Relegation looms for Rossies after dreadful second-half performance in Castlebar

Mayo 0-15

Roscommon 0-9

Allianz Division One Football League

Roscommon were catapulted towards the relegation trapdoor in Division One after a dreadful second-half performance resulted in a six-point loss in Castlebar this evening.

After an uncertain start, Davy Burke's side worked their way back into the game to trail by just a point at half time. But they never raised a gallop in the second half, and, in truth, Mayo didn't have to work particularly hard for their triumph.

Mayo were full of fire and brimstone early on, taking the game to opponents that had humbled them in the championship at the same venue last season.

The home side were on top at midfield, and with Fergal Boland and Ryan O'Donoghue looking lively up front, Kevin McStay's men got some early scores to settle them through Boland and goalkeeper Colm Reape.

Diarmuid Murtagh halted Mayo's momentum momentarily with his side's first point but a quick-fire O'Donoghue double left it 0-4 to 0-1 after 14 minutes.

After 23 minutes, Mayo remained well on top, leading by 0-7 to 0-3 as Roscommon lived on scraps up front.

But they belatedly settled into the game with a couple of crucial turnovers and two quick points from the superb Murtagh pared back the margin to just two points.

Enda Smith's attempted lob was pushed away for a '45 by Reape, which Roscommon goalkeeper Conor Carroll pointed to leave the visitors 0-7 to 0-6 behind at half time.

But Roscommon left their minds and bodies in the dressing room for the second half as Mayo did what they pleased.

With Boland and Ryan O'Donoghue continuing to keep the scoreboard ticking over, Mayo went further and further ahead as Roscommon quickly ran out of ideas, resorting to "hit and hope" deliveries into their attack.

Conor Cox hit Roscommon's first score of the half after 57 minutes, but the game was long over at that stage as Kevin McStay's men ran out comfortable winners.