Mayo narrowly defeated by Cork in FAI Youth Inter-League Final

FAI INTER-LEAGUE YOUTHS CUP FINAL

Cork Youth League 2

Mayo Football League 1

LIMERICK

MAYO'S quest to win a first national U-18 title must wait another year after their brave and fearless effort came up short in Limerick today. Chris McGauley's side may not have been victorious but they represented the county with great pride from first whistle to last.

Cork came into the game with a fearsome reputation but Mayo paid little heed to that in a well-contested first half. The western warriors played five across the back at times, but were fluid enough to attack with purpose when opportunities arose.

The opposition looked dangerous at all times but Mayo hit the front after 23 minutes when calamitous play in the Cork defence ended with the ball in the net. Castlebar Celtic's Tiernan Brady put pressure on his opposite number and when the ball was sent back to goalkeeper Hordiii Kirian he somehow miscued his clearance and Mayo were in front.

Jack Walsh sent a screamer just wide from the edge of the box seven minutes later as Zack Stone, Thomas McGeough and Darragh Reynolds looked to cut out Cork danger at the other end.

However, the equaliser arrived after 33 minutes when a shot from Finn Hagermark was well saved by Oisin Costello but the excellent Ty Corcoran was on hand to slam home the rebound.

The second half began with Cork on the front foot and they duly took the lead eight minutes after the resumption when the highly-impressive Kai O'Neill attacked down the left and picked out Padraig McGrath in the middle. The striker moved the ball out of his feet and found the bottom corner for the winning goal.

The lead could have been doubled a few minutes later when McGrath ran clean through but Costello produced a world-class ave to deny him. The Mayo goalkeeper was outstanding throughout and produced two more stunning stops before the end.

As time ticked away Mayo never shirked the challenge but the Cork defenders were excellent throughout and the chasers were limited to half-chances. Rian Durkan and Jack O'Brien sent snap-shots wide as McGauley's boys continued to battle with everything they had.

Cork could and should have sealed the deal after 84 minutes but O'Neill missed by inches when he burst through on the left.

That was the last goal opportunity of the day and Mayo had to put their FAI Youth Interleague quest on ice for another 12 months at least.

A full report and after-match reaction will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News.