Goals galore as Mayo are beaten in Connacht Under 20 final
Goals proved critical as Sligo won their first ever Connacht Under 20 title with a 4-4 to 1-12 victory over Mayo at Markievicz Park this evening.
Building on last year's minor success, Sligo rocked Mayo with goals at crucial times, including two in the last six minutes of normal time – and this at a stage when they had been reduced to 14 players following a straight red for defender Shane Molloy after a high challenge on Mayo's Tom O'Flaherty.
Eoghann Smith scored the goal that brought Sligo back into contention with six minutes remaining, while Jack Lavin kicked what proved to be the winner with normal time almost up.
It had looked as though Mayo had done enough to win the game with a Paddy Heneghan goal and a Frank Irwin free either side of the sending-off to open up a 1-11 to 2-3 lead, but Lavin's goal and a quick free by the same player had the game back in the melting pot, 1-11 to 3-4.
A Niall Treacy point following a perceptive hand pass by the impressive Dylan Thornton had Mayo two clear but then came Lavin's delivery from distance that sailed over everyone, including Mayo 'keeper Brian O'Flaherty, and landed in the net.
Sligo worked exceptionally hard over the three minutes of injury time to keep Mayo at bay and ultimately secure their first ever title at Under 20 (or Under 21) level.
Mayo were rocked by the concession of two goals in that first half, both scored by Jack Davitt and set up by Lee Duignan as the pair formed a deadly duo in the Sligo full-forward line.
Duignan opened the scoring in the second minute with a free and James Donlon followed up immediately when the Mayo kick-out went awry to double the Sligo lead.
Mayo were level by the 11th minute as Jack Fallon sent one over from distance following a patient build-up and Rory Morrin added the equaliser a couple of minutes later.
Sligo quickly responded with their first goal as Duignan, Davitt and Matt Henry found a route through the Mayo rearguard, Davitt with the finish from close range despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Brian O'Flaherty.
The Green and Red recovered well to land three points in a row, all superb efforts, from Paddy Heneghan (two) and Frank Irwin.
But Sligo swooped again, Duignan finding Davitt with a sumptuous low pass and the corner forward selling a superb dummy before slamming the ball to the Mayo net.
Again Mayo responded well as Heneghan (free), Tom O'Flaherty and Irwin (free) all found the range to make it all-square again at 0-8 to 2-2, but Sligo had the final say as Donlon scored his second of the half to give the Yeats County the most slender of leads at the break.
Mayo enjoyed the lion's share of possession and had opened out that 1-11 to 2-3 lead with just seven minutes remaining.
Sligo didn't mind defending in numbers – allowing Mayo plenty of possession but not much penetration – and tried to catch their opponents on the break.
After the red card, with their backs to the wall, they found some inspiration to get on the ball more and drive forward, and the new-found ambition paid off in spades on a night to remember for Sligo football.
Sligo: Kyle Davey; Shane Molloy, Mark McGowan, Feidhlim O'Donnell; James Donlon (0-2), Jack Lavin (1-0), Conor Johnston; Canice Mulligan, Joseph Keaney; Matt Henry, Eoghann Smith (1-1), Dylan Walsh; Luke Marren, Lee Duignan (0-1), Jack Davitt (2-0).
Subs used: Ciarán O'Reilly (blood), Oisin Flynn, Gavin Duffy, Luke Casserly, Brian Byrne, Oisin Gorman.
Mayo: Bryan O'Flaherty; Alfie Morrison, Ruairi Keane, Conal Dawson; Fenton Kelly, Donnacha McHugh, Aiden Cosgrove; Frank Irwin (0-3), Jack Fallon (0-1); Tom O'Flaherty (0-1), Dylan Thornton, Sean Morahan; Rory Morrin (0-2), Paddy Heneghan (1-3), Cian O'Connell.
Subs used: Bob Tuohy, Cian McHale, Niall Treacy (0-1), Conor Reid.