Mayo suffer penalty shootout heartbreak

Mayo ............... 0-14

Galway............... 1-11 

Mayo lose 3-2 on penalties after extra time

MAYO Under 20 footballers bowed out of the Connaught championship after they lost out to Galway after a penalty shootout in Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar, this afternoon.

It was a cruel way for this cracking game, played in terrible weather conditions, to be decided.

Both sides had their moments during the 80 minutes and  had chances to win before the match official called halt at the end of extra-time.

It was Mayo who had the advantage of the very strong wind in the opening half.

As a result the home side put a lot of pressure on the Galway defence and while Mayo did create a large number of chances they failed to convert many, especially in the opening quarter.

However, two fine points from Paul Towey and one each from Paddy Goldrick and Frank Irwin had Mayo 0-4 to 0-1 in front at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter Mayo continued to create chances but were off the mark with some good chances.

But three more points from Towey and one from Irwin helped to build up a six-point lead at the interval, 0-8 to 0-2.

On the resumption, Galway, now favoured by the strong wind, hit four unanswered points in the first 11 minutes to leave just two between the sides.

Two fine points from Towey, one a free, restored Mayo’s lead to four at the end of the third quarter.

While Mayo didn’t score for the remainder of the half they looked to be holding Galway out.

But in the closing moments Galway fired over to great points to level matters and send the game into extra-time.

In the first period of extra-time Mayo managed two points from Towey and Ciaran Gavin.

But a cracking goal from Galway’ Matthew Tierney gave the visitors the edge and helped them lead by two as the first period of extra-time ended.

In the second period of extra-time two magnificent points from Towey brought back on level terms.

These were the only two scores of this period and the game ended level which left this championship game decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Mayo: J. McNicholas, J. Coyne, D. McBrien, L. Tunney, A. McDonnell, R. Brickenden, E. Hession, O. Mullin, J. Carney, C. Gavin ( 0-1), F. Irwin (0-2), P. Goldrick (0-1), J. Jennings (0-1), M. Moran, P. Towey (0-9).

Subs used: K. Callaghan, J. Mahon, P. Lambert, A. Barrett, P. Chambers.

Referee: B. Judge (Sligo).