Mayo got themselves up and running in Group 2 of the All-Ireland SFC with an emphatic 0-20 to 1-8 win over a disappointing Cavan in Castlebar.

Kevin McStay’s men bounced back from their Connacht final loss here and were in control from early with the scores of Ryan O’Donoghue (2), Matthew Ruane, Eoghan McLaughlin and Cillian O’Connor, who was a late replacement for Aidan O’Shea in the starting line-up. That saw them with five points on the board before Cavan’s first arrived in the 14th minute via Oisin Brady whom took over the free-taking duties from injured Breffni star Paddy Lynch.

From there, the teams would trade four points each for the remainder of the half, leaving it a 0-9 to 0-5 come the break, and the second-half would see the Westerners exert their dominance around the middle and sail over scores via O’Donoghue, O’Connor, Stephen and Conor Loftus to take a firm grip.

The margin would be at nine before James Smith rebounded in a consolation goal for the Ulster side on the hour mark, but there'd be no chance of a come back from the visitors as O’Connor and O’Donoghue registered a brace each in the time that remained to put a seal on the comfortable victory for Mayo.

Our senior footballers get the win in the All Ireland series in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park. pic.twitter.com/dvNvnN2uL5

— Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) May 18, 2024

Tweet

Most Read Stories