All-Ireland GAA ESB MFC Q-Final – Tipperary v Mayo

Connacht champions Mayo defeated Tipperary by 3-11 to 1-8 in the ESB All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Q-Final played on Monday at Tullamore.

Corduff goal sends prolific Mayo on their way

MAYO 3-10 TIPPERARY 1-8

From the Irish Independent newspaper

Tuesday August 04 2009

Mayo marched on with a comprehensive eight-point victory over Tipperary in Tullamore. While Mayo had an early goal chance when Killeen O’Connor shot against the crossbar, Tipp opened the scoring with a pointed free from Billy Hewitt on 10 minutes. Mayo got their first score two minutes later when O’Connor set up Alex Corduff who made no mistake by finding the net to bring the game to life. Ciaran Charlton added a point, with Ray Dempsey’s charges securing their second goal of the game after 21 minutes. Corduff was the provider this time as he passed to Darren Coen who found the net. A Corduff point stretched the lead to seven points before Tipperary rallied with a goal and a point. Eddie Kendrick netted from close range, before a pointed free from Hewitt reduced the deficit to just a goal. Mayo, however, got the last scores of the half with two points from Andrew Farrell to leave the half-time score at 2-4 to 1-2 in favour of the Connacht champions.

Mayo then stretched their lead to seven points early in the second half with points from O’Connor and Jack McDonnell. All Tipperary’s second-half scores came from frees, with two from McMahon still leaving five points between the teams after 42 minutes. Mayo, however, sealed their passage with their third goal five minutes later with Aidan Walsh creating the chance for O’Connor. The eight-point lead was maintained until full-time as both sides swapped four points apiece.

Scorers — Mayo: K O’Connor (0-1f), A Corduff 1-1 each; D Coen 1-0; C Charlton, A Farrell 0-2 each; A Walsh, J McDonnell, D Herbert, B Walsh 0-1 each. Tipperary: E Kendrick 1-0; B Hewitt, (4fs), J McMahon (4fs) 0-4 each.

MAYO — M Slingermann, M Walsh, K Rogers, D Gavin, M McCormack, S McDermott, C Charlton, D Kirby, A Walsh, D Coen, A Farrell, F Durkin, J McDonnell, K O’Connor, A Corduff. Subs: D Herbert for D Coen (40), J Donoghue for J McDonnell (50) K Crowe for M McCormack (55), B Walsh for F Durkin (57) J Carney for A Walsh (58).

TIPPERARY — A Wall, P Dalton, J Ryan, G Quinn, L Murphy, G Mulhair, D Dwyer, A Matassa, E Kendrick, T Hill, B Hewitt, R McGrath, R Peters, J McMahon, S Fagan (L Treacy 27m).
Subs: L Treacy for S Fagan (27), S Power for R Peters (42), M Ivors for T Hill (44), E Kent for A Matassa (53), J Carroll for G Quinn (56).

REF — E Kinsella (Laois)

Sharper Mayo prove too strong

From the Irish Times newspaper

Mayo 3-10, Tipperary 1-8

DESPITE A slow start which saw neither side able to raise a flag for the first 10 minutes Mayo surged to an eight-point win over Tipperary in this All-Ireland quarter-final tie at O’Connor Park, Tullamore yesterday.

Mayo’s sharper attack was to ultimately seal a semi-final place, two first-half goals building the platform for victory and the third, 15 minutes from time, really killing the game as a contest.

Tipperary’s main source of scoring came from frees, Billy Hewitt and Johnny McMahon sharing their eight points between them and their only score from play was a goal by Eddie Kendrick.

That came in the 21st minute just as Mayo were beginning to dominate after the opening score from Alex Durkan who found the net on 10 minutes. Five minutes later Darren Coen added a second goal as Mayo took command to lead 2-4 to 1-2 at the interval.

James McDonnell and Cillian O’Connor added two early points in the second half but the goal that effectively ended Tipperary’s interest in the championship came when Cillian O’Connor turned his marker and fired low into the net.

Mayo finished off the game in style with points from two of their substitutes, Brian Walsh and Darl Herbert, along with a second point from wing back Ciarán Charlton.

Mayo manager Ray Dempsey said after the game: “No disrespect to Tipperary but we have to step up again if we are to qualify for the final.”

MAYO: M Slingermann; M Walsh, K Rogers, D Gavin; M McCormack, S McDermott, C Charlton (0-2); D Kirby, A Walsh (0-1); D Coen (1-0), A Farrell (0-2), F Durkan; J McDonnell (0-1), C O’Connor (1-1), A Corduff (1-1). Subs: D Herbert (0-1) for Coen (40 mins), J Donoghue for McDonnell (50 mins), K Crowe for McCormack, B Walsh. (0-1) for Durkin (58 mins), J Carney for A Walsh.

TIPPERARY: A Wall; P Dalton, J Ryan, G Quinn; L Murphy, G, Mulhair, D O’Dwyer; A Matassa, E Hendrick (1-0); T Hill, B Hewitt (0-4 all frees), R McGrath; R Peters, J McMahon (0-4, all frees), S Fagan. Subs: L Treacy for Fagan (24 mins), S O’Meara for Peters (44 mins), M Ivors for Hill (45 mins), S Powers for Peters (46 mins), E Kent for Matassa (53 mins).

