Dessie Farrell bagged his first competitive win as Dublin manager in Castlebar tonight, where 14-man Mayo were beaten by 1-11 to 0-8.

Dean Rock’s improvised flicked finish on 45 minutes produced the game’s only goal in front of 15,148, the contest never recovering from the early dismissal of Mayo’s Jordan Flynn. Playing in second gear at best, the All-Ireland champions reeled off an unanswered 1-3 in the first 15 minutes of the second half to effortlessly assume control.

Despite playing most of the first half with an extra man, the Dubs were in truth fortunate to go in level at the break, 0-5 each. Flynn was harshly dismissed in the 14th minute but the visitors never got going before the short whistle and needed injury-time scores from Dean Rock and James McCarthy to go in level.

Wearing No.22, Aidan O’Shea, who captained the home side, was a late addition to the Mayo starting team in place of Kevin McLoughlin and he opened the scoring inside 15 seconds, while for Dublin Michael Fitzsimons, Conor McHugh and Dan O'Brien all started, with Eric Lowndes, Paul Mannion and Paddy Andrews making way.

There were nine minutes on the clock by the time Ciaran Kilkenny equalised but Mayo moved two clear thanks to a lovely Diarmuid O’Connor free from the 45-metre line and an excellent James Carr strike. However, the hosts were reduced to 14 when Flynn was shown a straight red card for clumsily catching John Small in the face.

Rock’s free handed the Dubs their second point ten full minutes after they’d registered their first; at the other end, ten minutes from the break, James Durcan made it double scores. Kevin McManamon’s point was cancelled out by Fergal Boland, who fired over a delightful advanced mark off the outside of his right boot.

Rock (free) and McCarthy closed the scoring at the end of a disappointing first 35 minutes.

As well as seeing his side reduced to 14 men, James Horan also had the misfortune of watching Colm Boyle hobble off the pitch at half time with a knee injury and his game was clearly over. However, Lee Keegan isn’t a bad man to bring in as a replacement!

O’Brien kicked Dublin ahead for the first time when the action resumed and exactly ten minutes into the first half the game was over when Rock first-timed McManamon’s cross to the net with either his hand, fist or face– 1-6 to 0-5. Niall Scully’s point made it double scores and Small made it a six-point game.

Durcan’s free gave Mayo their first score in 23 minutes and both teams were down to 14 men for the last ten minutes of normal time after Fitzsimons was black-carded and sin-binned for a mistimed shoulder. McCarthy stretched Dublin’s lead on 66 minutes and Tommy Conroy replied before Rock floated over a last-minute free.

Aaron Byrne became the eighth Dublin player to score and Boland pulled back a consolation point for the holders.

Dublin - E Comerford; M Fitzsimons, R O’Carroll, D Byrne; J McCarthy (0-2), J Small (0-1), E Murchan; B Fenton, B Howard; N Scully (0-1), K McManamon (0-1), D O’Brien (0-1); C McHugh, C Kilkenny (0-1), D Rock (1-3, 0-3f). Subs: P Mannion for C McHugh, L Flatman for R O’Carroll, P Small for K McManamon, A Byrne (0-1) for D O’Brien, C O’Shea for E Murchan.

Mayo - R Hennelly; P O’Hora, O Mullin, B Harrison; M Plunkett, C Boyle, P Durcan; S Coen, D O’Connor (0-1f); F Boland (0-2), A O’Shea (0-1), J Flynn; R O’Donoghue, J Carr (0-1), J Durcan (0-2, 1f). Subs: T Conroy (0-1) for J Carr, L Keegan for C Boyle, K McLoughlin for R O’Donoghue, J McCormack for A O’Shea, C Loftus for J Durcan.

Referee - B Cassidy.

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