Louth supervisor Paul McCormack put it precisely when describing the margin of his workforce’s defeat by Mayo in Saturday afternoon’s conflict at Darver as “merciless”, though there was no denying the Connacht county’s superiority in nearly each trade.
n spite of the 20-point loss, the end result really happy the hosts greater than Mayo, whose promotion aspirations had been quashed courtesy of outcomes elsewhere that, by the way, ensured Louth will stay in Division 3A for a 3rd consecutive marketing campaign.
Mayo might have hit 18 wides over the competition, whereas it took till the second half for free-taker Cormac Phillips to settle right into a medical rhythm, however they had been ruthless when goalscoring probabilities offered themselves.
Adrian Phillips and Eoin Delaney mixed for 2 majors apiece – with Joe McManus including a late fifth – and the deadly inside pair tortured Louth’s overworked full-backs, notably when Peter Fortune was ushered in to a extra superior function having coated properly as an additional Louth defender for a lot of the opening interval.
The Reds simply didn’t have that decisive streak on the different finish and spurned their solely purpose opening of observe when teenage full-forward Conor Murphy – who obtained the higher of his marker all through – deflected his shot over the crossbar with Mayo goalkeeper Bobby Douglas having misplaced his bearings momentarily.
It was an enormous second within the match as inside three minutes, Phillips enforced the elevating of the sport’s first inexperienced flag, sending the sliotar previous Dan O’Neill, who made two very important stops however was additionally grateful for last-ditch interventions by Feidhelm Joyce and Liam Molloy on separate events as Mayo sought to inflict additional punishment on the Wee males.
The second and third targets got here at gut-punching occasions for the house workforce. Delaney rattled the web 5 minutes earlier than the interval and whereas Louth’s response was rapid, through Darren Geoghegan (2) and Aaron McGuinness-Smith notches, one other Phillips most carved a five-point hole in Mayo’s favour by half-time, 0-9 to 3-5.
“Within the first 20 minutes, we had been ultra-competitive, successful, had probabilities and had been taking part in properly,” stated McCormack.
“Then, Mayo’s greater stage expertise and physicality started to indicate. We regrouped at half-time and made an excellent begin to the second half however they only wore us down. The scoreboard is perhaps merciless on us in that we left purpose probabilities behind us they usually had been completely ruthless.
“To the fellas’ credit score, I really feel we deserve to remain on this division and we’re taking part in on the proper stage. Nevertheless, we’ve obtained to be extra prepared for this stage within the Nicky Rackard and that requires extra work on the pitch, within the gymnasium and their very own private work. A superb bit achieved, however undoubtedly extra to do.”
MAC MAGIC
Seán Kerrisk and Liam Molloy had been once more very outstanding within the Louth trigger, whereas Murphy and Seaghan Conneely had their moments, with Danny Morgan unrelenting in his workrate on the again.
However Mayo’s class instructed emphatically in the course of the second half as Phillips began to level from various angles off the deck. Though his sole stroke from play was completely improbable as he fetched a puckout by Douglas and instantly fired over from midway.
The hole was 4 factors with 42 minutes performed, however there continued a way that the end result was by no means in any doubt regardless of Louth’s finest efforts. So it turned out as Mayo outscored the Reds by 1-10 to 0-1 over the closing quarter, McManus turning up the five-timer with a rasping conversion in injury-time.
“There have been no straightforward video games on this division and it’s about utilising the assets we have now,” McCormack added, reflecting on the marketing campaign.
“We’ve been hit by numerous critical accidents over the course of the marketing campaign. Conor Quigley performed no minutes, Feidhelm Joyce was out and in, Jamie McDonnell missed (Mayo) and Pádraig Fallon.
“These are lads who we have to have on the sphere however then the fellas who’ve stepped up, younger lads, boys who’re taking part in at this stage for the primary time coming off a small membership season at a distinct stage.
“You need to take all that into consideration. As a administration workforce, we’re attempting to develop and enhance the gamers on a regular basis and hopefully we’re doing that they usually can see progress. I feel there’s a number of progress there however we’re at all times attempting to stretch and search for extra.
“Finally, it comes down to every participant – are they making use of themselves? Are all of them into it? Are they treating themselves like an inter-county hurler at Nicky Rackard stage, as a result of all the remainder of the counties are? I imagine that they’re however dealing with that life-style, it’s vital.
“We’ve 9 weeks assured left of the season and we wish them to throw every thing into it. The pitches shall be getting a bit tougher they usually’ll be taking part in towards completely different groups, and that’s to be appeared ahead to.”
LOUTH: Dan O’Neill; Adam Plunkett, Danny Morgan, Ben Goss-Kieran; Conal Shaw, Liam Molloy, Aaron McGuinness-Smith 0-1; Feidhelm Joyce, Ryan Walsh; Seán Kerrisk 0-1, Seaghan Conneely 0-1, Mark Gahan 0-2; Peter Fortune; Conor Murphy 0-3, Darren Geoghegan 0-7 (6f). Subs: Stephen Stafford for Walsh (23), Ronan Mulholland for Shaw (48), Gareth Corridor for Joyce (58), Seán Hodgins for McGuinness-Smith (60), Jack Murray for Kerrisk (64).
MAYO: Bobby Douglas: James Lyons, Ger McManus, Conor Murray; David Kenny, Joe Mooney 0-1, Mark Phillips; John Cassidy, Daniel Huane 0-1; Seán Kenny, Joe McManus 1-2, Cormac Phillips 0-8 (7f, 1 65); Adrian Phillips 2-3, Eoin Delaney 2-2, Jason Coyne 0-1. Subs: Michael Farrell 0-2 for S Kenny (62), Luke Connor for Cassidy (64), Danny Hill for Mooney (69), Kealan Gallagher for Delaney (72).
REFEREE: Conor Daly (Kildare).
