Derry get the win but are pushed all the way by Mayo

Mickey Harte’s team looked set to cruise to a comfortable win when they led by nine points midway through the second half, but Mayo came roaring back with a goal from Paul Towey in the 56th minute and had closed the gap to just two points entering the closing stages.

All bets looked off at that juncture, but Derry rediscovered their composure in the last ten minutes and four points from Conor Glass, Shane McGuigan (free) and impact substitute Niall Toner (2) saw them pull clear again in front of 9,373 spectators.

The Ulster champions made most of the running in the first half and goals from Niall Loughlin and Shane McGuigan put them in the driving seat.

The Oak Leafers led at the interval by six points and a brilliant goal from Conor McCluskey nine minutes after the restart was a big blow to Mayo’s hopes of avoiding a third defeat of an erratic campaign.

Derry led at half-time by 2-7 to 1-4 after completely dominating the second quarter.

They racked up 1-4 and held Mayo scoreless in the final sixteen minutes of the half as their slick counter-attacking game opened up the homeside’s defence.

Shane McGuigan finished the half with 1-4 while Niall Loughlin and Jordan Flynn also raised green flags within sixty seconds of each other.

A point from Tommy Conroy in the 23rd minute nudged Mayo ahead by 1-4 to 1-3 but was to be the homeside’s last score of the half.

Derry had no such issues and three points in a row from Shane McGuigan (free), Ciaran McFaul and Padraig McGrogan put them 1-6 to 1-4 up.

All Star forward McGuigan then pounced to hit the net a minute later after a poor Mayo kick-out from Colm Reape, before Diarmuid Baker also got on the scoresheet before the half-time whistle.

Derry looked set to freewheel to victory when they raced ahead by 3-11 to 1-8 after 49 minutes, but Mayo rolled their sleeves up and unleashed a series of power-plays to set up a grandstand finish.

Substitute Paul Towey goaled with his first touch on 56 minutes while Aaron McDonnell, Colm Reape (‘45), Towey and Ryan O’Donoghue all shot points during the purple patch.

But Derry managed to hold their nerve to close the game out with a string of points to settle the argument.

Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea, who was making the 100th National League appearance of his career, grabbed the last point of the day from play but it came too late to affect the final outcome.

Mayo: C Reape (0-2,1f, ‘45); A McDonnell (0-1), R Brickenden, S Callinan (0-1); D McHugh, S Coen, E Hession; J Carney (0-1), M Ruane; B Tuohy, F Boland (0-1), J Flynn (1-0); A O’Shea (0-2, 1f), T Conroy (0-1), R O’Donoghue (0-3, 2fs).

Subs used: C Loftus for Tuohy (44); J Coyne for Hession (47); P Towey (1-1) for Boland (55); F Kelly for McDonnell (65); K Quinn for Loftus (67, inj).

Derry: O Lynch; C McCluskey (1-0), C McKaigue, D Baker (0-1); G McKinless (0-1), E McEvoy, P McGrogan (0-1); C Glass (0-1), B Rogers; E Doherty (0-1), C McFaul (0-1), Paul Cassidy; N Loughlin (1-0), S McGuigan (1-6, 3fs), L Murray.

Subs used: N Toner (0-3) for Loughlin (HT); D Gilmore for McKinless (41); C Murphy for Murray (45).

Referee: S Lonergan (Tipperary)