Mayo 1-6 Sligo 0-6:MAYO BUILT a platform in the first half to just about get home in this disappointing semi-final in Castlebar yesterday. However, had Sligo taken their chances it might well have been a different story. But the same can be said of Mayo who were denied three goals in that first half due to the excellent work of goalkeeper Kevin Kelly.

The only time Kelly was beaten was from the penalty spot on 24 minutes and that proved to be a decisive score as it put Mayo into a five-point lead. Shane Hennelly was taken down in the square and Adam Gallagher drilled the ball to the net. A point from Eoghan Lavin extended the lead to five just before the interval (1-4 to 0-2).

With Sligo dominating midfield Mayo came under pressure but a crucial point came from Michael Plunkett galvanised the winners.

MAYO: C O’Malley, D McHale, S Moran, K Lynch, P Durcan, C Burke, M Plunkett (0-1), B Mullen, A Gallagher (1-2, one free, pen), E Lavin (0-2, one free), S Coen, D O’Connor, D Duffy, S Hennelly, S Regan (0-1). Subs: C Byrne for Duffy (45 mins), J Quinn for Lavin (52 mins).

SLIGO: K Kelly, M Gordon, B Walsh, S Barrett, C Surlis, K McDonnell, D Long, N O’Rourke, C Egan, C Breheny, C Davey (0-3, two frees), K Henry (0-1), C Kerins, C Henry (0-1), S Cawley. Subs: B Smith for C Henry (50 mins), J Quinn for Cawley (50 mins), J O’Hehir for Kerins (55 mins).

Referee: P Neilan (Roscommon).