Mayo defeated in rip-roaring Connacht Minor Final

CONNACHT MINOR FINAL

Mayo 1-15

Roscommon 2-14

In Castlebar

MAYO'S hopes of winning four provincial titles in a row were dashed tonight when Roscommon came from behind to win a rip-roaring Connacht final. 

Mayo got the dream start when Tony Carey banged home a goal after 62 seconds and they remained in front until the 28th minute. Roscommon were winning a lot of ball in the middle of the pitch but took time to catch the Mayo boys who were playing with great gusto. 

The Green and Red were attacking with pace and running at the opposition when the opportunities arose. The home side created a number of goal chances but last-gasp blocks kept the Roscommon net intact.

However, the boys in primrose and blue were more efficient at the other end when corner-forward John Price found the net after 21 minutes when he got on the end of a long ball to shake the net.

The Rossies hit the front seven minutes later when Price split the sticks and they surged clear to lead by three at the break, 1-7 to 1-4.

Mayo lost both midfielders, Cian May and Adam Kelly, to injury in the minutes around half-time but they took the game by the scruff of the neck and kicked eight of the next nine points to lead 1-12 to 1-8 after 46 minutes.

However, Roscommon stayed in the game and they began to work cscoring chances. Dean Casey took centre stage at that juncture and when he kicked a two-point free and followed with a single from play, the sides were level after 57.

Then, a loose pass in the Mayo back division created a goal chance for Roscommon and it was gleefully grabbed by their captain Dara Curran.

That put three between them with two minutes to play and Mayo refused to give up. Rhys Neary and Dara Flanagan closed the gap to one and it looked like Mayo would level it when it seemed Carey was fouled in attack, but no free was given and Roscommon went up the other end for Casey to put two between them and bring the cup home to Roscommon.