All-Ireland B Hurling QF match report.

 

Mayo 2-10 Donegal 0-14.

Mayo had to come from behind to snatch a very hard fought victory against a very plucky Donegal outfit in Letterkenny this afternoon. Donegal were much the better side in the opening half and led 0-08 to 1-03 at the short whistle with Donegal wing forward Brendan Gaffey hitting some superb frees for the home side. Mayo had to do some ferocious defending in the opening half to stay in the game and great credit must go to their back sextet. Upfront the scores were hard come by and some wayward shooting from the Mayo half forward line rocked their confidence early on. In fairness, when the visitors settled Ronan Fallon the Mayo full forward led by example. He was instrumental in Mayo’s survival in the opening half hitting 0-03, two of the scores coming from difficult frees. Fallon was the fulcrum for every Mayo attack and his power and ball winning ability were crucial. After twenty minutes Donegal were struck a hammer blow when Eoin Walsh received his marching orders after two clumsy fouls right in front of referee Colm McDonald. The Antrim official had no choice but to flash two yellow cards in quick succession. Mayo circled the wagons and right on the stoke of half time Colm Enright pounced for a brilliant individual goal. The Castlebar club man had loads of work to do when he collected the sliotar on the left wing. He jinxed past two defenders before flicking the sliotar over the out rushing Donegal custodian Joseph Patton. The second half produced more drama with Mayo getting their noses in front for the first time. Ronan Fallon drove a pile driver of a shot into the Donegal net after ten minutes. Further points from Sean McGee, Enright and Eoin Ryan had Mayo in the driving seat before a Lazarus like finish from Donegal. Brendan Gaffey, Dáire Tully and Gaffey again levelling the score late in the game and time almost up. Mayo however had one more roll of the dice and two sublime scores from Colm Enright, one a first time volley saw them over the line at the finish. It was a superb game of hurling with both sides showcasing wonderful skill.

 

Mayo now advance to play Roscommon.