommon:Mark Miley; Michael King, Anthony McDermott, Adrian Murtagh; John Tiernan, David O’Gara, David Flanagan; Marc O’Carroll, Michael Finneran; Karol Mannion (0-1), Frankie Dolan (0-2), Seamus O’Neill; Senan Kilbride (0-1), Jonathan Dunning (2-1), Ross Nolan (0-1). Subs: Conor Devanney for Mannion, James McKeage for King; Robbie Kelly for Dolan, John Collins for O’Gara.

Ref:M. Duffy (Sligo)

NFL Division One Reports

Allainz NFL Round 1

Derry see off Mayo with first half blitz

The headline on the sports section of Saturday’s Irish Times said it all, “Redemption starts here.” While that may have been in relation to the Irish rugby side, for Mayo fans it might have well as been written about their side. While all the dress rehearsals threw up plenty for Mayo men and women to talk about before the first real showdown of the new year, everyone new that challenge that Derry were going to put in front of Mayo is nothing like they have faced since their last day out in a wet Celtic Park last summer.
And it was another wet day that greeted the Mayo faithful as they passed into the town alongside the Foyle in the early evening. Supporters huddled alongside each other for shelter and by the time John Bannon blew his half time whistle wished they’d taken the wiser course of action and stayed at home on the wet early February day. The first 35 minutes of action saw Derry lead by 1-8 to 0-2 with Paddy Bradley landing four points, three from placed balls from a variety of positions and distances from goal, Ciaran Mullin clipped over another brace and Colin Devlin finished the first major of the game on 18 minutes when Mayo lost the ball as they tried to break the tackle coming out of defence and the ball ended with Ciaran Mullan breaking through free on goal and drawing the last defender before playing in Devlin who fired low past David Clarke in the Mayo goal.
Mayo’s first point came from Andy Moran who was full of endeavour in the full forward line and was finally rewarded on 13 minutes when he clipped the ball over the bar from 20 or so yards out. Prior to that Conor Mortimer who showed ring rustiness despite his participation in the O’Byrne Cup with DCU hit a very kickable free wide on six minutes and then one into the hands of John Deighan in the Derry Goal on ten minutes. Mayo’s final score of the first half came on 31 minutes when Austin O’Malley picked and bore down on goal and fired an effort for a three pointer which was too high and blasted over for a point.

If the Mayo faithful weren’t questioning their decision to head to this match earlier in the evening as they zipped through the open wilderness of Donegal, they must have been at the turnaround. Half time saw the first of the changes being rung with David Heaney and Tom Cunniffe coming on for Conor Moran and James Gill, with Heaney going to midfield and Peadar Gardiner taking up and attacking/third midfielder role, while Cunniffe slotted back into the back three line. The half started brightly with Moran hitting his second point after Conor Mortimer spotted him free and played a quick ball into his path, Alan Dillon pointed a minute later and Mortimer finally got on the board three minutes later from another placed ball that swung in just at the right time. As Mayo began to push and could smell a comeback in the Foyleside air, they got hit by a sucker punch of goal. A quick downfield break which included much of the Derry attack, ended up with Mark Lynch and Colin Devlin exchanging passes before Lynch slotted it home. Bad news for Mayo emerged in the aftermath of the goal when Billy Joe Padden was forced out of the action due to injury, which meant David Heaney was forced to fall back to default and fill in at full back. But Mayo rather than fall apart battled gamely on and on 24 minutes got their own goal when a long range free from Alan Dillon dropped short and Conor Mortimer was on hand to toe poke it to the back of the net, he then swung the ball over from a tight position on the right hand side, up to this point most of the people in the crowd were wondering why he was still on the pitch as his influence had been minimal up to that. Chris Barrett clipped over Mayo’s second last point on 32 minutes and Mickey Mullins finished the show off on 38, but it was to little to late as the Oak leaf county held on for the win and the points.

Mayo: D. Clarke; C. Moran, BJ Padden, L. O’Malley; C. Barrett, T. Howley, K. Higgins; S. O’Shea, P. Gardiner; J. Gill, A. Dillon, M. Mullins; C. Mortimer, A. O’Malley, A. Moran Subs: T. Cunniffe, T. Parsons, D. Heaney.

