Flashback: Dublin Senior Footballers v Mayo- 2020 Allianz League

Mon, 29th January 2024

By Conor Martin

Dublin's Senior Footballers gear up for a road trip to Mayo this weekend, as we head to Castlebar for our first away fixture of the Allianz Football League Division 1 season.

Our last visit to Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in 2020 saw Dublin head home to the capital with a 1-11 to 0-8 win- and those of a Dublin persuasion will be looking for exactly the same outcome again on Saturday night.

It wasn’t a classic by any means, but Dublin demonstrated their experience and slickness to get the win.

Life was made easier for Dublin when Mayo were reduced to 14 men just before the 15-minute mark after Jordan Flynn’s high tackle on John Small.

At that stage, Mayo seemed to be finding their groove thanks to scores from Aidan O’Shea, Diarmuid O’Connor and James Carr.

But as the half wore on, the extra man for Dublin was proving crucial as Mayo were forced extra hard to deal with the Dublin attack.

When the whistle went for half-time, both teams had five points to show for their first-half efforts. Dean Rock and James McCarthy scoring to ensure parity at the break.

The game swung the way of Dessie Farrell’s men after the break when Kevin McManamon picked out Rock, who flicked the ball into the net from the tightest of angles.

A point from John Small inside the final 20 minutes put daylight between the sides as Mayo went almost 25 minutes without a single score for a period and kicked ten second-half wides.

McCarthy and Dublin substitute Aaron Byrne kicked the pick of the closing scores as an efficient display saw the Boys in Blue comfortably home.

Mayo: R Hennelly; P O'Hora, O Mullin, B Harrison; M Plunkett, C Boyle, P Durcan; S Coen, D O’Connor (0-01, 1f); F Boland (0-02, 1m), R O’Donoghue, J Flynn; A O’Shea (0-01), J Carr (0-01), J Durcan (0-02, 1f).

Subs used: L Keegan for Boyle (inj); T Conroy (0-1) for Carr; K McLoughlin for O’Donoghue; J McCormack for O’Shea; C Loftus for J Durcan.

Dublin: E Comerford; M Fitzsimons, D Byrne, R O’Carroll; J McCarthy (0-02), J Small (0-01), E Murchan; B Fenton, B Howard; N Scully (0-01), C McHugh, C Kilkenny (0-01); K McManamon (0-01), D O’Brien (0-01), D Rock (1-03, 2f).

Subs used: P Mannion for McHugh; L Flatman for O’Carroll; P Small for McManamon; A Byrne (0-1) for O’Brien; C O’Shea for Murchan.

Referee: B Cassidy (Derry)