Beirne the star as Mayo reach Connacht decider

Mayo made it four wins from as many games in the Connacht GAA Dalata Under 20 Football Championship group stages, the latest victory coming against Sligo in Markievicz Park on a 5-22 to 2-16 scoreline, writes Aiden Henry.

The result confirms Mayo's place in the Connacht decider, a game which will be played on Wednesday, April 30.

Their opponents in the final will be the winners of the playoff semi-final between Roscommon and Sligo next Wednesday (April 23).

In a very high scoring and highly entertaining game, Mayo – with Darragh Beirne in devasting form – proved that bit too strong for a Sligo side that battled hard all the way.

Once Mayo got their first goal in the 12th minute, when man of the match Beirne set up his Claremorris club-mate Niall Hurley to find the back of the net, there was no stopping them.

Mayo went on to add two further goals from Beirne and Cathal Keaveney along with some excellent points before half-time to go in at the interval leading by 3-9 to 0-5.

Beirne pounced early for Mayo on the resumption with a pointed free followed by his second goal of the game, Hurley turning provider on this occasion.

Sligo enjoyed a purple patch towards the end of the third quarter with three unanswered two-pointers and a goal to cut the deficit back to six points.

However, Mayo regrouped and tacked on some brilliant points before Hurley ended the contest with his second goal of the game in 57th minute.

It was a fine display by Mayo and especially the Claremorris duo of Darragh Beirne and Niall Hurley, who scored an amazing 4-10 between them.

Mayo: C. Meaney; R. Mortimer, P. Gilmore (0-1), E. McGreal; H. O’Loughlin, J. MacMonagle, C. McHale; O. Armstrong (0-1), S. Howard; O. Cronin (0-2), C. Keavney (1-0), C. Lynch (0-1); D. Beirne (2-6), N. Hurley (2-4), T. Lydon (0-4).

Subs used: D. Neary (0-1), L. Feeney (0-1), M. Gordetskyy.

Sligo: D. O’Brien; O. Conlon, R. O’Callaghan, R. O’Hehir; D. Walsh (0-3), T. Ross, R. O’Kelly-Lynch; O. Harte, M. Sheridan; E. O’Mahony, O. Cadden, D. Callaghan; C. Flynn (1-2), D. Mostyn (1-1), G. Lynch (0-3).

Subs used: R. Niland (0-4), R. Gillespie (0-1), P. Flynn (0-1), E. Carden, M. Carroll, A. O’Hara.

Referee: J. Molloy (Galway).