Mayo grind down Rossies to win Connacht FBD League

Mayo 0-13 Roscommon 0-09

Following on from three Connacht FBD League contests that finished 3-21 to 1-13, 3-17 to 2-13 and 2-18 to 3-12 on the astroturf surface at the Connacht GAA Air Dome, Mayo and Roscommon delivered a tense, dour final on Friday evening that was far more in keeping with what supporters might have come to expect at this time of year.

In the end, Mayo's veteran talisman Cillian O’Connor stepped up to deliver two crucial late points, with Aidan O’Shea also producing a valuable cameo role after coming on at centre-forward, to see Kevin McStay’s charges over the line and secure a first win in this competition since 2012.

As a form guide for the upcoming league however, neither Galway or Tyrone, who have to travel to Castlebar and Roscommon respectively next weekend, would feel that they saw anything to be afraid of in this game, with a distinct lack of attacking craft.

If there was a difference between the teams, it was Mayo's superior ability to run at a defender and win a free, as evidenced by their final tally of four points from frees, in contrast to Roscommon’s one.

An early point from Fionn McDonagh after just 20 seconds suggested that another free-flowing shootout was in store, but instead the next 15 minutes passed by without a score, as both sides probed patiently but struggled to open up space through packed defences.

Dead ball scores from Ryan O’Donoghue and Diarmuid O’Connor pushed the lead out to three before Roscommon finally got off the mark in the 21st minute, Niall Daly the scorer after a slick passing moved ended with Ciarán Lennon playing in the Pádraig Pearses man.

That was to be a rare moment of quality at that end of the pitch however, As the Mayo backs locked down their direct opponents,