Mayo produced a strong second-half performance to book a place in the Connacht final and push Roscommon aside.
Roscommon were lively and effective, however, the second-half performance fell short as Mayo’s fitness and conditioning told. Mayo scoring a 1-15 to 0-13 victory.
Paddy Durcan opened the scoring with a point after three minutes. Just seven minutes were on the clock when Mayo landed the opening goal. Aiden O’Shea gliding through the defence to find the net.
Diarmuid Murtagh sent over Roscommon’s first score of the day with nine minutes on the clock. Ryan O’Donoghue and Murtagh exchanged points as Roscommon hung in.
Murtagh landed his third score of the day on 15 minutes. A converted Cregg free four minutes later made it a one point game. 1-2 to four points.
Mayo responded through Ryan O’Donoghue on 24 minutes. Mayo’s first score for 12 minutes. Ben O’Carroll responded with a point 60 seconds later. O’Donoghue took a Mayo point when the goal was on.
Donnie Smith tagged on another Rossies score with Murtagh’s fourth of the game levelling it up three minutes before half-time.
However, Mayo responded with points from Boland and O’Donoghue. Daire Cregg sent over a point in injury time as Mayo led 1-6 to eight points at half-time.
The Rossie’s were well in it heading for the second-half, however, Mayo delivered another gear.
Daire Cregg set Roscommon up for a big second-half equalising moments after the restart. However, Tommy Conroy and O’Donoghue replied to move Mayo two clear.
Cregg replied but Mayo added scores through O’Donoghue, Aiden O’Shea and Conor Loftus making it 1-11 to 10 points on 48 minutes.
The Rossies pulled one back, but Mayo had big answers. O’Donoghue, Fergal Boland and Conroy moved Mayo six clear. Eoin McCormack added a Roscommon point as Mayo led 1-14 to 12 points with nine minutes remaining.
Murtagh pulled it back to a fourth point game but Conor Loftus responded for Mayo to wrap up the scoring.
Mayo booked a meeting with Galway in the Connacht final 1-15 to 13 points.
FULL-TIME HIGHLIGHTS
It’s victory for Mayo here against Roscommon at Dr. Hyde Park in the Connacht Senior Football Championship Semi Final.@RoscommonGAA - 0-13 (13)@MayoGAA - 1-15 (18)#GAANOW brings you the best of the action. pic.twitter.com/ROXtEgAPKJ
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 21, 2024
