Mayo FC suffer third defeat in National League

Mayo FC suffered their third defeat of the National League Group 2 season away to Salthill Devon at a windy NFP Park, with the Galway side emerging with a 2-0 victory.

Mayo played some tidy football during the opening exchanges and they crafted the first noteworthy effort of the tie after five minutes when a chance fell to Connor McCarthy, however, his chipped attempt on goal flew narrowly over the crossbar.

Mayo continued to up the tempo and Darragh Forde just missed out on Ben Edeh’s inviting delivery on 22 minutes.

The turning point of the first half arrived on 38 minutes, when Salthill Devon were awarded a contentious penalty after Mayo’s Daire O’Connor was adjudged to have fouled Salthill’s Ronan Kerin inside the 18-yard box. Timmy Molloy was coolness personified form the spot-kick and the hosts held a slender 1-0 lead during the half-time pep-talks.

Salthill played the better football during the embryonic stages of the second half and the blue and white almost added a second goal on 51 minutes, however, Ben McDonnell’s dipping strike clipped the upright.

Mayo were left ruing their luck on 58 minutes when James McGrath’s pinging free was parried by Sam Begley in the Salthill goal, with the loose ball eventually cleared by the home rearguard.

Against the run of play the local’s added a vital second goal on 68 minutes. Substitutes Diala Princewell and Cole Connolly combined, with the latter’s close-range diving header rustling the back of the net.

A gallant Mayo refused to throw in the towel, and they almost pulled a goal back towards the end of the game, but Sean McAteer’s free-kick flashed inches wide.

Mayo FC will return to National League action on October 3 when they welcome Letterkenny Rovers to Umbro Park Milebush.