Connacht Senior Football Championship Quarter Final

Mayo 2-16 London 0-9

By Colm Gannon, Irish TV Grounds Ruislip

After nearly coming undone here last time out when James Horan's Mayo management tenure almost came to an abrupt end, Stephen Rochford will be happy that he got out of London much more easily this time.

The hosts featured four London born players in their ranks with the appearance of Gavin McEvoy, Philip Butler, Liam Gavaghan and Adrian Moyles showing the fruits of underage work in the city. A further four locals were on the bench too, while three Mayo natives Caoimhin Carty, Danny Ryan and James Moran got their chance to impress against the lads from home.

Mayo did the heavy lifting in this game in the middle part of the first half when they hit London for two goals in the space of six minutes. Conor Loftus who came on for Cillian O'Connor who was sent to the line early in the game hit the first three pointer of the game when he finished from closer range after Kevin McLoughlin had intercepted a short kick-out from London.

That score put Mayo into a 1-4 to 0-1 lead 19 minutes in and six minutes later Jason Doherty got Mayo's second goal when he finished from close range after a barrelling run from Aidan O'Shea set up the chance.

With that goal the game was up as a contest, but London did try to dig their way back into the game and they reeled off three points on the bounce between the 28th and 30th minute with Adrian Moyles kicking two of them. But scores from Aidan O'Shea and Evan Regan before the break sent Mayo in leading by 2-8 to 0-5 at the half way marker.

The second half started with Regan kicking a fine point from out on the right hand side tight to the touch line, but Mayo were still wayward in their shooting on occasions over the next few minutes and introduction of Andy Moran spurred some more life into the attack with the veteran hitting two points in as many minutes midway through the half.

The sun shone and the capacity crowd were enjoying the carnival atmosphere in Ruislip as Mayo eased their way to victory with Alan Dillon putting the full stop on the performance with a well taken score right at the death.

Galway are up next for Mayo on Saturday, June 18 in Castlebar and the Tribesmen will be itching to take down Mayo for the first time this decade.

Scorers for Mayo: E Regan 0-7 (5fs), C Loftus 1-2, J Doherty 1-0, A Moran 0-2, A Dillon 0-1, S Nally 0-1, K McLoughlin 0-1, A O’Shea 0-1, R Hennelly 0-1 (45).

Scorers for London: A Moyles 0-4 (2fs), L Gavaghan 0-2, E Murray 0-1, S Conroy 0-1, M Gottsche 0-1 (f).

Mayo: R Hennelly; B Harrison, K Keane, K Higgins; L Keegan, C Boyle, P Durcan; S Coen, J Gibbons; K McLoughlin, A O'Shea, J Doherty; E Regan, C O'Connor, C O'Shea.

Subs: C Loftus for C O'Connor (BC), S Nally for Boyle, A Moran for C O'Shea, C Carolan for Doherty, A Dillon for Gibbons, D Drake for Keegan.

London: G McEvoy; P Butler, C Carty, Caoimhin Dunne; Colin Dunne, Danny Ryan, D McGreevy; J Moran, L Gavaghan; A Moyles, M Gottsche, C Coyne; E Murray, S Conroy, P O'Hara.

Subs: L Mulvey for Murray, C Healy for Dunne, M Walsh for Coyne, C Og Greene for Conroy, S Hickey for O'Hara, C O'Neill for Dunne.

Referee: Derek O'Mahony (Tipperary).