A new House of Pain in the West

By JIM CARNEY Mayo .4-16 Galway .0-11 IT WAS an excellent, powerful performance by James Horanâ€â„¢s Mayo team, winning their countyâ€â„¢s first Connacht three-in-a-row since the late 1940s and early â€Ëœ50s when they achieved a four-in-a-row in the province and two All-Ireland titles back-to-back. For the record, it also put Mayo into the lead in victories over Galway in the Connacht S.F.C., 39 to 38. Mayo were dominant from the start on Sunday, with right half-forward Kevin McLoughlin getting onto the breaking ball three times in the opening few minutes. The two Oâ€â„¢Shea brothers from Breaffy, Aidan and Séamus, controlled midfield; Donal Vaughan and Colm Boyle were outstanding in the Mayo half-back line and so was Keith Higgins in the full-back line. Goalkeeper David Clarke also did everything asked of him, while Cathal Carolan, Enda Varley and Donal Vaughan got the first-half goals and the fourth â€Å“majorâ€Â came late in the game from the fit-again Andy Moran, on as a sub. Cillian Oâ€â„¢Connor was involved in all four Mayo goals. Galway created only one clearcut goal opportunity but Danny Cummins, who was one of the home teamâ€â„¢s better performers over the 70 minutes, shot straight at the well-positioned Mayo goalkeeper from a tight angle. Only four other Galway players could be happy with their displays, Jonathan Duane, Paul Conroy, sub Shane Walsh (only 19) and, for courage and heart, Michael Meehan. A bad day was made worse by two red cards in the second half: Gareth Bradshaw (captain for the day in the absence of Finian Hanley) and Niall Coleman. They will be suspended for Galwayâ€â„¢s next Championship match (June 29) but will be available to play club football this weekend. Mayo: D. Clarke, captain; K. Higgins, T. Cunniffe, G. Cafferkey; L. Keegan (0-1), D. Vaughan (1-1), C. Boyle; A. Oâ€â„¢Shea, S. Oâ€â„¢Shea; K. McLoughlin, C. Oâ€â„¢Connor (0-6, four frees), C. Carolan (1-0); E. Varley (1-3), A. Freeman (0-1), A. Dillon (0-2). Subs., S. McHale, for Cafferkey, half-time; R. Feeney (0-1), for Freeman, 55 mins; D. Coen (0-1), for Dillon, 58 mins; J. Burke, for Keegan, 60 mins; A. Moran (1-0), for Boyle, 62 mins. Galway: M. Breathnach; J. Duane, C. Forde, G. Sweeney; G. Bradshaw, captain, K. Kelly, G. Sice; N. Coleman, F. Ó Curraoin; T. Flynn, P. Conroy (0-1), C. Doherty; S. Armstrong (0-3, frees), M. Meehan (0-5, four frees, one 45), D. Cummins (0-1). Subs., S. Walsh (0-1, free), for Doherty, 23 mins; J. Moore, for Sweeney, half-time; G. Oâ€â„¢Donnell, for Armstrong, 55 mins; E. Concannon, for Sice, 63 mins; M. Martin, for Meehan, 63 mins. Referee: Marty Duffy (Sligo). Herald Sport Man of the Match: Colm Boyle (Mayo). â€Â¢ Mayo will next play Roscommon in the first of the Connacht semi-finals, on June 16th at Castlebar. â€Â¢ Next Sunday, May 26th: London vs Sligo at Ruislip, London. â€Â¢ June 23rd: second semi-final, Leitrim vs London or Sligo, at Carrick-on-Shannon. â€Â¢ July 21: Connacht final.