Gaelic Games

Mayo pull away in extra-time to see off challenge of dogged Derry

Connacht side hit 1-5 in first period of extra-time to put qualifier to bed in Castlebar

Mayo’s Conor Loftus celebrates scoring a goal in the All-Ireland Senior Football Round 2A qualifier against Derry at Machale park in Castlebar. Photograph: Tommy Dickson/Inpho

Sat Jul 1 2017 - 21:15

Mayo 2-21 Derry 1-13 (after extra-time)

There was no shortage of drama as Mayo and Derry needed extra-time to decide who remains in the 2017 championship at MacHale Park in Castlebar.

Having hit 17 wides in normal time, Mayo’s blushes were saved as they kicked on in the first period of extra-time to hit 1-5, the goal coming from Jason Doherty on an evening when Mayo’s bench contributed 2-3 from play and Cillian O’Connor finished on 12 points.

Despite losing Paddy Durcan at the end of the first period of extra-time on a straight red card for an off the ball incident, there was no way back for Derry, who had chances to win this game in normal time but came up short when it came to taking scores at vital stages.

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Mayo went 2-17 to 1-13 ahead at the end of the first period of extra-time, Derry denied a chance of getting back in the hunt when John Kielt’s penalty was saved by David Clarke.

The sides were level at 1-12 apiece at the end of normal time but it looked as if Mayo would finally wear down a stubborn Derry when substitute Conor Loftus scored 1-1 as the game went into injury-time to put Mayo three points ahead. But Derry struck back immediately with a goal from substitute Mark Lynch who got a flick to a centre from Carlus McWilliams to beat Clarke in the Mayo goal.

Mayo still had time to steal it at the death, but Cillian O’Connor’s effort from play came back off the post resulting in extra-time.

An injury-time point from Niall Loughlin edged Derry in front at the break – 0-8 to 0-7 – the sides well-matched in that opening half as Mayo played with a strong wind and had to come from two points adrift on two occasions.

Cillian O’Connor kicked five frees for Mayo and O’Loughlin added four from placed balls for Derry. Both goalkeepers were called into service on just one occasion to keep a clean slate in that opening half which saw Derry’s Conor McAtamey black-carded.

MAYO: D Clarke; B Harrison, G Cafferkey, C Barrett; C Boyle, L Keegan (0-1), P Durcan (0-1); T Parsons, D Vaughan; F Boland, A O'Shea (0-1), S Coen; K McLoughlin (0-1), C O'Connor (0-12, nine frees, one 45), A Moran (0-2).

Subs: D O' Connor (0-1) for Boland (half-time), S O'Shea for Vaughan, J Doherty (1-1), for Coen, C Loftus (1-1) for A Moran (58 mins), D Drake for Harrison (65 mins), C Crowe for Barrett (83 mins), S Nally for Keegan (inj, 85 mins), D Kirby for McLoughlin (87 mins).

DERRY: B McKinless; N Keenan, B Rogers, K McKaigue; C McFaul, S McKaigue, C MacWilliams; C McAtamney, D Heavron (0-1); R Bell (0-3), N Loughlin (0-6, four frees), E Lynn; D Tallon, M McEvoy (0-1), B Heron (0-1).

Subs: E McGuckian for C McAtamney (BC, 34 mins), M Lynch (1-0) for D Tallon (45 mins), J Kielt (0-1) for Bell (60 mins), S McGuigan for E Lynn (66 mins), C Nevin for M McEvoy (74 mins), G O'Neill for Loughlin (84 mins).

Referee: M Deegan (Laois).

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