Derry: J. Deighan; R. Dillon, F. McEldowney, K. McGuckian; L. Hinphey, M. MacBride, J. Keenne; F. Docherty, J Conway; M. Lynch, B. McCormack, E. Muldoon; C. Devlin, P. Bradley, C. Mullan. Subs: R. Wilkson, C. O’Keane, M. McIvor

Ref: John Bannon (Longford)

Allianz National Football League Round 2

Mayo crash to late McGee sucker punch

Donegal 2-11
Mayo 0-16

Lessons learned in Spring will hopefully see that come the cut and thrust of summer action alternate outcomes arrive. When Aidan Kilcoyne somehow managed to keep a clearing punt in play on the stand side of McHale Park with 75 odd minutes gone in this clash, he had the winning of the game in his hands. The Knockmore cut a thrust goal-wards and had the option to play in Conor Mortimer to lay-up, over the bar, but the DIT student decided to take it on himself, however he got right under his shot and ballooned it high and to the right of the post. Michael Boyle in the Donegal goal collected the ball and set in motion the attack that would lead to Eamon McGee’s pile-driver winning goal. Kilcoyne is not to blame for this second loss of the league for John O’Mahony, but it just shows the thin line there can be between defeat and failure, even in a game that you look to have done all the right things to win it.

Winning home games was always going to be important for Mayo this year in the new structured division one of the Allianz National Football league, with only Galway and Kerry left to come to McHale Park over the Spring, division two football could be a real possability for the third year of O’Mahony’s three year plan. Mayo though looked for large parts of the game to have most of the boxes checked, Conor Mortimer looked rejuvinated and revitalized and on 45 minutes he hit one of those great scores you don’t see every week. James Gill, who was strong and athletic throughout, drove the ball into Mortimer’s corner, and the Shrule-Glencorrib man let it hop past his body, before in one fell swoop collecting and striking it over the bar on the run without ever looking it up. It was great score to cap a very productive afternoon for a man who hasn’t been shining to bright for Mayo this year up to this game. When Mayo were dominant in this contest was when both Mortimer and Andy Moran were being hit with quality balls into the corners as the Mayo two man full forward line had the Donegal back line in all manner of problems. Karl Lacey started on Moran as Donegal percieved him to be the bigger threat going on form so far this year, but Mortimer gave Paddy McDaid a good run around before Lacey was sent over to cover the Mayo number 13 twenty minutes in. Mayo weren’t having it all their own way as 25 minutes into the game Tom Cunniffe was summoned ashore after a he was put through the miller by Colm McFadden and Ryan Bradley, with David Heaney coming on to replace him.

With a quarter of an hour gone in the game Mayo lead by 0-6 to 0-3 with Mortimer hitting four points (three frees) and James Gill and Andy Moran chipping in with others. The Donegal scores all coming from the boot of McFadden. Mayo were enjoying the early spring sun and had a pep in their step at this stage and by the 22nd minutes had their lead stretched out to five points (0-10 to 0-5), Alan Dillon (twice), Keith Higgins and Conor Mortimer raising the white flag. Higgins could have grabbed a goal when he put on the afterburners to break up field and finish off a move that involved Austin O’Malley and Andy Moran. McFadden continued to fight the good fight for the visitors clipping over a free and one from play to cling on to the coattails. The half time interval had Mayo going in leading by four on a score-line of 0-11 to 0-7, with Austin O’Malley scraping the clouds for his solitary point of the day and Ryan Bradley getting in on the action for Donegal with two points before the turnaround.
Mayo started the second half as they finished the first with a flourish, Keith Higgins showed his turn of pace once again to slalom through the Donegal back line and pop over his second of the day and give Mayo a five point lead, but five minutes later Donegal made sure the game would be back in the melting. A long ball was pumped down field and Billy Joe Padden wasn’t able to win it in the air and David Walsh collected the loose size five before hand passing it across goal where Ryan Bradley palmed the ball to the back of the net, closing the gap to two points.
Mayo responded well to this strike and Alan Dillon and Conor Mortimer hit two points to put them four ahead and chasing the wind, Donegal though were at this stage winning he midfield battle comprehensively with Tom Parsons and James Gill be more than handled by Neil Gallagher and Kevin Rafferty. David Walsh clipped over a brace and McFadden found his range again as the lead was cut to two with four minutes left on Michael Duffy’s watch. But when Tom Parsons was able to fire over from distance after being played in by Chris Barrett, the game seemed safe for Mayo. McFadden from another free closed the gap to two once again, and when Chris Barrett was given his marching orders for his second booking in a matter of minutes it was backs to the wall for Mayo. But Donegal had other ideas, McGee unleashed a powerful shot past Shane Nallen from 25 yards out, it was one of those goals that you could see coming the longer that Donegal were able to play keep ball in front of the Mayo posts. Such was the power that McGee hit the shot with there was little that Nallen who in the first half pulled off a fine save from a penalty from McFadden could do about it. So two out of two are chalked down in the loss column for the year so far, it’ next stop Portlaoise on Saturday night in a fortnight, where a win really is a must.

