Dublin 0-12 Mayo 2-11
MAYO have heaped the misery on Dublin with a historic victory at Croke Park which leaves Dessie Farrell’s men deep in the relegation mire.
The five-point win was Mayo’s first on the road against Dublin in the League since the 1971 semi-final and it was their first ever away win over the Dubs in a round robin fixture in the 96-year history of the competition.
Following losses to Armagh and Kerry already, this defeat means that Dublin have lost three consecutive League games for the first time since 2001, when Farrell was captain of the side.
With four games remaining against Kildare, Tyrone Donegal and Monaghan, Dublin have it all to do to avoid relegation, particularly with three of those games on the road.
From the off, Dublin were wide open defensively as Jordan Flynn fed Diarmuid O’Connor from the throw-in, the Ballintubber man opting for a point from an ever-tightening angle though, briefly, the goal was on.
Matthew Ruane doubled Mayo’s lead but they conceded the initiative to a Dublin side that was looking rather jittery in the opening stages as they searched for their first points of the campaign.
Dublin slowly settled, with Ciaran Kilkenny showing leadership from full-forward, and moved 0-4 to 0-2 clear by the 15th minute with the help of a pair of Dean Rock frees, though Matthew Ruane and Oisin Mullin, making his first appearance since deciding against a career in the AFL, drew Mayo level.
After a Kilkenny mark restored Dublin’s lead, the first big moment of the evening arrived as Mayo struck for the first goal in the 21st minute. O’Connor did brilliantly to hold off Michael Fitzsimons by the Hogan Stand sideline before scooping the ball up and releasing Jack Carney. Evan Comerford saved his shot onto the post but was most unfortunate to see the ball rebound against the back of his head back over the line.
Although Mayo tagged on a point through Aiden Orme, they again relinquished the initiative to Dublin, partly due to an inability to win possession off their own kickout.
A Rock free either side of Ross McGarry points, one of them a mark, drew Dublin level though Mayo struck for their second goal before half-time.
Fitzsimons was found wanting again as he failed to cut out an O’Connor delivery, allowing Orme to play a one-two with Ryan O’Donoghue before palming to the net.
Kilkenny replied with his third of the half though Robert Hennelly brilliantly converted a 45 to leave Mayo with a 2-6 to 0-9 half-time advantage.
The scoring rate dropped in the second half and that suited Mayo as they managed their lead well and extended it without ever being less than three points in front as the Dublin attack failed to land a blow.
Sub Lorcan O’Dell threatened to ignite the Dubs’ challenge with an early second half goal chance but Hennelly pulled off a fine save at the expense of a point having slotted his second 45 of the evening shortly before.
Dublin didn’t trouble the scoreboard for another 15 minutes thereafter, by which time Mayo had pushed five clear through Michael Plunkett and Bryan Walsh and the goal that the Leinster champions needed to salvage something from the game never looked like coming.
Plunkett kicked a fine second point, replied to by John Small, though O’Connor sealed the victory by closing the game with the last score having started it with the first.
Unbeaten Mayo now join Armagh at the top of the Division One table with a tie against the Orchard men next up in Hyde Park next Sunday, while Kildare have a rare opportunity to push Dublin’s faces deeper into the mud in Newbridge.
DUBLIN: Evan Comerford (1-0 OG); Michael Fitzsimons, Sean McMahon, David Byrne; Lee Gannon, John Small (0-1), Sean Bugler (0-1); Brian Fenton, Brian Howard; Ryan Basquel, Niall Scully, Tom Lahiff; Ross McGarry (0-2, 0-1m), Ciaran Kilkenny (0-3, 0-1m), Dean Rock (0-4f).
Subs: Lorcan O’Dell (0-1) for McGarry (40), Jonny Cooper for Basquel (50), Alex Wright for Howard (65), Cian Murphy for Gannon (65), Harry Ladd for Scully (70+2).
MAYO: Rob Hennelly (0-2, 0-1 ‘45’, 0-1f); Lee Keegan, Rory Brickenden, Michael Plunkett (0-2); Oisin Mullin (0-1), Stephen Coen, Donnacha McHugh; Matthew Ruane (0-2), Jordan Flynn; Bryan Walsh (0-1), Diarmuid O’Connor (0-2), Jack Carney; Paul Towey, Ryan O’Donoghue, Aiden Orme (1-1).
Subs: Kevin McLoughlin for Carney (49), Conor Loftus for Towey (49), Enda Hession for Mullin (60), Aidan O’Shea for Ruane (62), Fergal Boland for O’Donoghue (65).
REFEREE: David Gough (Meath).
