Connacht SFC Preliminary round/Mayo 1-18 London 0-8: Mayo advanced to meet Leitrim in the semi-final of the Connacht championship after an expected facile victory over London at Ruislip yesterday.
However, even the most ardent Mayo supporter would agree Mickey Moran's team were flattered by a margin of victory that did not reflect the brave resistance from a well prepared London team.
In a game which produced only seven wides, including four for the losers, Mayo took an early command of the midfield sector and man-of-the-match Conor Mortimer, Ger Brady, Ciarán McDonald and Andy Moran took early advantage of scoring opportunities created by David Heaney and Pat Harte's supremacy in the central sector.
London battled their way back into contention with two points in a minute from Stuart McKenzie-Smith and Jacko Murphy at the start of the second quarter and although Pat Quirke had a further point on the 18th minute, Mayo hit back with scores from Mortimer (two frees), and two points from Andy Moran to open up a 0-7 to 0-3 lead on the half-hour.
Then came a turning point in the game when London full forward McKenzie-Smith fielded a high ball from Kevin Waldron on the edge of the square to turn and kick a left-footed effort off a post. Although Quirke deflected over a point from a resultant free Mayo had been given a reprieve and they took full advantage by dominating up to half-time, which ended 0-10 to 0-4 in favour of the visitors.
Mayo's advantage increased to seven points within a minute of the resumption with Mortimer's lone point from play. However, a superb long range point from Eamon Brennan four minutes later kept London in contention.
After Wille Joe Padden and David Brady were introduced late in the first half, the Mayo management replaced Austin O'Malley with Kevin O'Neill soon after the resumption.
O'Neill didn't take long to make his mark and brought a fine save from London goalkeeper Brian McBrearty before raising another white flag after 43 minutes.
Although London scored a further three points in the third quarter Mayo were never really troubled and continued to dominate at midfield and in the half back line where James Nallen and Peadar Gardiner were prominent.
Mayo had wrapped up the game long before Mortimer crowned a fine personal performance with a goal five minutes from the end of normal time.
Afterwards Mayo manager Moran admitted his side will need to step up their performance but said he was pleased with the result.
MAYO: J Healy; D Geraghty, L O'Malley, K Higgins; P Kelly, J Nallen, P Gardiner (0-1); D Heaney, P Harte; A Moran (0-2), G Brady (0-1), A Dillon (0-1); C Mortimer (1-8, 0-7 frees), C MacDonald (0-3), A O'Malley. Subs: D Brady for Kelly, WJ Padden for Dillon, K O'Neill (0-1) for A O'Malley, B Moran (0-1) for Harte, M Conroy for A Moran.
LONDON: B McBrearty; P Callaghan, C Beirne, P Early; P McConigley (0-1, free), D McKenna, A McLernon; K Waldron, E Brennan (0-1); P Quirke (0-2), J Murphy (0-1), B Sloan (0-1, free); C Foody (0-1), S Stuart-McKenzie-Smith (0-1), W O'Sullivan. Subs: P McDermott for Quirke, D Meehan for Waldron, S Curran for McLernon, M Gill for Beirne, J Quinn for Callaghan.
Referee: J McKee (Armagh
