Mayo U-20s v Roscommon: Three players who caught our eye

Mayo’s Connacht Under-20 Championship Final victory over Roscommon was a game for the ages.

In a game of so many decisive moments with so many excellent performers both in Mayo and Roscommon jerseys, it’s hard to single out only three standout performers.

READ MORE: Mayo crowned Connacht Under-20 Champions after thrilling game

However, that’s just what we’ve done here.

Tom Lydon (Mayo)

It’s hard to find new words to describe how crucial Lydon is.

The man from The Neale with the number 15 emblazoned on his back had 2-23 to his name before Wednesday evening, and he proved once more that he is indispensable to Peadar Gardiner.

His five-point tally was incredible, and his first point, where he evaded the clutches of a swarming Roscommon rear guard to curl within the right stick, epitomised his propensity for flair.

It was hard to maintain composure in the press box, let alone in the white heat of battle on the Saint Jarlath’s Park turf, but among all the noise and commotion, the man from The Neale stood tall.

He was a key cog in a sweeping interlinking move involving Diarmuid Duffy and Darragh Beirne late on, while he also showed composure to raise the final white flag of the day.

His impressive fielding to seize a Patrick Gaynor restart was imperative as the game ebbed and flowed, and he fed Hugh O’Loughlin to convert.

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Hugh O’Loughlin (Mayo) 

Speak of the devil.

If ever the word ‘clutch’ described a performance, it was this one.

The Kilmaine man was in absolutely exceptional form and did everything you could expect of a wing half-back.

His one-two with Seamus Howard saw him put the ball over the maroon spot, as it were, to put Mayo ahead early on, while he also converted after Lydon seized a kickout early in the second innings, scoring his second despite not scoring once in the league phase.

That only tells a fraction of O’Loughlin’s story. His driving run before popping the ball off to Colm McHale, who gave Mayo a lead which they ultimately held onto, was vital.

From the resulting kick-out, with tension at a premium, he rose highest to field impeccably.

The game was on the verge of chaos, but he showed nerves of steel to pick the pocket of John Curran as he was gearing up to shoot.

If he keeps putting in performances like this, Kilmaine and Mayo will have a hell of a player on their hands.

John McGuinness (Roscommon)

If it wasn't for the Trojan effort of McGuinness to drag Roscommon back into the game, it would have been curtains before the half-time whistle.

With a nine-point gap by 20 minutes on the clock, it was looking like the Roscommon lads could’ve packed up their gear bags and not turned up in the second half.

That’s when McGuinness stepped up when his side needed him most.

First, he stepped up with his side’s second of the day after getting out in front of Rio Mortimer and out-pacing him, which is no mean feat, to rattle the ball home.

Roscommon heads would’ve been forgiven for dropping after Mayo’s goal in almost immediate response, but they refused to give in.

That was epitomised by McGuinness, who was ice cold as he was faced with the task of dispatching the O’Neills for a second time.

Roscommon fans were ecstatic, but Mayo supporters certainly weren’t thanking him for raising the blood pressure.