Lavelle’s late strike rescues Mayo

ROUND 1
Mayo League 1
B Lavelle 93

Roscommon League 1
E Keogh 10

Colin McDonagh
Castlebar

THE Mayo League managed to snatch a deserved point from the jaws of certain defeat at Milebush Park on Sunday, thanks to a last-gasp strike from Ballina Town’s Benny Lavelle in Joseph N’Do’s first game in charge.
Overall, a point each was a fair reflection of an Oscar Traynor Trophy game that seemed to be heading in the visitors’ favour. Ethan Keogh’s tenth minute strike looked like being enough to send the Roscommon and District League top of the group after Galway and Clare played out a 1-1 draw on Friday night.
With two minutes of injury time remaining, however, a Danny Broderick pass over the top deceived the Roscommon rearguard. The ball fell to Lavelle, and despite the best attempts of Noel Fallon, the super sub salvaged what could prove to be a valuable point.
“I think we deserved at least a point,” said Mayo manager Joseph N’Do. “It was enjoyable to watch those guys play and especially because we didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for the game. We just had two training sessions and to see what they produced was excellent.
“The main thing for me was the way we played. They kept going to the last minute … When we have the ball we enjoy the ball, but when we do not have the ball we work hard to get it back. I was really really pleased with performance of my team and I am proud.”
Representatives from both Clare and Galway were in Milebush on Sunday and saw the visitors begin brightly. With only five minutes on the clock, Keogh curled the ball narrowly wide of Mark Duffy’s goal.
 The warning signs were there, and when Keogh got a second bite at the cherry five minutes later, he didn’t disappoint. John Coyne’s throw caught a high-line Mayo defence out, and Keogh kept his composure to put his side in front.
Mayo struggled to settle. Chances did materialise for Colm Nevin and JP O’Gorman, but they were thwarted by Noel Fallon. Mayo’s captain Conor High headed wide five minutes before the break after Pat Fitzgerald’s cross, while Stevie Ryan brought a good save from Fallon with a header from Broderick’s free-kick.
Mayo were to suffer similar frustration in the second period. They dominated the possession stats but were kept at bay by a resolute Roscommon defence, spearheaded by their inspirational captain, Des Hope.
Substitute Lavelle gave the Roscommon defence food for thought. But with conditions unfavourable, chances were at a premium for Mayo, and long-range shots from Jamie Fallon and Conor Byrne failed to break the Roscommon resistance. Fallon’s Westport United team-mate Fitzgerald was also off target on his weak side, but he almost netted on 83 minutes from Byrne’s cross.
With 85 minutes gone, Roscommon’s Liam Lynch came close to sealing all three points, but his effort crept narrowly wide. Mayo’s Jamie Cawley volleyed wide at the other end.
Mayo seemed all out of ideas at this stage. Despite huffing and puffing for large parts of the game, it looked as if the Roscommon house would remain intact. However when Tom Jennings raised his board to indicate five minutes of injury time, the home side believed that they might just get one more chance.
And so it proved on 93 minutes. Broderick’s hit-and-hope ball was misjudged by the Rossie defence and fell at Lavelle’s feet in acres of space. There was only ever going to be one outcome and Mayo lived to fight another day.
“I’m focused on one thing and that’s Mayo,” said N’Do. “I’m focusing on how those kids are playing. If we can go all the way that would be brilliant, but like I told them, the main thing is to enjoy themselves … When you don’t have much time, you have to choose the battle you can win.”
 
MAYO LEAGUE
M Duffy, S Morrisey, D Broderick, S Ryan, S Kelly, C High, P Fitzgerald, C Byrne, JP O’Gorman, C Nevin, J Fallon.
Subs used: A Cunnane for O’Gorman (66 mins); B Lavelle for Nevin (66 mins); J Cawley for Fitzgerald (83 mins).

ROSCOMMON AND DISTRICT LEAGUE
N Fallon, C Clogher, E Kenny, D Hope, J Horan, A Higgins, S Duffy, J Coyne, E Keogh, D Concannon, K Kenny.
Subs used: L Lynch for Coyne (61 mins); D Edwards for Keogh (70 mins).

Referee: D McGrath