Connacht Cup joy for Mayo's Kiltimagh/Knock United

Two early goals for clinical striker David Smith ensured Kiltimagh/Knock United of victory over Mervue United in the Connacht Under 18 Cup final at Solar 21 Park, Milebush, Castlebar, this afternoon.

The 2022 Mayo league and cup winners completed a terrific treble with a confident display against the Galway city side, who enjoyed a lot of possession but never gave Ryan Finn in the KK goal a whole lot to worry about.

The first of Smith's goals would have graced any final anywhere as he whipped a beauty of a left-footed curler to the top right corner of the Mervue goal, giving 'keeper Jason Daly no chance.

That came on 11 minutes, and just a couple later they were celebrating on the double as Smith beat Daly again, this time with a low effort after a pass from Cillian Mooney.

There were no more goals and while the Mayo club had to soak up a fair bit of pressure, they dealt with everything Mervue could throw at them.

In fact, Smith and Rob O'Flaherty were always good for a telling out ball and the best of the chances came on the break for KK throughout the remainder of the game.

Mervue couldn't penetrate a rearguard in which Sean O'Dowd and Tadhg Caulfield excelled, and by the end they had run out of ideas.

The KK players, to a man, put in tremendous displays to ensure their club of a fully deserved Connacht Cup title.

*See Tuesday's print edition for a comprehensive report on the game