Conor Mortimer's accuracy from play and placed balls powered Mayo to a deserved two-points win over a gallant Galway side at Markievicz Park yesterday.
Last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists had to pull out all the stops before disposing of their opponents in a tense finish. Points by Edmond Barrett and Mortimer in the 56th and 58th minutes sealed victory.
Galway had their chance to forge ahead when Brian Connelly levelled the scores, 0-8 each, in the 55th minute, but Mayo's two unanswered late points sealed victory.
Mayo pointed first after four minutes of the first half when Mortimer converted a free-kick before Emmet Killeen equalised two minutes later. The Galway goal had a lucky let-off four minutes before half-time when Paul Carey blazed the ball wide across the face of the goal.
A last-gasp goal-line clearance by a Mayo defender denied Emmet Killeen after Matthew Clancy broke from the centre of the field as half-time approached. Clancy brought Galway level in the 39th minute and the Oughterard player squared the match again after 52 minutes.
MAYO: D Clarke; R Keane, R Walsh, D Geraghty; D Costello, E Devenney, C Moran; E Barrett (0-2), A Bourke; P Prenty, C Mortimer (0-8), J Morrin; P Carey, A Dillon, A Moran. Subs: S Lindsay (0-1) for Morrin, Geraghty for A Moran (51 mins), J Nally for Prenty (74 mins).
GALWAY: B Donoghue; C Monaghan, R Murray, M Comer; T Giblin, D Blake (0-1), J Faherty; P Geraghty, B Connelly (0-1); M Connaughton, M Clancy (0-4), M Killilea; E Killeen (0-3), B O'Callarain, M Geraghty. Subs: M Meehan for Connaughton (50 mins), D Keane for Giblin (57 mins).
Referee: G McGovern (Leitrim).
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)