Winning start for Mayo in Connacht Under 20 Championship

Mayo got their Dalata Connacht GAA Under 20 Football Championship campaign off to a winning start with a 1-15 to 0-13 victory over Roscommon this evening.

In bright sunshine (for the most part), Mayo recovered from a sluggish start to overcome the visitors with a bit to spare.

They should have had a bigger winner margin in truth, and would have had but for some wayward shooting, 13 wides their tally for the hour.

But there were some good scores too as five of the starting forwards got on the scoresheet, Tom Lydon leading the way with eight points, five of them frees.

The goal was put away by the captain, John MacMonagle near the end of the first half during a dominant period for the hosts.

A shot for a point by Josh Carey came back off the crossbar and MacMonagle, following in, cleverly tapped the rebound over the Roscommon 'keeper, Patrick Gaynor.

That put Mayo three points ahead (1-8 to 0-8), though Roscommon scored the last point of the half to go in just two in arrears.

Three two-pointers – two of them frees by Rory Carthy (one from all of 55 metres out) and one from play by John Curran – kept Roscommon well in the game, but the longer the first half went on, the more Mayo took control.

Niall Hurley put Mayo further ahead early in the second half but Roscommon rallied to land three points to level the game (1-9 to 0-12) on 35 minutes.

However, the visitors would only score one more point in the closing 25 minutes, and while Mayo were far from lethal in the scoring department, they did add six more points to their tally, including one from substitute Darragh Beirne.

They could have had a goal or two as well but Patrick Gaynor made a couple of fine saves as the home side looked to turn the screw.

There was nearly a sting in the tail as Roscommon's Rory Carthy had a shot on goal near the end, at a time when his team was only four points down, but Mayo 'keeper Conor Meaney, with assistance from a defender, saved the effort.

Lydon had the last say with a free as Mayo confirmed victory. Next up is a round two fixture a week from today away to Galway, who had a convincing win over Leitrim in their opening game this evening.

Mayo: C. Meaney; A. Coggins, P. Gilmore, E. McGreal; H. O'Loughlin, J. MacMonagle (1-0), C. McHale; O. Armstrong, S. Howard; C. Keaveney, N. Hurley (0-3), O. Cronin (0-1); J. Carey (0-1), L. Feeney (0-1), T. Lydon (0-8, 5f).

Subs used: D. Neary, D. Beirne (0-1), C. Lynch, S. Guilfoyle.

Roscommon: P. Gaynor; K. Kelly (0-1), C. Campbell, R. Henry; D. Hagney, E. Carthy, E. Collins; N. Heneghan, D. Higgins (0-1); B. Murphy (0-1), R. Carthy (0-5, 2tpf), C. McKeon (0-1); J. Curran (0-3, 1tp), R. Heneghan, J. McGuinness.

Subs used: C. Kelly, R. Kilcline (0-1), L. Coyle, A. Conroy.

Referee: B. Judge (Sligo).