Mayo got 2023 off to a winning start with a 1-20 to 1-09 win over Sligo in James Stephens Park in Ballina.
Played as part of a pre-season friendly in conjunction with Mindspace Mayo the Green and Red dominated proceedings from early on.
Kevin McStay's men raced into a 1-05 to no score lead after a quarter of an hour courtesy of 1-1 from Conor McStay and a point each from Matthew Ruane, Jordan Flynn, James Carr and Jack Carney.
David Quinn opened Sligo's account after 16 minutes from a free but Mayo responded with two on the bounce, one from Ruane and a free from Ryan O'Donoghue who has returned from injury.
Niall Murphy hit two for the Yeats men which were cancelled out by O'Donoghue and McStay points to leave Mayo 1-09 to 0-03 ahead at half time.
Kevin McStay ran the bench in the second half but it was the established players that continued to get the scores with O'Donoghue and Jack Carney stretching Mayo's lead out to eleven points.
Tony McEntee's side did manage to bag a goal on the 40th minute when David Quinn sent in a speculative ball in around the goalmouth area which Donal Conlon was able to force home past Colm Reape.
Mayo responded with four on the trot with points coming from Jack Coyne, Bob Tuohy, James Carr and Jordan Flynn.
Sean Carrabine did come into the game for Sligo in the second half hitting three points and scores also came from Niall Murphy, Luke Towey and Cian Lally.
Mayo were far superior though and their scoring was completed by two more Jack Carney points and one each from Paul Towey, Jack Fallon and Fenton Kelly.
Overall plenty of positives for new Mayo boss Kevin McStay in his first outing.
David McBrien at full back looked very solid with good displays also from Sam Callinan, Matthew Ruane, Jack Carney, Jordan Flynn, Bob Tuohy and Conor McStay put in a good first half. Off the bench there were good displays from Enda Hession, Rory Brickenden, Fenton Kelly and Jack Fallon.
It finished in Ballina – Mayo 1-20 Sligo 1-09
Afterwards Kevin McStay spoke to Midwest Sport.