Mayo: Shane Nallen; Tom Cunniffe, Billy Joe Padden, Liam O’Malley; Chris Barrett, Trevor Howley, Keith Higgins (0-2); Seamus O’Shea, Peadar Gardiner; James Gill (0-2), Alan Dillon (0-3), Michael Mullins; Conor Mortimer (0-6), Austin O’Malley (0-1), Andy Moran (0-1). Subs: David Heaney, Tom Parsons (0-1), Aidan Kilcoyne, Trevor Mortimer

Donegal: Michael Boyle; Karl Lacey, Neil McGee, Paddy McDaid; Kevin Cassidy, Eamonn McGee (1-0), Frank McGlynn; Neil Gallagher, Kevin Raffetry; Christy Toye, David Walsh (0-2), Brian Roper; Colm McFadden (0-7), Ryan Bradley (1-2), Kevin McMenamin. Subs: Martin McElhinney, Barry Monaghan, Kenneth Doherty, Leo McLoone

Allianz National Football League Division OneMayo get a point on the board after wet nights entertainment.

Mayo 1-13
Laois 1-13

The couple of hundred of Mayo die hards who made their way to Portlaoise on Saturday night were left with plenty to hum over as the faced their car’s for Tullamore and then home at half eight on Saturday night.
Out went Shane Nallen and Seamus O’Shea from the Donegal mugging  a fortnight back with David Clarke coming back in and David Heaney and James Gill making the mid-field partnership with Peadar Gardiner moving out to number ten.  With both sides looking to get their first points on the board and the threat for relegation a reality for both this was a must win game for both. Mayo kicked off brightly with Austin O’Malley clipping a point over the bar on 18 seconds after he was on the end of a quick move from the throw in involving James Gill and David Heaney. Two minutes later Billy Joe Padden launched the ball long a unmarked Austin O’Malley, the Louisburgh man was able to pick out Andy Moran who bore down on goal. Rather than take it on himself, he passed off to Alan Dillon who was in a better position and the Ballintubber play-maker rounded Michael Nolan in the Laois goal only to blast his shot at a defender on the line with the goal gapping. The resulting rebound fell to Conor Mortimer who skewed his effort the wrong side of the post. Michael Tierney leveled the game up on four minutes when he popped over a free from the the 14 yard.
A Conor Mortimer free put Mayo back in the lead on seven minutes and 60 seconds later, Andy Moran had Mayo’s second goal chance of the opening stages when the was able to slip the shackles of his man and drove a low shot towards goal which was saved by Michael Nolan with his legs.
Colm Parkinson leveled the game up on nine minutes, when he was set up by Ross Munnelly. The Town star was able to hold off Tom Cunniffe and cut inside before fisting the ball over the bar.  Alan Dillon who was forced off injured midway through the half restored the Mayo lead when he shimmed and shaped out on the left wing to make room to curl over a fine point with his right boot, this was quickly followed by James Gill bisecting the posts with an effort off the outside of the boot. Tierney kept up his good scoring form with his second point on 16 minutes and two minutes later Conor Mortimer scored a fine point from an almost impossible angle out on the end-line. On 20 minutes  Brendan Quigley showed for the first time the problems  he could cause when a high ball was boomed towards goal and when it broke into open play Tom Cunniffe picked off the turf and Tierney pointed from the resulting 13 meter free.
Ross Munnelly got in on the scoring act when he cut a dash on the left wing and sliced the ball over the bar on 22 minutes to bring the proceedings back to parity and a minute later Colm Kelly put the home side into the lead with a good first time effort from out on the wing.  The lead lasted a whole two minutes before Peadar Gardiner was able to direct the ball between the posts from 30 meters out. The conditions were difficult on the evening and as the rain continued to spill down Laois worked the ball over and back the 50 meter line until Ross Munnelly was able to find some space to hit the 15th  point of a high scoring half. Michael Mullins made it eight a piece from a free kick and with four minutes left in the half, Mayo’s problem’s at full back were exposed when the ball was pumped long and high into the Laois full forward line and Brendan Quigley and Billy Joe Padden contested the ball, the ball broke to Quigley who used his strength and size to shake off the defender and drill it low past Clarke and put his side three points to the good at the break.

