Mayo 0-19 London 2-10:MAYO CAME within minutes of crashing out of the Connacht championship after an inspired London display in Ruislip.
Trailing by two points (1-9 to 0-10) with four minutes to go, points from substitutes Trevor Mortimer and Kevin McLoughlin sent the game into extra-time after a nail-biting final quarter.
Mayo were then forced to endure another scare when Londons Cathal OSullivan punched a goal, but the visitors held on.
“You can make a load of excuses about travelling and the occasion and how it can put players off,” said Mayo manager James Horan. “But London were good today and we were a bit off-kilter.
“They were organised, their fitness looked pretty good, they played with great heart and great commitment and they gave us a real battle. Its only a matter of time before someone gets caught here.
“London were strong and not afraid to take us on up front, but we made it hard for ourselves, missed a penalty and a few things like that, but we came through it and that was the objective coming over.”
London led by three points (1-4 to 0-4) at the interval and the majority of the 4,000 crowd expected Mayo to kick on in the second half with the wind, but their wastefulness continued to hold them back.
A goal from man of the match Paul Geraghty after 20 minutes was key as the Exiles led from the start, right through to the 72nd minute when Andy Moran pointed for Mayo to force extra-time.
“Two minutes to go and two points down, it wasnt looking good,” said Horan. “We played in fits and starts and made an awful lot of wrong decisions, but we stuck at it. Looking ahead to Galway in Castlebar, this form goes out the window.”
MAYO: R Hennelly (0-1, 45); T Cunniffe, A Feeney, D Geraghty; R Feeney, D Vaughan, C Barrett; J Kilcullen, J Gibbons; A Campbell, A Moran (0-7, two frees), A Dillon (0-4); T Howley, A Freeman (0-1), J Doherty (0-1). Subs: A O’Shea for Gibbons, K McLoughlin (0-2) for Campbell (both 43mins), C O’Connor (0-1) for Howley, P Gardiner for Dillon (both 60 mins), T Mortimer for Barrett (67 mins), A Dillon for Doherty (83 mins).
LONDON: E Byrne; B Comer (0-2), M Moloney, D McGreevy; S Doolan, T Gaughan, J Scanlon; D Hagan, S McVeigh (0-1); C McCallion, P Geraghty (1-1), M Gottsche (0-1); K O’Leary, P McGoldrick, E O’Neill (0-2, both frees). Subs: S Kelly for McCallion (31 mins), K Phair (0-2, one free) for McGoldrick (53 mins), J Collins (0-1) for O’Neill (55 mins), C O’Sullivan (1-0) for Hagan (59 mins), N Tuohy for Scanlon (60 mins), C Conneely for Comer (76 mins), M McCoy for Comer (80 mins), L Gavaghan for Kelly (83 mins).
Referee: M Collins (Cork)
Mayo will now meet Galway on June 26th. In the other provincial semi-final, Leitrim host Roscommon on June 12th.
