Mayo Too Strong for Dublin as Beirne Goal Seals Allianz Football League Division 1 Win
Mayo continued their perfect start to Division 1 of the Allianz Football League with a convincing 1-18 to 2-9 victory over Dublin, a margin that could have been even more emphatic with greater efficiency in front of goal.
@MayoGAA senior football manager Andy Moran speaks to @grealisStevie following his team’s six point victory over Dublin in the national league this afternoon pic.twitter.com/BIvmAMTHrC
— Mid West Radio (@radiomidwest) February 1, 2026
Dublin’s challenge was undermined further by the dismissal of Seán McMahon shortly after the restart for an off-the-ball incident, while the first-half injury to influential midfielder Brian Howard also disrupted the visitors’ structure.
Mayo wasted little time asserting control. Sam Callinan and Fergal Boland split the posts inside the opening two minutes, before Dublin briefly swung momentum their way through a Luke Breathnach goal. Mayo responded calmly, however, with two-pointers from Ryan O’Donoghue and David McBrien pushing the hosts into a 0-7 to 1-2 lead by the 15-minute mark.
While the intensity dipped during the second quarter, Mayo remained composed and carried a two-point advantage into the break, leading 0-10 to 1-5 at half-time.
Any lingering doubt about the outcome was extinguished on 46 minutes when Beirne struck for goal, capping a fine individual display from the 19-year-old, who finished with 1-1 and could easily have added further goals.
Dublin briefly threatened a revival when Paddy Small found the net in the 53rd minute and Cormac Costello landed a two-pointer, but Mayo never looked in danger. The Connacht side finished the contest strongly, outscoring the visitors by four points in the second half to seal a thoroughly deserved win.
Scorers
Mayo: R O’Donoghue 0-5 (2p, 1f); D Beirne 1-1; D McBrien 0-3 (2p); S Callinan, F Boland 0-2 each; S Coen, J Carney, J Flynn, C McHale (f), D O’Connor 0-1 each.
Dublin: C Costello 0-5 (2p, 1f, 1 ‘45); P Small 1-1; L Breathnach 1-0; K McGinnis, J Lundy, S Bugler 0-1 each.
Teams
Mayo: R Hennelly; J Coyne, R Brickenden, E Hession; S Callinan, D McBrien, P Durcan; B Tuohy, J Flynn; S Coen, R O’Donoghue, J Carney; F Boland, J Carr, D Beirne.
Subs: A O’Shea for Durcan (44); D O’Connor for Carr (47); C McHale for Beirne (53); P Towey for Boland (62); D McHugh for Coen (64).
Dublin: E Comerford; D Byrne, S McMahon, C Tyrrell; N Doran, E Murchan, C O’Connor; E Dunne, B Howard; J Lundy, N Scully, K McGinnis; P Small, L Breathnach, C Costello.
Subs: C Kilkenny for Dunne (22); K Stephenson for McGinnis (24); S Bugler for Howard (31); L O’Dell for Lundy (52); G McEneaney for Breathnach (60); E Kennedy for Byrne (temporary, 67).
