Mayo kick off U-20 championship campaign with narrow victory in Sligo

Connacht U-20 Championship

Mayo 0-17

Sligo 0-15

In Tubbercurry

Keith Higgins’ Mayo U-20 side got their provincial campaign off to a winning start this evening although a tense finish was played out in Kilcoyne Park in Tubbercurry. 

Sligo’s Eli Rooney caught the eye on the evening as the talented St Mary's attacker kicked 0-11 including three two-point frees. 

For Mayo, team captain Colm Lynch was impressive with his tenacious style working to great effect when the game was in the melting pot. A two-pointer from Crossmolina’s Oisin Deane and a brace of points from Darragh Beirne and Tom Lydon had Mayo in the lead at the interval 0-10 to 0-7. 

Mayo’s lead grew as Beirne and Shane Cunningham slotted over, however the young men from the Yeats County came back fighting as their star man Eli Rooney was to the fore. 

The hosts who dominated the midfield battle levelled up the tie after 53 minutes. However, Mayo in dire need of a score responded with a Darragh Beirne free and the Claremorris teenager who featured for the Mayo seniors in recent weeks sealed the deal in the closing stages with a well-taken score. 

Next up for Mayo is a clash with Roscommon in Castlebar. 

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

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