No joy for Mayo FC U-15s as Sligo Rovers win by four in Milebush

EA Sports League of Ireland Academy Under-15 League

Mayo FC 1

Eoin Murphy 45

Sligo Rovers 5

Steven Gibbons 3, 53, Ryan Healy 29, Conor Whittaker 60, Ryan Cunningham 62

In Milebush

VISITING Sligo Rovers sauntered to a comfortable victory at Umbro Park this afternoon (Saturday), with the hosts left ruing mistakes at crucial junctures in the game.

The Yeats County outfit made the dream start to this clash after just three minutes, when a misplaced clearance was seized upon by the loitering Steven Gibbons and the latter rattled the back of the net.

Mayo FC’s only noteworthy chance of the first 30-minute half arrived on 27 minutes, when Aaron Heaney’s free-kick found Ronan McElevey, but his deft header flashed wide.

Two minutes later, Sligo garnered a two-goal cushion to enjoy at the first interval. Ryan Cunningham received possession and he teed up Ryan Healy, who clipped the ball beyond the reach of Naylor.

Three minutes into the second 30-minute half, Mayo FC netted a fortuitous goal to claw themselves back into the tie, when Eoin Murphy’ probing free-kick deceived Fintan James and the ball bizarrely ended up in the back of the net.

But eight minutes later, Rovers regained their two-goal cushion courtesy of the in-form Steven Gibbons.

Just before the second interval, a lack of concentration from Mayo was ruthlessly punished by Sligo, when the unmarked Conor Whittaker volleyed home a seasoned finish from inside the 18 yard box, in a move that emanated from a Rovers corner.

Any notion of a third period Mayo rally was extinguished on 62 minutes, when Sligo’s Ryan Cunningham curled home a sumptuous finish beyond the reach of Mayo substitute ‘keeper A. J. Gormley Walsh.

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