Lethal Lydon powers The Neale to historic Mayo title

MAYO U-21C CHAMPIONSHHIP FINAL

The Neale 1-13

Lahardane MacHales 2-7

In Castlebar

THEY hit the front in the final strides and celebrated the first U-21 title in the history of their club. The Neale timed their run to perfection and overtook a proud, spirited and talented Lahardane outfit in the last moments of a memorable county final in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.

Players from both sides made a huge impression, but Tom Lydon who kicked ten points for the winners was nothing short of sensational.

A savage gale roared straight down the pitch and Lahardane were backed by the gale in the opening half, however they took a long time to get rolling. The Neale were the better team for long periods of the first half with their smart inter-play allied to the driving runs of midfielder Evan Lydon.

The scores were few and far between and The Neale were surely happy to trail by just two points approaching half-time.

However, Lahardane got a huge shot in the arm when teenage attacker Fionn Reilly got on the end of a long ball and found the net. That put the North Mayo men five clear but they were hit by two body-blows before the break when an injury to team captain Matthew Maughan saw him leave the field and Tom Lydon closed the gap to four just before the half-time whistle.

Lydon set pulses racing early in the new half when he boomed over a two-pointer to leave just two between them. Mark Sheerin steadied Lahardane with well-hit frees but when Niall Rochford crashed home a goal after 40 minutes The Neale were level and looking good.

However, Lahardane made little of the gale in their faces and refused to be overtaken. That fighting spirit left them a point clear with five minutes left and then the men in black and amber set sail for home.

A fine move involving Eoin Dyra and Fionn Reilly ended with Sheerin sliding home a fine goal and the lead was out to four, 2-7 to 1-6. It seemed all over at that stage, but The Neale were on a mission.

Heroes were needed for the southern side and they stepped forward in abundance. Robbie Hughes popped up everywhere and created havoc in attack. That created space for the outstanding Lydon to land a two-pointer and when Hughes followed up with a white flag of his own there was just one between the sides.

The Neale sensed glory and drove forward in search of scores. They were rewarded when Lydon landed a two-pointer in the 59^th minute to put his side in front for the very first time. He put two between them in injury time and when Darragh O'Dea raced forward to punch his side three in front the roar of celebration could be heard in New York.

A full match report will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News.