Mayo narrowly beaten by Louth in All-Ireland semi-final shoot-out

DALATA HOTEL GROUP ALL-IRELAND U-20 SEMI-FINAL

Mayo 0-17

Louth 2-12

In Longford

A thrilling sun-splashed shoot-out ended with Louth just in front in Pearse Park this evening. If the Mayo journey was to end at any stage it was appropriate that it would occur in a match where a sea of scores would delight those fortunate enough to be in attendance.

In truth, this could have gone either way, but it would be wrong to say Louth weren't deserving winners, given the fact that they led this battle for most of the 65 minutes of action. They hit the front early with a goal from Shane Lennon (brother of senior star, Craig) and remained in front at half time, thanks to another net-shaker from wing-forward Pearse Grimes-Murphy.

The young men in red were best in the middle of the field where team captain Sean Callaghan and James Maguire walked in the clouds at times.

Mayo were impressive whenever they got the ball to Tom Lydon in attack and the ace from The Neale ended the half with three points. Niall Hurley, Colm Lynch, Hugh O'Loughlin and Diarmuid Duffy were also prominent at times. Indeed, Duffy almost had a goal in the first minute but a fine save from Louth stopper, Tiarnan Markey denied him.

The third quarter was dominated by Louth, but they found it hard to add to their tally and the first score of the second half only arrived in the 43^rd minute when a goal effort from Grimes-Murphy was brilliantly turned over the bar by David Dolan.

Mayo needed an injection of hope and got it when the excellent Colm Lynch bent over a two-pointer and a brace from Lydon balanced the scores with eleven minutes to play. It was anyone's game at that stage and after Lennon nudged Louth back in front, Lynch responded with another two-pointer as team captain John MacMonagle became a central character.

That left Mayo in front, 0-14 to 2-7, but Grimes Murphy nudged Louth into the lead again when he blazed over a two-pointer. Mayo trailed by a point and time was ticking away when Darragh Beirne took centre-stage. The Claremorris attacker bent over a two-point free from near the right-hand sideline and Mayo had a foot in the final, but Louth were in no mood to be beaten.

Goalkeeper Markey came forward to convert a two-point free and when corner-forward Adam Gillespie raised a white flag in injury time the deal was sealed.

Afterwards, Mayo team manager Peadar Gardiner paid tribute to his side for their never-say-die attitude and said the future is bright for Mayo football.

A full match report and after-match reaction will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News.