An impeccable third quarter exhibition of place kicking by Mayo's Maurice Sheridan offset Leitrim's good performance at Ballina yesterday. Sheridan scored five points from wind-assisted frees, from as far out as 65 yards.
"I have been practising free-taking a lot," said Sheridan, playing only his second game since retiring injured in the All-Ireland final. "The big thing for me today is that I have got over my hamstring and back injuries."
Apart from the Balla man's accuracy and a well-worked goal, Mayo's lack of scoring power was alarming. Leitrim applied themselves well after team captain Kieran Murray opted for wind advantage. They had raced away to a 0-4 to 0-0 lead in 14 minutes. By this time Mayo had shown how poor they could be by over-elaborating against an uncompromising close-marking defence. Fifteen minutes had elapsed before James Horan got them off the mark with an opening point. A couple of minutes later Horan was involved in a great Mayo goal that somehow looked incongruous amid the free-riddled and untidy play.
The move started in the Mayo back line and then developed into something resembling a rugby three-quarter move with Ray Dempsey and Horan linking up cleverly before Diarmuid Byrne put the ball into the Leitrim net.
The crowd of 5,000 had to put up with a total of 29 frees in the first half and it got worse in the second period with Galway referee Des Joyce whistling for 32 frees. With Leitrim not prepared to give an inch the game was very much alive at half-time, with Leitrim leading 0-7 to 1-1. Sheridan's erosion of that Leitrim advantage delighted the Mayo crowd. He began by landing a 60yard free and followed up with another huge one from 50 yards. His best effort of the day soon followed as he sailed the ball over the Leitrim bar from 65 yards out and he added a further two long-range efforts. It was fortunate for Mayo that their defence was in such good form to deal with the probings of George Dugdale, Aidan Rooney and Padraig McLoughlin.
Clearly the outstanding player in that Mayo rearguard was Fergal Costelloe, who repeatedly read the play superbly and cleared his lines with panache.
Mayo always appeared the more able and dangerous when attempting movements, but misunderstandings and over use of the ball too often got them into trouble.
Kieran McDonald got the best shot of the second half, a pile-driver from the left, but Leitrim goalkeeper Gareth Phelan proved equal to the task. Leitrim never stopped trying and seemed in with a good chance of a draw at least up to the final whistle. Liam McHale was introduced late in the second half as a replacement for Colm McManamon. His presence alone seemed to have a much-needed inspiring effect on his Mayo colleagues as a tigerish Leitrim kept battling away.
Mayo: J Madden; K Mortimer, P Holmes, F Costelloe; J Casey, J Nallen, N Connelly (0-1); P Fallon, D Brady; M Sheridan (0-5, frees), K Mc- Donald (0-1), C McManamon; D Byrne (1-0), J Horan (0-2), R Dempsey. Subs: L McHale for McManaman (51 mins); D Heaney for Casey (55 mins); and D Nestor for Dempsey (63 mins).
Leitrim: G Phelan; D Kelleher, A Charles, K Murray; C Regan, F Davitt, S McGettigan; R Logan (0-1), S Quinn; G Dugdale (0-2), A Rooney (0-2 free and 45), F O'Brien; P McLoughlin (0-2), A Cullen (0-1), H Bohan (0-1). Subs: P Donoghue for Davitt (40 mins); C Carroll for McLoughlin (45 mins); P Farrell for Logan (53 mins).
Referee: D Joyce (Galway).
