Ten weeks on from their last competitive outing, we wondered how Mayo would fare against a Galway side that surely had thoughts of ending a recent losing sequence against their neighbours? Mayo stood up quite well actually to book their place in another Connacht final after a 1-15 to 2-08 victory at Pearse Stadium.
Kevin Walsh's side asked against many questions though, particularly in the first half. In that period, Mayo's defence looked shaky. Keith Higgins had trouble dealing with Danny Cummins, while Michael Lundy and Gary Sice all too often were able to penetrate with ease.
However, this Mayo outfit have been around a while and responded well with a Cillian O'Connor point just after Sice's net-buster of a goal a minute before half-time.
The sides were level at the break, but the game was effectively over four minutes into the second half as Mayo kicked over three points and then had fortune on their side, after Galway goalkeeper Manus Breathnach's clearance rebounded off full-back Finian Hanley and rolled into the net.
The concession of that green flag seemed to knock the stuffing out of the home side and, in truth they lacked the composure to reel their opponents back in thereafter. Paul Conroy's sending off on a black card also didn't help their cause as Galway's scoring rate in that second period dried up.
High fives, but.....
Sunday's win was the fifth consecutive victory for Mayo over Galway in Connacht and the side remain on track to claim five Nestor Cups on the trot. That said, there is still room for improvement and if you run at their defence like Galway did, you can get a profitable return.
The two goals that the Tribesemen scored were, according to Dermot Earley on The Sunday Game, "walk-throughs". He also added that there is a "huge reliance on Cillian O'Connor" who kicked 0-09, with eight of those scores were from frees.
Alan Dillon and Andy Moran went off injured but at least any knocks will have five weeks to clear up before the Connacht final against either Sligo or Roscommon.
Congratulations to @AIDOXI deserving Man of the Match from todays game! #mayogaa pic.twitter.com/8RV9amhEDC
— Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) June 14, 2015Mayo were tested by Roscommon in last year's Connacht semi-final and went on to have a long summer, before their unlucky loss to Kerry. There is no reason to believe that they won't still be around at the business end again and in Aidan O'Shea they have a player who can leave a real imprint on a game.
What of Galway?
They are good enough to be still standing come early August, but they most stop giving away needless frees. In Sice, Comer and Cummins, their attacking threat is genuine. However, the need to be more composed in front of the posts when games have to be chased, is paramount.
Donegal win apologising
We expected a tight contest, but it was anything but at the Athletic Grounds as Donegal dispatched Armagh with a minimum of fuss to reach an Ulster semi-final.
The damage was done early on. Paddy McBrearty goaled after two minutes and at half-time the reigning Ulster champs led by ten points. Armagh improved a little thereafter and had a few goal chances. However, it was Donegal who goaled again through Martin Reilly to put the seal on their victory.
Gallagher's delight
Afterwards, Donegal manager Rory Gallagher spoke of a job well done, particularly in that opening half.
He told RTÉ Sport: "I was delighted with the first half. We got off to a good start, built on it and that left us in a great position at half-time.
"The second half kind of petered out, we probably didn't play as well but we remained focussed. Armagh probably shaded the half but we were never really in danger either. It was nice to get home with a resounding victory."
It's scary to think that Michael murphy is still only 25. They'll be paying tax towards his pension in Donegal by the time he retires #hero
— Rory's Stories (@RorysStories) June 14, 2015Like many, Gallagher expected the game to be a tighter affair and he added: "We were expecting it to be closer but sometimes games take on lives of their own. You get a lead and end up nine or ten points ahead at half-time and it's mentally difficult for the opposition to cope with that."
Coughing up possession
Kieran McGeeney was critical of the way his Armagh side handed possession back to their opponents.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport: "The first half was very poor. We did everything we weren't supposed to do.
"We got our defensive structure pulled out. Donegal are very good at doing that, with their rotating forwards, trying to pull you outside the 65 so you can't set up a defensive structure.
"They were excellent at it and we were very sloppy at giving the ball away.
"It caused us a lot of problems. Every time we seemed to attack, we gave the ball away.
Most one-sided game in Armagh since the 'oul bucks in jeans played for Dromintee against Cross last year.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) June 14, 2015Asked whether a Division 3 side can now expect to win an Ulster title, 'Geezer' added: "Monaghan did it, so it is possible, but it depends. Last year when we played Donegal we were on a run of four or five games and had momentum and a wee bit of confidence built up.
"It was tour first game, we were going to be a wee bit rusty and if you're rusty against a good team you're going to pay the consequences."
Kerry get over early scare at Semple
Tipperary are an improving force in football and while they lost out by six points to the reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions in Thurles they will feel that they can go another decent through the back door.
