Mayo have eased their Division One relegation worries with a thumping win over Galway in Tuam.
The 15-point victory was their biggest over their rivals in the League since way back in 1952 and is a real statement of intent from James Horan’s side, while his opposite number Padraic Joyce will be scratching his head after Galway were the form side in the competition pre-lockdown.
It means that, with no League final this year, Galway’s hopes of a first title since 1981 are now out of their hands as Kerry will top the table with a victory over Donegal next weekend.
Amid doubts about whether inter-county games will survive beyond today, Mayo came into the game needing a result to distance themselves from relegation, a fate that Galway could have all but consigned them to with a victory, but it was clear from an early stage that the teams were at a different pitch.
Mayo boxed Galway in in the opening stages and had three points on the board by the fourth minute, by which time Galway lost Damien Comer to what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
The Galway defence was at sea with Aidan O’Shea causing untold problems for Sean Andy O Ceallaigh on the edge of the square and Mark Moran dictating matters from centre-forward, the Westport man netting the opening goal in the 12th minute after O’Shea’s probing ball to Cillian O’Connor wrong-footed the Galway full-back line.
Galway enjoyed their best spell after that and looked to have settled when scoring three points in quick succession though Mayo reasserted their authority as they enjoyed a sustained period of joy on the opposition kickout in the run up to half-time.
Leading by 1-10 to 0-7 by the 27th minute, the impressive Oisin Mullin and O’Shea linked up to put Paddy Durcan through for another goal and they ran riot from there to half-time, slotting another 0-7 without reply, five of them from Cillian O’Connor, for an unassailable 2-17 to 0-7 lead at the break.
Predictably, the second half was a more toothless affair as Galway found their scores easier with the intensity dropping, though they never threatened a goal.
Conor Loftus capped a fine display with Mayo’s third goal in the 55th minute as their lead peaked at 17 points at one stage before the game petered out.
Mayo see out their League campaign at home to Tyrone next Sunday while Galway welcome Dublin to Salthill on the same afternoon.
GALWAY: C Gleeson; C Campbell, SA O Ceallaigh, J Heaney; L Silke (0-2), J Duane, C McDaid (0-1); C Darcy (0-1), J Maher; E Brannigan, D Comer, J Leonard; R Finnerty (0-7, 0-6f), I Burke, P Conroy (0-3).
Subs: M Daly for Comer (4), G O’Donnell (0-1) for Duane (10), A Varley (0-1) for Brannigan (31), T Flynn for Maher (HT), M Barrett (0-1) for Darcy (60).
MAYO: D Clarke; O Mullin, D McBrien, L Keegan; P Durcan (1-2), S Coen (0-1m), E McLaughlin; M Ruane, C Loftus (1-2, 0-1m); F McDonagh, M Moran (1-2), D O’Connor; T Conroy (0-3), A O’Shea (0-3), C O’Connor (0-10, 0-8f).
Subs: B Walsh for McDonagh (45), P O’Hora for McBrien (50), R O’Donoghue for D O’Connor (58), D Coen for C O’Connor (58), J Flynn for Ruane (67).
REFEREE: M Deegan (Laois).
