Breaches cost Mayo as Galway claim FBD League honours

CONNACHT GAA FBD LEAGUE FINAL

Galway 2-12

Mayo 1-14

In Tuam Stadium

For a while, it looked like this was going to be a true comeback for Andy Moran and his Mayo side.

After being rocked by 2-3 on the spin in the first half, and going in at the changeover seven down, the odds were stacked against the Green and Red taking home the trophy for the ninth time.

However, their comeback was to be admired. Cian McHale came alive early in the third quarter, Jack Carney showed his propensity for two-pointers once more, and it looked like there was an outside chance coming down the home stretch.

When John MacMonagle hit the deck with five to go, Adam Barrett showed composure and ability in equal measure to tuck away the levelling penalty.

The crowd were warming to the occasion and almost forgot the Baltic cold as a game which had failed to whet the appetite on occasion roared to life.

Stephen Coen's first point of 2026 looked crucial as it handed Mayo a slim advantage.

However, they couldnt hold out. First, a breach from Fergal Boland as Mayo looked to break saw the ball handed back to Galway. Liam O Conghaile punished the Aghamore man, before the side was penalised yet again for a breach as men siphoned back to defend.

With the clock 33 seconds over the allocated injury time, Robbie Finnerty struck over a buzzer-beater.

The full-time whistle brought a cruel end to the game for this experimental Mayo side. They had fought gamely, but ultimately were unable to see out the game.

Mayo, and Fenton Kelly, got the ball rolling, and had Kuba Callaghan's goal effort been a fraction to the right, they would have had the dream start.

Instead, the leather came clanging off the post and back into the fray, where the maroon-clad defenders managed to scramble to safety.

The opening rounds of this bout between Connacht's heavyweights were lacking in rhythm and flow at times from both camps, as is often the case in these pre-season duels.

Galway, however, found their groove. The game was level when Jack O'Neill rose high to pluck the O'Neills from the skies, before he played an impeccable ball into Fionn McDonagh. 

The Moycullen man was in acres of space, but waited until the last moment to fist across, taking Jack Livingstone out of the occasion.

Oisín McDonagh obliged, opening up a three-point gap.

Livingstone did clip over a 45 to bring it back to two, but before long, his net was breached again.

Slick interplay involving Oisín McDonagh and Cogger had Fionn McDonagh seeing the whites of Livingstone's eyes.

The Breaffy net-minder pulled off a fine save, but the ball ricocheted off Sam Callinan and into the path of Cogger, who lashed home from about a yard out.

Galways momentum was growing, and they were purring as skipper Kieran Molloy almost nonchalantly boomed over a two-pointer from well outside the 45.

Cian McHales free had it back to just the three-pointers, but another lapse in concentration almost saw another goal. Livingstone's top save kept Mayo in it, but Fionn McDonagh reacted well to find his range.

By the time the changing of ends beckoned, Mayo were heading for the changing rooms at the back of the stand with a mountain to climb.

However, they set feverishly about the comeback trail.

Moy Davitt's finest in Cian McHale was kicking for fun, and had he not been forced off after sustaining a knock to the head, he could have had a telling impact in the home stretch.

When Coen struck between the uprights, the roof almost came off, but ultimately it was a day of learning for Mayo.

Here's hoping they can take those learnings into the next meeting between the sides in Salthill in the League next Sunday.

A full report, plus reaction, will be carried in Tuesday's edition of The Mayo News.