Kerry are in another Munster final, though it looked like Tipp would cause them real trouble early on after Colin O'Riordan's point and Michael Quinlivan's goal. However, the Green and Gold would eventually settle to their task, with Barry John Keane and Paul Geaney finding the net.
They led by two at half-time but reeled off five unanswered scores straight after the break to effectively kill off the game. Tipperary, on the other hand, racked up 13 wides in all - something for them to work on ahead of the next day.
The depth of Kerry's panel was illustrated by the subs they brought on in the second period, with manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice introducing the likes of James O’Donoghue, Darren O’Sullivan, Donnchadh Walsh and former AFL star Tommy Walsh.
Fitzmaurice was keen to highlight the importance of having a strong squad as the Kingdom eye more silverware in the months ahead.
"That aspect is vital to any ambitions of getting more success.
“That’s what you need the year after winning an All-Ireland, in particular, you need serious competition to try and get as many of the squad [as possible] playing at the top of their game,” he said.
“We’ll circle the wagons for the next three weeks and try out as many of the lads as we possibly can.”
Rebels comfortable in lowering the Banner
After a spring that ended with a shocking defeat against Dublin in the league final, Cork footballers needed to bounce back with a spring in their step and they did that with a comfortable win against Clare to set up another Munster final against Kerry in three weeks' time.
Quite simply, Cork took their chances and their opponents didn't in a game where Brian Cuthbert's charges assumed control with a six-point unanswered haul to ease 0-07 to 0-02 clear by the 22nd minute.
A five-point return without reply in a seven-minute spell after the break further highlighted Cork's dominance and while Clare goaled through Cathal O'Connor, the hosts' response was instant when Donncha O'Connor converted a penalty.
After last year's trouncing by Kerry in the Munster final, what plan will Brian Cuthbert come up with to ensure his side won't have have the floor wiped from under them again by the same opposition in three weeks' time?
Wicklow go down fighting
Meath were short a number of regulars, but still we all thought they would comfortably see off Wicklow at Páirc Tailteann and move on to the Leinster semi-final. The Royals did win, but only by four points in a high-scoring contest that finished 2-19 to 3-12.
Two penalty goals from Wicklow substitute Conor McGraynor helped cut the gap to two points with 13 minutes remaining, before Meath finished strongly to book a last-four date at Croke Park. The Garden County finished the contest with 13 men.
Royals boss Mick O'Dowd told RTÉ afterwards his side must improve ahead of the semi-final.
"It’s a good scoreline. 2-19 is good but we’re a little bit disappointed with what we conceded, to be honest, at crucial moments in the game so we’ve plenty to work on.
“We’ll take a lot from it, we’ve a lot of reviewing to do as well, because it wouldn’t be good enough the next day.
“I’m glad though that fellows stood up to the challenge and ran out [four-point] winners in the end.
Wicklow manager Johnny McGee hailed his players’ efforts.
“[I’m] hugely proud of my players,” he said.
“They did extremely well today. Yes, we came up with a game plan but we also came to play football as well.
“In fairness to the lads they stood up. They left their hearts out on the field for me and that’s all I can ask for.”
Late thrust from Westmeath
After a couple of barren years in the championship, Westmeath footballers can now look forward to an appearance in a Leinster semi-final after a 1-21 to 0-15 victory over Wexford in Mullingar.
The Lake County kicked 1-09, with the goal coming from Kieran Martyn, in the last ten minutes to seal their success and they'll now be confident that they can give Meath their fill of it at Croker in a fortnight's time.
Dubs next for 'devastating' Kildare
The Lilywhites are in bloom again after their emphatic 3-18 to 1-11 victory over Laois in their Leinster SFC quarter-final replay at O'Connor Park.
That scoreline seemed most unlikely at half-time as the O'Moore County led 0-09 to 0-08. However, whatever was in Kildare cup of tea at half-time worked as the side hit 2-03 just after the break to set up their resounding success.
So Kildare it is. Two weeks time in Croker our Boys In Blue will take on the Lilywhites for a place in the... http://t.co/k2PuRCHngY
— Hill 16 Army (@Hill16Army) June 14, 2015Padraig Fogarty was the Kildare star at corner forward while Eamonn Callaghan, Cathal McNally and Eoghan O’Flaherty all found the net – Donie Kingston slotted a consolation green flag for Laois.
What a difference a week makes and Kildare set their sights in trying to curb Dublin on 28 June. Laois, on the other hand, have a home draw against Antrim in the qualifiers. That said, I'm sure Jason Ryan will be the happier manager as he now begins to plot the downfall of the all-conquering Dubs.
