The Gaels flew out of the traps and raced four points clear in the opening ten minutes. Mallie Byrne opened the scoring with a free after Jonathan Griffin setup Danny Burke who was fouled. Noel Quinn and Jonathan Griffin combined to setup Danny Burke to fire over from play. Jonathan Griffin once more supplied Danny Burke who fed Neil McGurrin for a good score from play. Jonathan Griffin continued his all action start when he picked out the hard working Damien Quinn for another Gaels points from play to leave the Gaels four clear after ten minutes. Kilmeena took over at midfield for the next ten minutes and leveled the game with four points. Three frees through needless fouling and another point from play to leave the score 0-4 apiece after twenty minutes. The Gaels composed themselves and a fine fun by Seam Boyle saw him hacked down. Danny Burke pointed the resulting free. Danny Burke and Cathal Vahey worked to setup Johnny Morrin who sold a beautiful dummy before sweetly landing a fine point to leave the halftime score 0-6 to 0-4 in favour of the Gaels.
Kilmeena wiped out the Gaels lead inside the first ninety seconds of the second half with a free and a point from play. The sides swapped scores with a great Danny Burke score from play and another needless Kilmeena free. When the Gaels let the long ball into the danger area the full forward line always had the beating of their men. A long ball to Damien Quinn saw him fouled and once more Danny Burke coolly pointed the free. Another fine run by Sean Boyle through the middle setup Mallie Byrne for a point from play. Then came the crucial score of the game. A great catch by Noel Quinn saw him drive the ball long which was fielded by Danny Burke who skinned his man and slotted to the net to give the Gaels a five point lead with twenty minutes left. The Gaels now had their tails up and closed out the game with scores from a Danny Burke free after Neil McGurrin was fouled. Noel Quinn then raided forward to setup Sean Boyle for a deserved point from play. Noel received a nasty mouth incident during this passage of play and had to go off after a lengthy stoppage. He was replaced by the ageless James Fallon who has now played championship football for the Gaels in the 80s, 90s, 00s and 10s. The Gaels management ran their bench in the final few minutes and another great club servant Dermot Browne enter proceedings. The final few minutes saw the sides swap frees with Danny Burke rounding off a fine performance with a free to leave the Gaels 1-12 to 0-8 winners. They now face two vital league games with Killala up next weekend.
Mayo Gaels team: Paul Mannion, Noel Quinn, Adrian Heneghan, Anthony Byrne, Noel Morris, Niall Brett, Nartin Connor, Sean Boyle (0-1), Jonathan Morrin (0-1), Mallie Byrne (0-2, 1f), Danny Burke (1-6, 4f), Neil McGurrin (0-1), Damien Quinn (0-1), Cathal Vahey, Jonathan Griffin. Subs. Shave Vahey for Damien Quinn, James Fallon for Noel Quinn (inj), Dermot Browne for Neil McGurrin, Allyn Brett for Noel Morris.
