Sport

Mayo's fine start gives them edge

Mayo preserved their unbeaten league record thanks to a superb first-half performance at rain-soaked Markievicz Park yesterday…

Mon Feb 25 2002 - 00:00

Mayo preserved their unbeaten league record thanks to a superb first-half performance at rain-soaked Markievicz Park yesterday. James Horan and Conor Mortimer were the stars, scoring eight points between them in the opening period.

Points by James Gill and James Horan gave the visitors an excellent start before Dessie Sloyan opened Sligo's account from an 11th minute free.

A brilliant catch and a perfectly-angled point by Horan put Mayo three points ahead after 19 minutes as the Sligo team struggled in most sectors. However, Brendan Phillips did play impressively at left corner back as the home side battled to keep the flying Mayo forwards out.

Three Mayo points without reply between the 26th and 30th minutes laid the foundation for the 0-8 to 0-4 interval lead which the league champions enjoyed.

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Conor Mortimer then put Mayo 0-10 to 0-4 ahead with a couple of points from frees at the start of the second half.

Dessie Sloyan gave Sligo some hope with two points as the home side came more into the game. Sligo missed a great chance to reduce the deficit to a single point after 56 minutes when a goalbound shot by substittue Seán Davey struck the woodwork.

Second-half substitute Trevor Mortimer kept Mayo on course with some superb play as the home side threw everything at their opponents.

A Sloyan point from a free a minute into stoppage time left the minimum between the teams, but staunch defending by the Mayo backs kept them on course for what in the end was a hard-earned win.

Gary Mullins at right corner back and Shane Fitzmaurice at midfield caught the eye for the visitors, particularly in the second half.

Six of Sligo's scores came from frees, and apart from Sloyan and John McPartland, the Sligo attack lacked penetration.

MAYO: P Burke; G Mullins, D Heaney, G Ruane; A Roche, J Nallen, K Mortimer; S Trench, S Fitzmaurice; J Gill (0-2), D Nestor, S Carolan; M McNicholas (0-1), J Horan (0-3), C Mortimer (0-5). Subs: D Brady for Trench; M Mullins for Nestor; T Mortimer for Carolan.

SLIGO: D Kearns; P Naughton, N Carew, B Phillips; P Doohan, M Langan, D Durkin; K Quinn, P Durcan; K O'Neill, E O'Hara, D McGarty; D Sloyan (0-5), J McPartland (0-4), T Brennan. Subs: R Brennan (0-1) for P Durcan; J Davey for McGarty; S Davey for O'Neill; N McGuire for D Durkin.

Referee: M McGrath, Donegal.