Opportunities squandered, rather than those taken, ultimately contributed to keen Connacht rivals having to make do with a division of the points at Markievicz Park yesterday.
The result was, in many ways, as inevitable as the sendings off; Sligo's full back Mark Cosgrove carded after 28 minutes by Kerry referee Peter Lyons, 24 minutes before Mayo defender Pat Coyne was shown red.
"Competitive," was the way both managers and former Mayo team-mates Peter Forde (Sligo) and Pat Holmes (Mayo) described the game pattern on a heavy pitch.
When Peter Taylor slotted home from the spot 16 minutes into the second half, Sligo, now playing with the wind, led for the first time 1-5 to 0-7. The home side should have had the match put to bed.
But their squandered goal chances, especially in the first period, outstripped anything Mayo managed to contrive in this department and Mayo thus survived to lead by 0-5 to 0-4 at the break.
Sligo wastage continued moments after the recess. Gerry McGowan, off an incisive Dessie Sloyane pass, sliced the ball over for a point with a goal at his mercy.
Taylor, who took the penalty chance in style, might well have been scoring a fourth Sligo goal from the spot.
Mayo spent the next 10 mins trying to get back on level terms, despite having been afforded repeated opportunities to do so. Maurice Sheridan's erratic place-kicking did not help the visitor's cause. The Salthill man was wayward with two feasible kicks, before eventually gaining the equaliser with 11 minutes remaining.
That remaining period proved scoreless, as good an indication as any of the paucity of the respective attacking strengths. "Having to play with a man short for so much longer than Mayo was a major factor," offered Peter Forde. "But it was better than losing and thankfully the draw keeps our prospects very much alive".
Mayo manager Holmes claimed: "It was hard stuff, 100 per cent work-rate and a match that was open to victory or defeat for both sides; we created some good chances too."
Tommy Brennan, before retiring, was among the busiest workers in the Sligo attack, but manager Forde and his co-selectors cannot be pleased with the fact that only two of the team's scores came from play, Gerry McGowan and Tommy Brennan being the providers.
Paul Taylor's place-kicking, especially his well-taken penalty, was the only redeeming feature in the home team's shooting department.
Mayo, for their part, could at least claim five of their points were from play, but, worryingly for Holmes must be the fact that Sligo were for so long in reasonable control when a man down.
SLIGO: P Walsh; P Gallagher, M Cosgrove, B Philips; P Doohan, N Clancy, D Durkin; C O'Meara, E O'Hara; D Sloyan, P Taylor (1-3 goal from penalty, three frees) R Brennan; G McGowan (0-1), J McPartland, T Brennan (0-1). Subs: N Carew for O'Meara (31 mins); S Davey for McPartland (49); K O'Neill for T Brennan (55); N McGuire for R Brennan (70).
MAYO: P Burke; R Connelly, P Coyne, A Higgins; N Connelly (0-1), A Roche, F Costello; D Brady, C McManaman; M McNicholas, D McDonagh (0-1), M Sheridan (0-3, all frees); D Nestor, S Carolan (0-2), T Mortimer (0-1). Subs: M Moyles for McNicholas (48 mins); G Ruane for Higgins (62); P McGarry for Nestor (67).
Referee: P Lyons (Kerry).
