Mayo FC U-15s secure home win over Drogheda United

EA Sports League of Ireland Academy Under-15 League

Mayo FC 1

Dylan Dunne 77

Drogheda United 0

In Milebush

AN understrength Mayo FC recorded a famous victory on home turf courtesy of Dylan Dunne’s delightful strike on 77 minutes at the 4G pitch at Umbro Park this afternoon.

When looking back on this game Drogheda United will wonder how on earth they didn’t manage to acquire the spoils, as the visitors enjoyed the majority of possession and hit the woodwork on three separate occasions over the 90 minutes.

Mayo FC’s only chance during the opening 30 minutes fell to Paddy Hope during the embryonic stages of the clash, but his snapshot lacked the required accuracy.

Mayo were under the cosh for large spells of the joust but had some excellent leaders in Oisín McCartan, the aforementioned Hope, Ronan McElevey and Matteo Secondino.

A dominant Drogheda could well have snatched the lead on 23 minutes, but Cory Higgins’ stinging volley hit the upright.

Harry Naylor in the Mayo goal produced some outstanding saves on the day, with the woodwork also coming to Mayo’s rescue on 35 and 40 minutes - with both Drogheda’s Cillian Duff and Robbie Dennehy left ruing their luck.

Against the run of play, a doughty Mayo netted what proved to be the winner on 77 minutes. Some beguiling control by Hope resulted in a peach of a long ball being delivered into the path of Dylan Dunne and the latter evaded the advancing Lathan Dunne before finishing with aplomb.

Mayo substitute goalkeeper AJ. Gormley Walsh had a terrific outing during the final 30 minutes, and his outstanding save to deny Jack Richmond’s goal-bound header on 87 minutes proved crucial in the end.

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