It was a result that very few people had seen coming, but Cavan upset the odds to blow their group wide open when they stunned the Connacht finalists in Castlebar.
The Breffni men hadn't beaten Mayo in championship football since the All-Ireland Final of 1948, but Raymond Galligan’s side produced an impressive performance and were deserving winners in front of 7,387 spectators.
Even without injured talisman Gearoid McKiernan, and losing both midfielder Barry Donnelly and corner-forward Seán McEvoy during the opening half, Cavan played to their strengths and were cruising to a comfortable win when they led by eight points after 70 minutes.
A late burst from Mayo saw them shoot 1-02 in added time to narrow the margin of defeat, but they were very much second best on the day.
Kevin McStay’s team looked lacklustre and lethargic from the early stages and, despite being expected to bounce back from their recent loss to Galway, they only led by 0-07 to 0-04 at half-time.
Cavan had started the better and led by two points at the end of the first quarter.They could have been further ahead were it not for some wayward shooting.
An unimpressive Mayo eventually opened their account on 18 minutes from a Ryan O’Donoghue free, and further scores arrived from O’Donoghue (2-point free), Stephen Coen (2) and Matthew Ruane to give them a cushion at the break.
That advantage was wiped out just two minutes after the restart when Gerard Smith goaled for Cavan and, buoyed by this score, points followed from the outstanding Cormac O’Reilly and Padraic Faulkner to give the visitors the initiative.
Mayo did respond with a couple of scores from Ryan O’Donoghue (free) and Dylan Thornton to draw level, but the momentum remained with Cavan as their more direct and free-flowing style of football continued to pose problems for the home defence.
Two superb points from Cian Madden and one from Oisin Kiernan restored Cavan’s cushion after 47 minutes, but Mayo stayed in contention thanks to two scores in quick succession from Stephen Coen, who finished the game with four points from his station in defence.
It was at this stage though that a relentless Cavan upped the ante and delivered the decisive match-winning burst, outscoring Mayo by 0-08 to 0-01 during a 20-minute blitz.
With the favourites unable to pick up the pace and put scores on the board, Cavan sensed their opportunity and a two-point score from Oisin Kiernan proved the spark that lit the flame.
Cormac O’Reilly, Dara McVeety, Cian O’Reilly, Brian O’Connell and Cian Madden also raised white flags as Cavan cut loose all over the field and raced into a 1-17 to 0-12 lead.
The introduction of Paddy Lynch off the bench for his first appearance since suffering a cruciate ligament injury last year also galvanised the visitors as they kicked for home.
Mayo sent on Paddy Durcan for his first minutes since last year’s group game against Cavan in an effort to kickstart a revival, but they were unable to put the leaders under any significant pressure.
Points from substitute Fergal Boland and Ryan O’Donoghue (free) came too late to effect the final outcome, and the same could be said of Aidan O’Shea’s goal which arrived deep in additional time.This victory puts the 2020 Ulster champions in a strong position to qualify for the knock-out stages of the championship as they prepare to face Donegal in two weeks’ time.
Mayo, meanwhile, now face an uphill battle to make the business end of the season.
Next up for the Westerners is a trip to Omagh to take on Tyrone.
Key: tp - two-point score; tpf - two-point free; tpm - two-point mark
Mayo: C Reape; J Coyne, D McHugh, S Callinan; S Coen (0-04), D McBrien, E Hession; D Thornton (0-01), M Ruane (0-02); D Neary, J Carney, J Flynn; A O'Shea (1-00), D McHale (0-01), R O'Donoghue (0-05, 2fs, 1tpf).
Subs: F Kelly for Carney (55); P Towey for Neary (58); P Durcan for Hession (59); F Boland (0-01) for Flynn (58); F Irwin for McHale (70).
Cavan: L Brady; C Reilly (0-01), R O'Connell, N Carolan; K Brady, C Brady (0-01), P Faulkner (0-01); B Donnelly, E Crowe; G Smith (1-00), D McVeety (0-01), O Kiernan (0-04, 1tp); C O'Reilly (0-04), R Donohoe, S McEvoy.
Subs: C Madden (0-03, 1f) for Donnelly (14, inj); O Brady for McEvoy (26, inj); P Lynch (0-01) for Donohoe (56); L Fortune for C Brady (68); R O'Neill for O'Reilly (68), L Molloy for Crowe (70) Referee: P Faloon (Down)
