The Mayo News

FOOTBALL  Mayo hung on to the Connacht U-21 FC title for the third year in succession on Wednesday.

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC  Mayo U-21 captain Chris Barrett lifts the JJ Fahey Cup in Kiltoom on Wednesday evening.
Pic: Sportsfile

Football Connacht U-21 Championship

Crossbar comes to Mayo’s rescue

FINAL
Mayo             1-14
Roscommon  0-14

KILTOOM
Mike Finnerty

MAYO rode their luck at times last night (Wednesday) in Kiltoom as they withstood a late Roscommon revival to win their third successive Connacht U-21 football championship title.
Despite dominating three-quarters of the game, Mayo were let off the hook in the end as Roscommon missed a penalty in the 52nd minute and saw Cathal Cregg hammer a shot off the crossbar four minutes into injury-time.
A fisted goal from Kiltane’s Mikie Sweeney on fifteen minutes and a string of points from Jason Doherty, Tom Parsons, Donal Vaughan and Aidan Campbell helped Mayo into a commanding six point lead at half-time (1-7 to 0-4).
With Seamus O’Shea and Tom Parsons dominating at midfield, and Roscommon failing to make any significant inroads up front, Mayo looked set to cruise to victory. When Aidan Campbell swung over his sixth point of the evening in the 49th minute, Mayo led by 1-12 to 0-9.
But Roscommon summoned up a barnstorming last quarter. Unfortunately for them they were unable to reflect this on the scoreboard as Donie Shine spooned his penalty over the bar and Robert Gaynor fired a point when a goal seemed certain.
However, there was still time for more drama when Roscommon captain, Cathal Cregg, tore through the heart of Mayo’s defence in stoppage time and cracked a thunderous shot off Shane Nallen’s crossbar.
The rebound was gathered by Mayo full-back Ger Cafferkey and the referee, Pat McGovern, blew for full-time immediately.
Chris Barrett accepted the JJ Fahey Cup afterwards and Mayo now prepare for an All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry on Saturday, April 19 in Nenagh.

Mayo
S Nallen; D Vaughan (0-1), G Cafferkey, C English; C Barrett, T Cunniffe, J Burke (0-1); S O’Shea, T Parsons (0-1); A Campbell (0-7, 4fs), B Gallagher, C Sweeney; M Sweeney (1-1, 1f), J Doherty (0-2), M Rafter.
Subs used: P O’Connor (0-1) for Rafter; D O’Connor for English; N Douglas for Gallagher; T Gavin for P O’Connor (inj).

Roscommon
J Martin; S Ormsby, P Domican, R Brady; N Carthy, D Keenan, C Garvey; M Killalea, J McDermott; K Higgins (0-2), C Cregg (0-1), D O’Gara; R Gaynor (0-3), E Kenny, D Shine (0-6, 4fs, 1pen).
Subs used: J McKeague for C Garvey; P Garvey (0-2) for O’Gara; D Flynn for McDermott; C McHugh for Kenny.

Referee: P McGovern (Galway)

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