Mighty Mayo are Masters champions

FOOTBALL

Gaelic Masters Plate Final

Mayo 1-11

Roscommon 0-13

Michael Gallagher

A heart-stopping final ended with scenes of unbridled Mayo joy in the impressive St Croans GAA grounds in Roscommon on Saturday evening.

The victory was well-deserved and hard-eanred at the end of an enthralling encounter where never more than two points separated the sides.

Roscommon's full-forward Ronan Cox was deadly accurate throughout and helped his side to a two-point lead at the interval, 0-8 to 0-6.

The St Michael's man looked dangerous every time the ball came his way and with wing-forward Ian Kilbride and superb midfielder Dermot Foley to the fore, the home side won more than their share of breaking ball in the middle sector.

However, Mayo stuck to their task with Mike Gallagher and Michael McNamara kicking early points and impressive duo Jarlath McDonagh and Paddy Hokins keeping Mayo well in touch.

The second half began perfectly for Mayo when John Reilly and Colm Cafferkey combined down the right and McNamara held his nerve to kick a crucial goal.

Roscommon hit back and the sides were level after 42 minutes when Roscommon worked a wonderful goal chance however Kieran O'Malley pulled off a stunning save which would prove crucial in the end.

That setback failed to derail the Roscommon charge and with ten minutes to play they were two clear, 0-13 to 1-8.

Mayo needed heroes and they stepped forward in abundance. Brendan Moran, Declan Doyle, Pat Mulchrone and the defenders refused to concede another score, Michael Moyles tore into everything around the middle and when Sean Lenihan ran through to kick two priceless points, the scores were tied with six minutes to play.

Play bounced up and down the pitch as time ticked away and nervous tension danced in the air. Then, a minute from the end of normal time, Mayo attacked one last time. A free was awarded out on the left and Paddy Hopkins wrote his name in Masters history when his kick landed on the roof of the net.

There was still time for Roscommon to lay siege to the Mayo goal but a free dropped short, a point effort was deflected out for a '45 and the subsequent kick was off target.

The final whistle unleashed scenes of great delight for the men in green and red and their loyal band of supporters who won't forget their trip to Roscommon for quite some time.