Three Mayo U-20 footballers who caught our eye against Galway

The Mayo U-20s made it two wins from two by beating provincial rivals Galway in a cracking encounter in Tuam Stadium. Mayo had a number of standout performers as Peadar Gardiner’s men secured a hard-fought 2-18 3-13 win. As attentions begin to turn towards their third-round round robin group clash with Leitrim, here are three Mayo U-20s that caught the eye of The Mayo News during the win over Galway:

Séamus Howard

^{Séamus Howard in action for Belmullet against Kilmeena in the 2024 Mayo Senior Football Championship Pic: Mayo GAA}

Mayo have unearthed a real find in Séamus Howard. 

The Belmullet man has delivered two rock-solid midfield performances for the U-20s in a green and red jersey he can now rightfully call his own. 

His speed, strength and fetching ability were all on display in an excellent display against Galway. In Howard and Knockmore’s Oliver Armstrong, Mayo boast one of the formidable midfield partnerships in the Connacht U-20 championship. 

Howard showed his willingness to put his body on the line when he won the penalty which, when converted by Tom Lydon, levelled the game and set the stage for a Mayo victory. 

Niall Hurley 

Not a ‘find’ given that he started for Mayo last year, but still a force to be reckoned with. 

With his lightning pace and eye for goal, the Claremorris sharpshooter can operate anywhere from 10 to 15. And with the new rules, he’s a danger in any one of those jerseys. 

He wore the number 11 on Wednesday evening but operated in the full-forward line alongside Tom Lydon while the influential Josh Carey floated dangerously in front of them.

Hurley shot three points against Galway (including a two-pointer), three against Roscommon and will likely shoot even more against Leitrim and Sligo. 

Tom Lydon 

We couldn’t leave him out. In two games, Lydon has shot 1-16 against - on paper - two of Mayo’s toughest opponents.

The high wide count that hobbled Mayo’s win over Roscommon fell by roughly 75 percent on Wednesday. So Lydon, despite seeing less ball than he did against the Rossies, still took Galway for 1-9. 

He was twice denied a goal before eventually finding the net from the penalty spot with the game hanging in the balance. 

The help he got from the aforementioned Niall Hurley and Josh Carey meant it wasn’t all left to him either.