Mayo 0-12
NUIG 1-6

Darren Coen scored 0-5 as Mayo opened their 2014 campaign with a hard-earned FBD League victory over NUIG at MacHale Park last night.

Having just returned for their team holiday in Dubai, Mayo fielded just one member - goalkeeper Robbie Hennelly - of the side that started last year's All-Ireland final defeat to Dublin. Substitute Sean Kelly failed to finish the game after he was black carded with 11 minutes to go.

James Horan's men won this game despite missing three glorious goal-scoring opportunities. They took a 0-6 to 0-4 lead into the break thanks to points from Coen, Tom King, Keith Rogers, Mikey Sweeney and Hennelly ('45') after NUIG had led early on.

When Coen added two more points after the restart, Mayo looked comfortable, but a Sean Moran goal with five remaining left the students just a point adrift.

However, late scores from Coen (free) and substitute Mickey Conroy sealed victory for the Connacht champions, who will be in action again tomorrow against IT Sligo.

Scorers - Mayo: D Coen 0-5 (3fs), R Hennelly 0-2 (2 '45s') T King, K Rogers, M Sweeney, B Harrison, M Conroy 0-1 each. NUIG: Sean Moran 1-0, Shane Moran, C Davey 0-2 each, K Gibbons (1), J Kelly 0-1 each.

Mayo - R Hennelly; K Rogers, K Keane, E O'Reilly; B Harrison, S McHale, D Drake; J Gibbons, J Reilly; A Gallagher, C Freeman, D O'Connor; T King, D Coen, M Sweeney. Subs: S Coen for Harrison (38), B Gallagher for O'Connor (38), A Moran for Sweeney (47), S Kelly for Gallagher (50), C Boyle for Keane (54), M Conroy for S Kelly, (59, BC).

NUIG - D O'Sullivan; C O'Domhnail, C Crowe, L Cullen; S Driscoll, J McManus, A Nolan; E O hEochaidh, C Guckian; K Gibbons, Sean Moran, J Kelly; I Galvin, Shane Moran, C Davey. Subs: D Gavin for Gibbon (40), K O'Mahoney for Shane Moran (50), N Freeman for C O' Domhnail (57).

Referee - M Duffy (Sligo). Tweet

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