Roscommon well beaten by slicker Mayo outfit
Mark Dowd saw his side fall to a 13 point defeat to Mayo in the FBD League. Picture: INPHO/Dan Clohessy
Roscommon suffered their first defeat of 2026 as Mayo cut loose in the second half.
Following a first half devoid of quality, Andy Moran’s men stepped on the afterburners upon the resumption of play.
Mayo were odds on favourites when leading 0-8 to 1-2 at half time with wind advantage to come. However, the manner in which they glided past Roscommon will leave Mark Dowd searching for answers in the coming days.
The opening half was a tough watch at times as the sides combined for 13 wides and just 11 scores. Enda Hession got the ball rolling with a neat effort inside the opening three minutes.
Mark Dowd’s side kicked eight opening half wides, four of which were overcooked passes, as they struggled to break down their foes’ defensive system for large stretches.
However, in the 12th minute a sumptuous ball by Caelim Keogh picked out Daire Cregg who turned inside before picking out the bottom corner of the net. But, from there Mayo gradually took control.
Cregg grabbed Roscommon’s second score of the game but Mayo kicked five of the last six scores before the break as five different players found the target including Ryan O’Donoghue and Aidan O’Shea.
Mayo led 0-8 to 1-2 at the interval before powering further in front at the start of the final period. Andy Moran’s side proved far more effective in using the wind at their backs as Jack Carney and Ryan O’Donoghue nailed two-pointers inside the opening two minutes of the second half.
Another double from Adam Barrett gave Mayo a 0-15 to 1-3 advantage after 38 minutes and left Roscommon with a mountain to climb. Eoin Ward sought to make that trek a little less arduous but he was thwarted by Rob Hennelly.
Tommy Conroy bagged Mayo’s fourth two-pointer of the third quarter to hand Mayo complete control.
Roscommon reduced their arrears to single digits as Daire Cregg slotted two frees while Cian McKeon arrowed over while Eoin Colleran saw Rob Hennelly touch his goalbound effort on to the post.
However, Mayo had the final say as Tom Lydon landed a pair of late two-pointers to ensure Mayo were successful with six kicks outside the arc in a dominant second half.
Mayo face Galway in the FBD League final on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Tuam Stadium while Roscommon will play Sligo in the FBD Shield final on Friday at 7.30 p.m. in the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, Bekan.
**Full report and reaction in Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald**
