Mayo continued their impressive start to the new season with a straightforward victory over a disappointing Dublin in front of a large crowd at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar.
Andy Moran's side led from the front from the early stages and a 46th minute goal from Darragh Beirne gave them some breathing space heading into the final quarter as they kept Ger Brennan’s side at arm’s length.
Dublin, who lined out without Con O’Callaghan, were forced to play for the majority of the second half with 14 men after a straight red card for full-back Seán MacMahon just four minutes after the restart, following an off-the-ball incident with Ryan O’Donoghue.
This allowed Mayo the luxury of using substitute Aidan O’Shea in a free role and they managed the game out to record their second successive win in front of an attendance of 15,197.
Dublin also lost Brian Howard to an injury during the opening half with Ethan Dunne and Killian McGinnis also replaced before the break as Ciarán Kilkenny and Seán Bugler both entered the fray.
But the experienced duo were unable to make much headway against a well-organised Mayo defence that was bolstered by the return of captain Jack Coyne and the experienced Paddy Durcan.
The winners outscored their guests by 1-8 to 1-4 in the second period with Ryan O’Donoghue (2), substitute Diarmuid O’Connor, Jack Carney and Jordan Flynn landing the pick of the Mayo scores.Darragh Beirne’s goal came after a mazy run through the Dublin defence and he finished low past Evan Comerford, although there was some debate about the number of steps he took during the build-up.
The Mayo teenager could have had a hat-trick were it not for a couple of fine saves by the aforementioned Dublin goalkeeper. Paddy Small hit the net for the Metropolitans in the 53rd minute with a fine finish, while Cormac Costello also landed an excellent two-pointer.
But Dublin’s only score of the last quarter came in additional time from Seán Bugler.A frantic first half had ended with Mayo leading by 0-10 to 1-5 after both teams had played on the front foot at every opportunity.
The Westerners could have been further ahead, but both Darragh Beirne and James Carr saw their goalbound efforts well saved by Evan Comerford.Andy Moran’s side hit the ground running and raced into an early lead with scores from Sam Callinan and Fergal Boland inside the opening 90 seconds.
But Dublin hit back impressively with a Luke Breathnach goal in the second minute to hit the front for the first time, and they extended their advantage when Cormac Costello drilled over a '45.Mayo were aided by a stiff breeze in the opening half and they harnessed it superbly on two occasions to land a couple of two-pointers from Ryan O’Donoghue and David McBrien.
These orange flags left the locals ahead by 0-07 to 1-02 after a breathless opening 15 minutes.
The second quarter saw both sides cancel each other out as they traded scores three times; Stephen Coen, Fergal Boland and Ryan O’Donoghue (free) on target for Mayo with Killian McGinnis, Paddy Small and Cormac Costello raising flags for the visitors.Both sides were also guilty of missing some gilt-edged scoring chances with Mayo racking up seven wides and Dublin shooting six against the wind.
The game’s big turning point came when Dublin were reduced to 14 men after Seán MacMahon’s dismissal and Mayo took control of the contest from there to the end.
Mayo: R Hennelly; J Coyne, R Brickenden, E Hession; S Callinan (0-02), P Durcan, S Coen (0-01); B Tuohy, D McBrien (0-03, 1tp); J Carney (0-01), R O’Donoghue (0-05, 1tp, 1f), J Flynn (0-01); D Beirne (1-01), J Carr, F Boland (0-02).
Subs: A O"Shea for Durcan; D O’Connor (0-01) for Carr (50); C McHale (0-01, 1f) for Beirne (46); P Towey for Boland (65); D McHugh for Coen (67).
Dublin: E Comerford; E Murchan, S McMahon, D Byrne; C Tyrell, N Doran, C O’Connor; E Dunne, B Howard; K McGinnis (0-01), N Scully, L Breathnach (1-00); P Small (1-01), C Costello (0-05 1tp, 1f, ‘45), J Lundy (0-01).
Subs: C Kilkenny for Dunne (22, inj); K Stephenson for McGinnis (23); S Bugler (0-01) for Howard (33, inj); G McEneaney for Breathnach (60); E Kennedy for Byrne (70).
Referee: M McNally (Monaghan)
