Mayo Minors shoot down Roscommon in Connacht championship opener

Connacht Minor Football Championship Round 1

Mayo 2-13 Roscommon 2-7

In MacHale Park

THE Mayo Minors have begun their Connacht campaign with an impressive home victory this evening.

Kobe McDonald, son of former Mayo footballer Ciarán McDonald, kicked 1-5 for Mayo as a strong second half saw Tom Reilly and David Heaney’s charges see off Roscommon in solid fashion.

This was an open, free-spirited game where both teams had their share of positives spells and slip-ups.

However, Mayo’s superior firepower and control of possession helped make the difference on a fine evening for football. 

Little separated the sides in the first half. However, Mayo did look the more dangerous team thanks to the threat posed by McDonald and Parke footballer Evan Walsh up front.

Though occasionally a bit disjointed in attack, Mayo did enough to take a 0-6 0-4 lead after a half of football played against the wind.

It was against the wind that the hosts played some of their most deadly football, with Mayo shooting 2-6 in the second half.

An impressive solo effort from substitute Andrew Quinn - seconds after Dean Casey got Roscommon’s first goal - and a rocket of a shot from Kobe McDonald provided both Mayo goals as the home side began to pull away.

Roscommon’s heart was in indefatigable, which manifested when Eoin Collins shot a fantastic goal at the end as the Primrose and Blue went for all-out attack instead of retreat.

It was far too little and far too late to stop Mayo running out six-point winners.

There will be a full match report plus reaction from the Mayo camp in Tuesday’s Mayo News.