Mayo stay on track as Sligo stutter and run out of steam

A stuttering afternoon in the Holmes revolution but Mayo fever is still rampant in the west. Sligo travelled to Castlebar still shivering from those I Know What You Did Last Summer horror memories and played with enough dash and spirit to merit at least a draw.

They had their hosts on the rack for the opening half-hour and had they finished the series of goal chances they so prettily manufactured during that dominant period, it is doubtful that Mayo would have had enough depth to recover. As it was, Pat Holmes had to dig deep into the reserves to patch up his team.

With David Brady a mid-term casualty, the home team failed to command the type of centrefield superiority they so often enjoy. The National League champions started the afternoon with so many of the new names that had led that winter charge and some, most notably forwards Marty McNicholas and Stephen Carolan, cemented their reputations.

But Mayo also depended heavily on some figures associated with the heartbreak days of the last decade. The elegant Maurice Sheridan appeared after half-time and implacably chipped four placed-balls and a point from play to erode Sligo's lead.

Crossmolina's own, the talismanic Kieran McDonald, was presented after just 23 minutes, a dramatic response to worrying times. His contribution was mixed. During Sligo's purple period, he demanded a fresh ball from the sideline before firing an extravagant wide onto the terrace in front of the bacon factory. It was a moment the visiting hordes lustily savoured.

Three more wides followed before the forward stepped up and nailed an impudent point after 57 minutes to give Mayo their first lead on a score of 1-9 to 1-8. The old ground rattled wildly with belief for the first time.

It was Sligo's response to that score that they ought to focus on the training ground next week as opposed to missed glories. The visiting side showed fine character in not melting at that stage. It was appropriate that Dessie Sloyane nailed the next two points, haring on to a ball from Keiran Quinn to level the scores and then hammering a point from distance. The Easkey man ran the Mayo backs ragged all afternoon. Both Alan Roache and Tom Nallen found life in his company vexing.

In a way, Sloyane's day was emblematic of his team. He was consistently sharpest, willing and inventive but spurned a wonderful goal chance after 26 minutes, firing a low shot wide of the exposed Peter Burke. His colleague, Paul Taylor, also had a fine match but whipped a penalty wide on the stroke of half-time. And just 11 minutes in, Burke forced a fine save off the lion-hearted Eamon O'Hara, who was sent into clear ground by Rory Brennan.

Sligo were all over Mayo during that first period. Paul Durcan and Rory Brennan eclipsed their opponents at midfield, the visiting half-back trio stone-walled Mayo and young Philip Gallagher had a storming debut for the visitors.

Mayo's defence was distinctly edgy from the first minute, when Sean Davey deceived the entire stadium with a 25metre effort that stopped in the corner of Peter Burke's net. In 20 minutes, five of the six Sligo attackers had scored. Mayo at times seemed intent on compounding their problems with poor distribution.

After 20 minutes, Noel Connelly thundered downfield but his stray delivery saw Sligo sweep upfield before Taylor deftly pointed to leave it at 1-4 to 0-2. Perhaps this period was Sligo's time to burst for home. Instead, Mayo clung on and, on 30 minutes, Trevor Mortimer lobbed a long free, Carolan glanced on and Tom Nallen coolly collected the break and drilled a reviving goal.

"That was just inspirational for us," reflected Marty McNicholas afterwards. "Tom just burst through and finished it beautifully. It was an important score for us because we were struggling then." It was the half-chink Mayo had waited for.

After the break, they were a steelier proposition. Kevin Cahill and James Nallen became increasingly central to proceedings and Sligo's lead was preserved through three frees questionably awarded against the home defence.

But Sheridan clinically balanced the slate and McNicholas launched an inspirational point with 19 minutes remaining. Fergal Costello and Pat Fallon also featured strongly as Mayo closed in and McDonald was lively around the field.

As a match, this flowered briefly in the final quarter, with both teams sparking simultaneously. McNicholas floated a score after 62 minutes to restore Mayo's lead but Sligo gallantly came again, with McPartland working wonders on a fine pass from Gallagher. Now 1-11 each and six minutes remaining.

Mayo came hunting again and Nallen combined with Sheridan before Stephen Carolan found his range. That point, surprisingly, ended the scoring. Fallon, McDonald and Sheridan kept the nerves iced with late misses but Sligo were spent.

"We had problems," said Pat Holmes afterwards. "It could have been all over in the first half, they were hungrier than us, they seemed to be first on the ball. We got it together a little bit in the second half and one or two players pulled it out for us."

It was far from a glowing performance here in the heartland of the eternally optimistic. Roscommon present a difficult reckoning for Mayo as they prepare for the Connacht final but the path to Croke Park, where the westerners have a perfect record this century, remains straight and true.

Mayo - 1-12, M Sheridan 0-5, 4 frees; M McNicholas 0-4, one 45; T Nallen 10; S Carolan 0-2; K McDonald 0-1.

Sligo - 1-11 P Taylor 0-4, 3 frees; D Sloyane 0-4, 2 frees; S Davey 1-0; J McPartland 0-2; E O'Hara 0-1.

Attendance: 15,000 (est)

Referee: P Russell (Tipperary)