There were no banana skins in Ruislip this afternoon as Mayo cantered to a 2-16 to 0-9 quarter-final victory over London.

Seeking their sixth provincial title in succession, the Green & Reds had things pretty much their own way as they cruised to a semi-final meeting with Galway next month.

A business-like opening-half display from the winners saw them establish a 2-8 to 0-5 interval lead, with the goals coming from Conor Loftus and Jason Doherty.

The holders had what might be described as a ropey start when they lost captain and key attacker Cillian O'Connor to a black card after just six minutes. Scott Conroy opened the scoring for London but Mayo eventually hit back through goalkeeper Rob Hennelly ('45') and a trio of Evan Regan strikes.

Stephen Rochford's charges took control when O'Connor's replacement, Loftus, punched to the net and followed up with a point - 1-5 to 0-1 and game effectively over after 20 minutes. When Eoin Murray supplied the Exiles' second score, Regan (free) bagged his fourth - there were ten points between the sides once Doherty delivered his side's second major - 2-6 to 0-2.

Aidan O'Shea and Adrian Moyles (free) traded scores and the hosts rallied briefly with further scores from Liam Gavaghan and Moyles before a Regan free closed the first-half scoring.

The first four points of the second half were shared, with Regan and Loftus on target for the victors, while Gavaghan and Mark Gotsche kept the London side of the scoreboard ticking over. After Moyles hammered over a London point from distance, the defending provincial kingpins moved up a gear to register a string of quickfire points via Andy Moran, Regan, Loftus, Stephen Coen and Kevin McLoughlin to lead by 13.

Moyles' free was London's last score in this year's Connacht SFC and it was left to Alan Dillon to post the winners' final point of the day as Mayo clinched a semi-final date with Galway on June 18th.

Mayo - R Hennelly (0-1'45); B Harrison, K Keane, K Higgins; L Keegan, C Boyle, P Durcan; S Coen, J Gibbons; K McLoughlin (0-1), A O'Shea (0-1), J Doherty (1-0); E Regan (0-7, 5f), C O'Connor, C O'Shea. Subs: C Loftus (1-2) for C O'Connor (BC), S Nally (0-1) for C Boyle, A Moran (0-2) for C O'Shea, C Carolan for J Doherty, A Dillon (0-1) for J Gibbons, D Drake for L Keegan.

London - G McEvoy; P Butler, C Carty, Caoimhin Dunne; Colin Dunne, Danny Ryan, D McGreevy; J Moran, L Gavaghan (0-2); A Moyles (0-4, 2f), M Gottsche (0-1f), C Coyne; E Murray (0-1), S Conroy (0-1), P O'Hara. Subs: L Mulvey for E Murray, C Healy for Caoimhin Dunne, M Walsh for C Coyne, C Og Greene for S Conroy, S Hickey for P O'Hara, C O'Neill for Colin Dunne.

Referee - D O'Mahony.

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