Mayo back on track after easing past Cavan in Castlebar

Mayo got their championship season back on track with a comfortable win over Cavan in Castlebar.

Cavan came to MacHale Park looking to cause an upset but never looked like getting the better of the home side who had one veteran replacing another in the starting 15 when Cillian O'Connor came into the team ahead of Aidan O'Shea.

O'Connor ended the match with four points to his name and the leading scorer in championship football looked impressive from first whistle to last.

Cavan will be very unhappy with their performance. They looked disjointed in attack and rarely threatened the Mayo posts in any meaningful manner.

The first half ended with Mayo four clear, 0-09 to 0-05, despite playing into a stiff breeze.

Both sides were somewhat hesitant, with Mayo showing reluctance to move the ball quickly when goal chances arrived, and Cavan looking rudderless up front.

However, Mayo did use the ball smartly in the middle third and their movement looked good up front.

Cavan seemed well off the pace, but remained in contention as Oisín Brady converted three frees while midfielder Oisín Kiernan, of Denn, and wing-forward Ciarán Brady also troubled the umpires.

However, the home side were dominant throughout the opening half with Matthew Ruane and Diarmuid O'Connor doing well around the middle, and Ryan O'Donoghue busy in attack.

At the back, Mayo were comfortable for the most part. Cavan did have a sniff of a goal after 26 minutes when wing-forward Oisín Kiernan, of Castlerahan, burst through but Mayo men swarmed around him and smothered the danger.

At the other end, goal chances for Darren McHale and Matthew Ruane finished up over the crossbar and that trend continued in the second half when a driller from Cillian O'Connor flew just over.

Cav