Mayo into final after slick showing against Rocsommon
Mayo 0-22 Roscommon 1-06 - FBD League round 2
In a year that's likely to see plenty of consequential derby matches between Roscommon and Mayo, with a league clash already set in stone and a Connacht semi-final battle also likely, Mayo drew first blood and plenty of it with a landslide win at the Hyde this afternoon.
That sets up a short trip to Tuam Stadium next Sunday to take on Galway in the FBD League final and while both sides will presumably take a cagey approach to team selection in advance of their meeting in Pearse Stadium on Sunday week, a handful of fringe Mayo players put their hands up for more playing time with some impressive shooting in the second half of this contest.
Andy Moran’s charges put eight scores over the bar in each half but six of those second-half scores were hoisted over from outside the arc as they powered clear of their neighbours, who had no such joy in front of the posts.
The visitors were no less dominant in the opening 30 minutes, albeit they found it more difficult to put scores on the board shooting into the graveyard end. They looked sharp in their handling but in a condensed scoring zone, Roscommon often found a way to get a hand in and force a spill or an interception.
Tommy Conroy of Mayo watches a score go over the bar
Enda Hession kicked the opening score and Rob Hennelly struck two 45s beautifully, but that still only left the game level thanks to Daire Cregg’s goal, finished with every bit as much precision as Caelim Keogh demonstrated with his 40 metre pass into the full forward.
Not all Roscommon passes were as precise. The home side had eight wides in the first half, five of those were attempted deliveries into the full-forward line that ran out dead, there were very few actual scoring chances.
Cregg and Heneghan hit the target to keep the game tight approaching half-time, but Mayo found a surge before the break to pick off points from Hession and Jack Carney, and within three minutes of the second half starting, the lead was out to eight (0-13 to 1-02) following majestic doubles from Carney and Ryan O’Donoghue, as well as a simple point from the latter on a turnover play.
Roscommon were competitive in the battle for breaking ball but up front, it simply didn’t happen for them. Diarmuid Murtagh missed chances that he would normally convert with ease, Eoin Ward had a low goalbound shot blocked by Hennelly and Eoin Colleran hit the foot of the post with another attempt, again Hennelly making a crucial stop.
Even if Roscommon had found the net however, Mayo had plenty to spare.
Tom Lydon came off the bench to make an impression with two superb two-pointers from the left wing and Adam Barrett also joined in the fun with a long range score after coming off the bench, staking a claim for further minutes in another local derby game next weekend.
Mayo: Rob Hennelly (0-02, 45s); Enda Hession (0-02), Rory Brickenden, Liam Golden; Paddy Durcan, Michael Plunkett, Cathal Keaveney; Bob Tuohy, David McBrien; Diarmuid Duffy, Ryan O’Donoghue (0-04, 1tp, 0-01 free), Seamus Howard; Darragh Beirne (0-01 free), Aidan O’Shea (0-01), Tommy Conroy (0-02, tp).
Subs: Jack Carney (0-04, 1tp) for Duffy (27), Stephen Coen for Durcan (27), Adam Barrett (0-02, tp) for Beirne (half-time), Oisín Jordan for Keaveney (40), Niall Hurley for O’Shea (43), Liam Donoghue for Howard (45), Tom Lydon (0-04, 2tp) for Conroy (48), John McMonagle for McBrien (50).
Roscommon: Aaron Brady; Patrick Gavin, Eoin McCormack, Mark Richardson; Oisín Cregg, Caelim Keogh, Senan Lambe; Conor Ryan, Declan Kenny; Darragh Heneghan (0-01), Cian McKeon (0-01), Dylan Ruane (0-01); Diarmuid Murtagh, Daire Cregg (1-03, 0-02 frees), Jack Tumulty.
Subs: Paul Carey for Kenny (26), Eoin Colleran for Tumulty (28), Eoin Ward for O Cregg (36), Cathal Heneghan for Murtagh (43), Seán Canning for D Heneghan (45), Niall Higgins for Richardson (47), Richard Hughes for S Lambe (50), Rob Heneghan for McKeon (52), Ronan Daly for C Heneghan (60).
Referee: James Molloy (Galway).
Tyrone advanced to the Dr McKenna Cup semi-final with a four-point win over Down in Pomeroy, making it two victories from two in 2026.
The match was a shootout to reach the last-four, with both sides on two points, the visitors by courtesy of being retrospectively awarded the points following their six point loss to Armagh, courtesy of the latter's breach of the pre-season third level policy.
Michael McKernan is tackled by Pat Havern and Peter Fegan
The hosts, who have won a record 17 Dr McKenna Cups, triumphed 0-18 to 1-11, with respective free-takers Ethan Jordan and Michael Conroy accounting for a combined tally of 0-11, while the experienced Mattie Donnelly also chipped in with 0-02.
Donal Scullion buried a penalty early in the second half to reduce the margin to a point while Pat Havern - who finished with 0-07 overall - swerved over a spectacular late two-pointer but Down finished the game with 14 men after Ceilum Doherty's injury-time sending off.
In Section B, Monaghan are also into the last-four after a three-point win over Fermanagh in Castleblayney.
It was a tight first half with Josh Largo Ellis' goal giving the Farney a two-point half-time lead, despite Darragh McElerney's major for the hosts.
Fermanagh built on another goal, this time finished by Shane McGullion, to move six points clear with 10 minutes of the second half played, but they would then go more than 15 minutes without registering a score.
In that time, Monaghan managed 11 points in a row - including three two-pointers from Michael Bannigan - to surge clear. Justin McDade hit a third goal for the Ernesiders but it proved to be mere consolation.
Monaghan finish Section B as the only team with points on the board, with Fermanagh having been docked points following their win over Cavan due to their breach of the pre-season third level policy - Cavan were not awarded the points as they had also breached the rule.
A Donegal side which had three starters who played a part in last year's All-Ireland final - Caolan McColgan, Hugh McFadden and Jason McGee - were too strong for Antrim, winning by 1-15 to 0-07 in Cargin.
The Tír Chonaill men were four points up at the break, with Shea Malone hitting a brace of points. They maintained a two score lead until Eoin McGeehan's goal with 15 minutes to play made it more comfortable.
Seanan Carr hit the last score of the game - a two-pointer from a free - to leave real daylight between the sides.
Donegal, whose opening game against Derry was declared a draw following the game's cancellation, progress to the semi-finals as the best-performing second placed team across the three groups, with Derry taking top spot on score difference by virtue of their 15-point win over Antrim in midweek.
Tony Brosnan scored 1-15 for Kerry
Kerry conceded a grand total of 0-01 and ran out 29-point winners over Waterford in a facile encounter in Killarney.
Tony Brosnan finished with a personal haul of 1-15, which included five two-pointers, three of which were scored in the opening seven minutes.
The Dr Crokes players had 0-13 on the board by half-time before easing off in the final quarter, while Cillian Trant also caught the eye, rustling up five points.
Aaron Ryan was responsible for the visitors' sole score, landing a point from play after 12 minutes. The tally at the end was 1-27 to 0-01 as Kerry took their McGrath Cup final slot after two wins from two.
They will face Cork in the decider despite John Cleary's side's five-point defeat to Limerick in Páirc Uí Rinn.
A brace of second half goals from chief marksman James Naughton propelled the away side to a 3-11 to 0-15 victory.
Cork nonetheless finish top of Group B on score difference, following their 19-point win over Tipperary in mid-week, combined with the latter's 11-point victory over Limerick last Sunday.
