Mayo powered their way to their first victory in this year's Allianz League in impressive fashion as All-Ireland champions Kerry slumped to a disappointing defeat at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar.
Kevin McStay’s homeside produced a stunning first-half display where goals from Ryan O’Donoghue and James Carr helped the Westerners to lead by 2-08 to 0-03 at the interval.
Mayo were more solid than spectacular in the second period, but they kept Kerry at arm’s length throughout and consigned the reigning league champions to their second defeat in three games in front of a crowd of 15,726.
Kingdom manager Jack O’Connor brought on David Clifford and Sean O’Shea at the break to try and help to turn the tide, and both made their presence felt on their first appearances of the season.
Clifford shot three points from play and O’Shea landed a beauty as the visitors outscored Mayo by 1-7 to 0-6 in the second period.
Kerry’s goal arrived in the 68th minute from Barry O’Sullivan, but it was far too late to effect the final outcome as Mayo beat their rivals for the first time since the 2019 league final.
It was obvious from an early stage that Mayo were in the mood and they raced into a 1-2 to no score lead after nine minutes.
Ryan O’Donoghue (free) and James Carr (mark) nailed early points before O’Donoghue weaved his way through a porous Kerry backline to hit the net.
Darragh Roche finally opened the visitor’s account soon after, but Mayo continued to lay siege to the opposition goal and well-taken scores from Jordan Flynn and Ryan O’Donoghue (free) were no more than they deserved.
Their second goal arrived on 23 minutes from James Carr, who finished clinically from close-range, and a string of points from player of the match Jordan Flynn, Ryan O’Donoghue (mark) and Diarmuid O’Connor propelled Mayo ahead by 2-7 to 0-2 approaching half-time.
Kerry, who lined out with just six of their starting All-Ireland XV in action, had no answers to the onslaught. They ended 20 minutes without a score when Tony Brosnan pointed in additional time but that effort was cancelled out by another trademark score from the marauding Flynn.
The arrival of Kerry’s dynamic duo — David Clifford and Seán O’Shea — ahead of the start of the second period underlined the seriousness of their team’s situation.
But Mayo got the start to the half that the Kingdom needed as Colm Reape ('45), Jordan Flynn and James Carr all hit the target to push the homeside ahead by 13 points after 42 minutes.
The game was more or less up at that stage for the visitors, but they stuck to their task an d carved out some opportunities that were finished by the aforementioned Clifford (3) and Seán O’Shea (2, one free) as the gap was sliced to nine points.
It was at that stage that Mayo’s rookie goalkeeper, Reape, again stepped up to nail a ‘45 that helped to stem the Kerry tide.
Further scores followed from Donnacha McHugh and Jack Carney in the 64th and 66th minutes to gloss the final scoreline as Mayo’s subs Cillian O’Connor, Jack Coyne and Paddy Durcan (who was making his first appearance of the season) drove their team forward.
The winners were 11 points ahead in the closing stages, and had their first win over Kerry in Castlebar for 15 years well wrapped up.
O’Sullivan’s 68th minute goal and a point from Dara Moynihan did take the lop-sided score off the final scoreline, but the fact remains that Kerry have plenty of work to do before they face Armagh next weekend.
Mayo, on the other hand, will be in good spirits ahead of the visit of Tyrone next Saturday.
Mayo: C Reape (0-2, 2‘45s); D McBrien, R Brickenden, E Hession; S Coen, C Loftus, D McHugh; M Ruane, D O’Connor (0-1); F McDonagh, J Carney, J Flynn (0-4); A O’Shea, J Carr (1-2, 1f), R O’Donoghue (1-3, 2fs, 1 mark).
Subs used: B Tuohy for O’Connor (33); C O’Connor McDonagh (50); J Coyne for Brickenden (50); C McStay for Carr (62); P Durcan for Coen (64).
Kerry: S Murphy; G O’Sullivan, J Foley, T O’Sullivan; P Warren, T Morley, P Murphy; J Barry, B O’Sullivan; D Moynihan, P Clifford, M Burns; T Brosnan (0-1), D Roche (0-2, 1f), D O’Sullivan.
Subs used: D Casey for Warren (HT); S O’Shea (0-2, 1f) for Burns (HT); D Clifford (0-3) for D O’Sullivan (HT); S Okunbar for Roche (55); K Spillane for P Clifford (62).
Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone)
