Mayo put one foot in the semi-finals as they saw off the challenge of Cork in Castlebar by 0-12 to 0-07.
Mickey Moran’s men had little difficulty in picking up their fifth straight league win, which sees them remain at the top of the table.
With Conor Mortimer suspended for verbally abusing referee Pat McGovern in a recent Colleges match, Ballintubber’s Alan Dillon proved to be Mayo’s key man – he scored 0-07 (5f) in a classy display.
Cork, who sit second from bottom, were right in contention at the break, just two points behind at 0-05 to 0-07, but the Rebels could only add a point apiece from David Niblock and midfielder Fintan Gould in the second half as they ran out of gas.
Gould traded scores with Andy Moran before recent league debutant Donnacha O’Connor kicked Cork into an eighth-minute lead. Against the breeze, Mayo gradually found their rhythm and they hit five of the next six points to lead by 0-06 to 0-03 by the 23rd-minute.
Peadar Gardiner made full use of some lacklustre marking to score, Dillon fired over three frees and Austin O’Malley was also on target. Kevin O’Sullivan, who top-scored for Cork in the first half with two frees, hit his first after 17 minutes. Dillon took his tally to four just before the break.
Dillon again, James Gill and Ger Brady reeled off points for Mayo early in the second half to strengthen their lead. Niblock, who was put through on goal midway through the half but denied by Mayo netminder John Healy, pointed in reply with Gould also raising a white flag, but the result was beyond doubt at that stage.
Something still up for debate is whether Cork can stave off relegation after their third defeat in four league games. A heavy schedule, over the next three weekends, with their postponed clash with Tyrone sandwiched in between fixtures with Fermanagh and Monaghan will test Billy Morgan’s men to the hilt.
