McDermott strike gets Mayo over line

MAYO 2-15 DCU 0-19

A second-half goal by substitute Kieran McDermott proved to be the difference between the sides at Alfie Byrne Park, as Mayo held off a strong comeback from DCU to book their place in the final.

The Westerners hit the ground running with a second-minute goal courtesy of Derek McDonnell, and kept their opponents at arm’s length, leading by 1-9 to 0-7 at the break.

Three more points from the magnificent Kenny Feeney increased Mayo’s superiority and they opened up a 10-point gap when McDermott fired home from close range on 48 minutes.

With Tony French and Cormac Ryan registering a combined haul of 0-8, a resurgent DCU reduced the gap to a point with a minute left. But a monster free from netminder Donal O’Brien helped Mayo over the line.

Scorers – Mayo: K Feeney 0-9 (8fs), D McDonnell, K McDermott 1-0 each, F Boland, B Hunt 0-2 each, D O’Brien (f), S Hoban 0-1 each. DCU: T French 0-7 (4fs), C Ryan 0-5 (3fs, 1 ’65’), J Divilly 0-3, P Bolger 0-2, D Gavin, N Walsh 0-1 each.

MAYO – D O’Brien; A Brennan, A Connolly, D Kenny; K Kiely, P O’Flynn, P Barrett; G Nolan, B Higgins; F Boland, S Hoban, B Hunt; C Scahill, D McDonnell, K Feeney. Subs: K McDermott for Scahill (23), N O’Malley for Kiely (59).

DCU – P Burke; E Corcoran, J Whelan, G Bennett; A Cormican, D Galway, P Bolger; J Ging, N Walsh; C Ryan, J Divilly, T French; C Egan, T Brennan, D Gavin. Subs: G Grace for Ging (h-t), P O’Carroll for Brennan (h-t).

Ref – J Heffernan (Wexford)