HOW THE WASTE WAS WON

Mayo provided a masterclass in how to throw away a match that looked to be theirs for the taking and gift Connacht crown to rivals Galway

- BY KARL O'KANE

TALK about regrets. Mayo will have nightmares about the masterclass they gave in last Sunday's Connacht Final on how NOT to manage a game.

Galway scored four of their last five shots into the breeze, where Mayo had 11 chances in the final 25 minutes and got four points from a possible 19.

Two were goal chances, both missed, although two points were scored, one from a resultant Colm Reape 45 and another from a Davitt Neary shot blazed over the bar.

Four of the 11 chances were two-point shots, where they got one point out of a possible eight.

Erratic decision-making as well as poor shot selection and execution cost them dearly.

They should really have the Nestor Cup at home this morning, instead of looking on at Galway's first Connacht four-in-a-row since 1966.

This was a painful new chapter in an old Mayo classic, 'How to lose a game you have by the scruff of the neck'.

The stakes were not as high as the Dublin epics (2012-17) but the manner of the defeat was peak Mayo and a lesson in how to shoot yourself in the foot.

First, the pity bit.

Mayo worked like absolute dogs to turn over ball after ball in a stirring second-half fightback from eight points behind.

They were also on the end of a dubious penalty call, although the pull-back on Johnny McGrath inhibited the power in his shot, with Matthew Tierney lashing the resultant spot kick to the net.

The real game started in the 47th minute when Mayo had an advantage with Neary through on goal.

The impressive newcomer blazed over when he had to keep it low as Mayo were going back for a routine point from a free.

On 52 minutes, Ryan O'Donoghue lined up a monster free from over 50 metres. It was debatable whether it was within his range or not.