Mayo girls remain unbeaten as they edge out Roscommon

CONNACHT LGFA U-16 CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 5

MAYO 2-13 

ROSCOMMON 1-11

In Swinford 

The Mayo U-16s have reached the Connacht final unbeaten after seeing off Roscommon on Saturday. 

The teams will renew acquaintances in the decider on May 10 as Roscommon finished second in the round-robin group with three wins and one defeat. 

Roscommon asked some tough questions of Mayo in Swinford Amenity Park on Saturday, narrowing the gap to two points after Lily Mulvihill struck the net in the 48th minute. 

However, that was to be the Rossies’ last score of the game before Mayo pulled ahead again to win by five points.  

Facing a teak-tough Roscommon defence playing against the wind, Mayo got off to a slow start, with Hollymount’s Katie Corcoran pointing their only score in the first quarter.

Mayo’s main tormentor was corner-forward Amy Rogers, who kicked all but one of Roscommon’s scores before half-time.

Trailing by two points after sixteen minutes, Mayo got a kick-start when Castlebar Mitchels’ Lucy Tiernan shook the net after she pounced on an Aoibhinn McNamara point attempt that hit the post. 

Another goal five minutes later from Emily Duffy extended Mayo’s lead, helping the hosts to build a 2-5 to 0-7 half-time lead. 

With the wind behind them, Mayo began the half-brightly and led by seven at one point but never pulled out of sight. 

Roscommon kicked four points before Lily Mulvihill cut in from the left to score a very well-taken goal. 

But Mayo struck back with points from Anna Burton, Sophie Moran and Emily Duffy while holding Roscommon scoreless to secure the win and their place in the Connacht final.

A full match report plus reaction from Mayo manager Francis Regan will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.