GAA Live: Cork v Tipperary, Offaly v Waterford, Mayo v Sligo, New York v Galway, Meath v Carlow, Longford v Wicklow, Donegal v Derry

Frank Roche in MacHale Park:

Mayo are through to the Connacht semi-finals – no surprise there – but this wasn’t a performance to banish the latest wave of doubts that followed their league final defeat to Kerry.

Early doors, especially after Ryan O’Donoghue’s angled strike for a sixth minute goal, they threatened to cut open the Sligo defence for further green flags.

But having led by six points after 23 minutes, they waned down the home straight of the first half, allowing Niall Murphy and Pat Spillane to offer a smidgen of hope to Sligo when half-time came with just a goal between the teams, 1-8 to 0-8.

The Division 3 underdogs had the elements in the second half but were quickly blown off course by a 37th minute goal from player of the match Aidan O’Shea. 

Even when Mayo eased nine clear, Sligo responded with another Murphy point followed by Cian Lally’s 59th minute goal. And then, still trailing by seven in the dying minutes, they hit the game’s first two-pointers – via Alan McLoughlin and Murphy, even though the latter was clearly two metres inside the arc.

That dubious score had no material effect, but a final margin of just three points underlines that this was a very scratchy Mayo effort, miles removed from the standard required to challenge for Sam.

For Sligo the Tailteann Cup beckons; for Mayo a semi-final date with Leitrim.

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