Mayo 1-21 New York 0-4
It was a stroll in the Gaelic Park for the men of Mayo.
Just as well most of the travelling Mayo fans were making a holiday out of their 7000 mile round trip to New York, because they didn’t get much of a game.
In a completely alien turn of events for this team and for this band of supporters, Mayo started like a Manhattan train, left New York on the platform and rather than looking behind or chasing their tails, the only thing they had to worry about was keeping the rain out.
There were no heart-stopping moments, there was no agony, no despair and little cause for excitement as the Mayo faithful learned the easy way how sweet it is to do it the hard way.
This game was over after ten minutes
Evan Regan tapped over a free as early as the second minute and that kick started a run of 14 points without reply as the Mayo tanks whizzed by the helpless New York bodies like thoroughbreds racing against foals.
In fairness to the New York players and management – this isn’t their fault. They don’t get to compete in the Allianz National Leagues, they have little scope for any competitive games in between this and next year – this is the story every year – and their player turnover rate is always going to be an unhelpful one.
For them New York native Shane Hogan was best, he never stopped trying but Ciaran Deely’s calls for a tier two championship will certainly be echoed on this side of the Atlantic.
This was about Mayo though and unlike the last few years, they weren’t in the entertainment business on Sunday. James Horan’s men dispatched of a New York challenge ruthlessly and coldly, their sheer intensity and hunger in the tackle restricting the home side to mere scraps.
Fergal Boland was galloping down the middle as every single Vinny Cadden kickout was gobbled up by O’Shea and Ruane in the middle. Justin O’Halloran’s side might have fared better with a few shorter restarts, but nothing was going to change the outcome.
#ConnachtGAA QF #GAA#NewYorkGAA:0-2(2)#MayoGAA:1-15(18).
9 #MayoGAA scorers
Even 1-04
Fionn 0-03
Fergal 0-02
1 each for Darren, Lee, James Mc, Kevin, James C and Jason— Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) May 5, 2019
Kevin McLoughlin was typically accurate as James Carr (two from play), Darren Coen and half backs Keegan and McCormack got in on the act too. The only criticism you might have of Mayo’s performance was their profligacy, something they may not get away with later on in Connacht but that’s for another day.
At half-time it was 1-15 to 0-2 and it didn’t get much better in the second for the Yanks. Andy Moran came onto a loud cheer from the Mayo fans while young gun Ciaran Treacy kept the scoreboard ticking.
How do you solve a conundrum like New York? That’s a tough question to answer given the logistics involved but they certainly need to have access to more competitive games.
