Mayo 0-14 NUIG 0-4:A VERY strong Mayo team had no difficulty in dismissing the challenge of NUIG to retain their FBD Connacht league title at McHale Park yesterday evening.

John Maughan’s young side were tossed overboard in the second half as they managed to score just one point against a vastly superior and much physically stronger Mayo team who signalled their intent ahead of their opening National League game against Laois next weekend.

Mayo had built up a solid 0-8 to 0-3 lead by the interval. Andy Moran showed he has lost none of his edge following a return after four months out with a damaged ankle with three of those scores, while Alan Freeman stroked over two frees and Conor Mortimer also accounted for two points, as Mayo’s experience proved a telling factor.

The second half was a one-sided affair as Mayo ran the bench and it took some superb goalkeeping from Donal O’Sullivan to keep the scoreboard on the reasonably respectable side.

MAYO: D Clarke, K Higgins, G Cafferkey, L Keegan, P Gardiner, D Vaughan, R Feeney, B Moran (0-1), A O’Shea, K McLoughlin (0-1), A Dillon, P Harte, A Freeman (0-3, 2f), A Moran (0-3), C Mortimer (0-5, 4f). Subs: S O’Shea for A O’Shea (38 mins), A O Connor for A Moran (38 mins), E O’Reilly for G Cafferkey (40 mins), C Boyle for R Feeney (40 mins), E Regan for a Freeman (43 mins).

NUIG: D O’Sullivan, L Healy, D Gavin, K McDonald, J Moore, G Sweeney, R Kiely, S Guing, S Moran (0-1), F Desmond (0-2), S Gilmartin, K Conroy, N Douglas (0-1), J Doherty, I Galvin. Subs: R Rochford for D Gavin (24 mins), C Griffin for S Guing (33 mins), K Conlon for K Conroy (38 mins), D Newcombe for R Kiely (44 mins), S McWeeney for G Sweeney (42 mins), C Crowe for L Healy (58 mins).

Referee: M Duffy (Sligo).