Aidan Kilcoyne was introduced for Michael Mullins at the break, with McGarrity having replaced Conor Moran just before it. The second half started just like the first with Austin O’Malley winning his first ball before shaping and shooting over the bar to cut the gap to two. Michael Tierney hit back soon after for Laois after Mayo were penalized for the second time for picking the ball off the ground in a dangerous area and he extended the lead a few minutes later when he popped over another placed ball.  Aidan Kilcoyne linked well with Trevor Mortimer (who came on for Dillon in the first half) before the DIT student cut a fine effort over the bar. It was all level ten minutes into the half, Andy Moran cut a thrust down the end line and played a dangerous ball across the face of the goal which looked to have been cleared to safety only for Rory Hickey to, blow on his whistle and spread his arms to award a penalty after he spotted the Trevor Mortimer had been illegally halted as he tired to get to Moran’s pass. Andy Moran stepped up and sent the ball low to the left corner of the net to make it 1-9 to 1-9. Quigley put the blue and whites back into the lead on 12 minutes when he chased a no hope ball to the end line and clipped over a fine score from a tight angle, O’Malley leveled it up for Mayo after some barreling work by Trevor Mortimer and it was nip and tuck from then on with Mayo taking the lead then Laois leveling and  vica versa for the next ten minutes.  Mayo took what looked to be a winning lead on 29 minutes when Austin O’Malley was able to pluck the ball from the air and shoot over on the turn, only for Tierney to level it up after Keith Higgins fouled Quigley close to goal with three minutes left on the clock.
There was still time for Laois to have one last chance of winning it when the ball fell to Kevin Meaney on 14 yard line and he swiped at his effort on the deck and skewed it wide with the goal at his mercy. Still a point each was a fair result from a game that what it lacked on quality, with both sides guilty of numerous elementary mistakes, it made up for on excitement and both teams join Tyrone on a point each from three games.

Mayo: David Clarke; Tom Cunniffe, Billy Joe Padden, Liam O’Malley; Conor Moran, Trevor Howley, Keith Higgins; David Heaney, James Gill; Peadar Gardiner, Alan Dillon, Michael Mullins; Conor Mortimer, Austin O’Malley, Andy Moran. Subs: Ronan McGarrity, Aidan Kilcoyne, Trevor Mortimer, Kieran Conroy.

Laois: Michael Nolan; Cahir Healy, Darren Rooney, Aidan Fennelly; Peter O’Leary, John O’Loughlin, Pauric McMahon; Padraig Clancy, Kevin Meaney; Ross Munnelly, Colm Kelly, Billy Sheehan; Michael Tierney, Brendan Quigley, Colm Parkinson. Subs: David Murphy, Brian McCormack, Paul Lawlor, Brian McDonald