Mayo Minors lose Connacht Final in dramatic ending

Connacht Minor Championship Final

Mayo 1-11

Galway 2-8 

(After Extra Time)

(1-7 to 1-7 after normal time)

Galway win 5-4 after free-kicks

In Bekan

Drama, drama and more drama. Mayo and Galway couldn’t be separated after normal time, extra time so free kicks were required to separate the sides. 

Galway’s Alisha O’Malley was key to their victory as she kicked 1-7 of her side’s 2-8 across the 80 minutes. 

Mayo’s full forward line of Kate Byrne, Kayla Doherty and Aoife Meaney were excellent all day as Doherty who is part of Liam Mc Hale’s Senior side scored an impressive goal after seven minutes with O’Malley scoring to the net just moments previous for the girls in maroon.

Nip and tuck throughout, It looked like Mayo’s captain, Kate Brennan won it in normal time after her excellent point late on. However, Alisha O’Malley equalised with the final kick of the hour.

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Mayo kicked on again in the extra time stage as points from Ava Mai Casey, Kate Byrne, and Aoife Meaney put Mayo three up. Galway substitute Niamh Ni Fhatharta made a great catch in the dying stages and blasted to the net. Is it penalties, is it free kicks, that was the next question, with all in Bekan uncertain.

Free kicks it was and with five kickers each, both sides went for it. Mayo’s Doherty missed first, followed by a near miss by Galway star O’Malley. All remaining players converted with precision as more drama unfolded. 

What’s next? A fresh set of takers appeared with Mayo’s Isobel Phillips missing while Galway’s Mia O’Donnell had the chance to win it, and that’s what happened. 

On a dramatic occasion, while Mayo suffered defeat, Brian Mc Loughlin and his squad can be proud of their efforts. 

A full match report and reaction will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.