Referee: E Kinsella (Laois)

Mayo into minor semi-final

Monday, August 03, 2009 – 10:33 PM

From the Irish Independent newspaper

Mayo 3-11 Tipperary 1-8

A trio of goals proved vital as last year’s beaten ESB All-Ireland Minor Football Championship finalists Mayo gained a comfortable win over Tipperary in this afternoon’s quarter-final in Tullamore. It was an excellent team display from a Mayo side that had ten players on target. Thanks to goals from Alex Corduff and Darren Coen, the Connacht youngsters led by 2-2 to 0-1 in the 21st minute. The decision of Mayo manager Ray Dempsey to utilise Corduff as a third midfielder certainly reaped dividends, with the Ballina Stephenites clubman immediately making an impact in the role. Corduff cracked home the first of his side’s goals soon after. Fergal Durkin broke the ball down at midfield to Cillian O’Connor who fed Corduff and Aaron Wall was left with no chance in the Tipperary goals. This was the start of a dominant Mayo spell as they showed excellent form in front of the posts despite playing into a stiff wind.

Tipperary’s possession was limited at this stage as Mayo pressed for scores. Corduff was again involved for Mayo’s second goal, linking with McCormack before Coen slotted the ball to the net. Mayo built up a seven-point lead but this was quickly cut to three points as Tipperary enjoyed a purple patch. A 23rd-minute goal from Eddie Kendrick, following a well-timed pass from John McMahon, gave Tipperary a much-needed lift. Billy Hewitt’s second point, a minute later, left a goal between the sides, but Mayo impressed once again before the interval as a brace of Andrew Farrell points ensured a 2-4 to 1-2 interval lead. Jack McDonnell and Cillian O’Connor were impressive for the eventual winners on the restart, with O’Connor netting Mayo’s third goal as they broke 3-6 to 1-4 in front by the 47th minute. Mayo fired on all cylinders and with Tipperary relying heavily on Hewitt and McMahon for scores, the westerners held plenty in reserve to progress.

Scorers –
Mayo: A Corduff, J McDonnell 1-1 each, D Coen 1-0, C Charlton, A Farrell 0-2 each, J McDonnell, A Walsh, D Herbert, S McDermott, B Walsh 0-1 each.

Tipperary: J McMahon (0-4f), B Hewitt (0-4f) 0-4 each, E Kendrick 1-0.

Ray Dempsey refuses to get carried away

By Mike Finnerty for the Mayo News newspaper

Monday, 03 August 2009

THE few hundred supporters that paid in to watch yesterday’s All-Ireland Minor FC Quarter-Final were just leaving O’Connor Park when Ray Dempsey was asked for his thoughts.

The Mayo manager is known for his pragmatic approach and after an honest, solid, workmanlike victory, he was sticking to the script. His team will have to improve when they go to Croke Park.

“Today was all about going through to the semi-final,” he told The Mayo News. “The performance at times was very good and, at other times, it wasn’t great. We need to get a bit of consistency, but the lads have played two big games in the space of a week now, a Connacht final and an All-Ireland Quarter-Final.

“But those games should have brought the lads on a lot and they’ll relish the chance now to play Dublin or Down in the semi-final because that’s going to be another step higher.”

Mayo’s three goals were ultimately the scores that underlined the gulf in class between the teams. The first two arrived in the space of nine first half minutes while the killer-blow was applied 13 minutes from time. In between, Mayo did enough to get by.

“We manufactured goals but the most disappointing thing was that we over-elaborated in the first 15 minutes,” replied Ray Dempsey when asked about the pleasing aspects of his team’s performance.

“We didn’t keep it simple and we tried to force the issue, to take on too much. As a result there was no end product out of it.

“This team is a decent team once nobody worries about who is getting credit for playing well,” he added. “We need to work just a little bit more on that. The players have to be accountable a bit for that, they have to keep it simple and keep our game-plan intact.”

There is no doubt though that the graph is rising for this Mayo team. They hit the ground running against Galway, went about their business efficiently against Roscommon in the Connacht Final replay, and this win was another step in the right direction.

“Yeah, the lads are improving,” agreed their manager. “They’re gelling together as a team all the time and that’s what happens with minors, they get to know each other. We’ve a lot of work to do in the next month and it’s time now to see where we’re at.

“We have to improve if we’re to have a chance against Dublin or Down. That performance wouldn’t be good enough to beat either of those teams but, having said that, our lads were coming off the back of two hard games.”

So, next stop Croke Park for the team that Ray Dempsey, Kevin Beirne, Tomás O’Grady and Kevin Beirne have built over the last seven months. The sap is rising.

“The lads set out goals and ambitions at the start of the year and one of them was to get to Croke Park and perform,” said Dempsey. “That’s the opportunity we have now.”

Team News

The Tipperary team to face Mayo in the All-Ireland Minor football quarter- final at Tullamore next Monday shows three changes from the team that lost to Kerry in the Munster final at Pairc Ui Caoimh on July 5 last. Aldo Matassa takes over at midfield in place of Jack Lonergan. Johnny McMahon is promoted to full forward as is newcomer Shane Fagan to left corner forward, leaving Michael Ivors and Liam Treacy on the bench. There are some positional changes also with Billy Hewitt and Ross McGrath moving out to the half forward line while Roger Peters goes from left wing forward to top of the right.

The team is as follows.

1 Aaron Wall Cahir

2 Paddy Dalton Arravale Rovers

3 Jonathan Ryan Ardfinnan

4 Graham Quinn Clonmel Og

5 Luke Murphy Ballylooby/Castlegrace

6 Gerard Mulhair Arravale Rovers Captain

7 Darragh Dwyer Moyle Rovers

8 Aldo Matassa Clonmel Commercials

9 Eddie Kendrick Cahir

10 Thomas Hill Moyle Rovers

11 Billy Hewitt Ardfinnan

12 Ross McGrath Newport

13 Roger Peters Cahir

14 Johnny McMahon Inane Rovers

15 Shane Fagan Ardfinnan