Photo: @MayoGAA
So the first piece of silverware for the county in 2017 is in the bag. It came in the form of the Mary McPartland Perpetual Cup, which was the trophy on offer to the winners of today’s U21 North West Cup final played at Markievicz Park. The photo above shows Mayo captain James Lyons being presented with the trophy by the late Mary McPartland’s granddaughter, Mary Kate McPartland.
Mike Solan’s charges won today’s decider with a late, decisive surge. Although they were on top for most of the hour – leading by 1-5 to 0-5 at the break, the goal from Colm Reape – Sligo came back into it in the second half, levelling the tie with a goal from Liam Gaughan before briefly edging in front. After James McCormack restored parity, the Magpies again pointed to lead by one.
The sides were level once more, at 1-9 apiece, with less than ten minutes left on the clock. It was then that our lads made their decisive push for the line, with a goal from Kevin Quinn, a pointed free from James Carr, a point from Ryan O’Donoghue, another free from Carr and finally a goal from O’Donoghue to finish the job.
It must have been tough on a game Sligo team who were right in the hunt with ten minutes to go but ended up losing by eight points in the finish. Rough justice it may, perhaps, have been but it was also surely a reflection of the strength of our finishing surge.
Well done to the lads on claiming the spoils today.
Photo: @MayoGAA
Match reports: Mayo Advertiser, Sligo GAA.
Mayo: Scott Kilker; Marcus Park, Stephen Brennan, Sean Conlon (0-1); Dylan Cannon, Jason Forkan, Gary McHale; James Kelly, James McCormack (0-1); Cathal Hennelly (0-1, free), James Lyons (0-1), Ryan O’Donoghue (1-3); Barry Duffy, James Carr (0-4, three frees), Colm Reape (1-0). Subs: Kevin Quinn (1-1) for Hennelly, Matthew Ruane for Reape, Shairoze Akram for McHale, Mikey Murray for Kelly.
Nice to get a bit of silverware in January. These U 21 lads have lots of potential if nurtured properly and managed correctly which I think they will be there is no reason why Sam can’t come to Mayo in the future.
Well done Mayo. A good start to the year indeed
Well done to all involved, players, management and the backroom staff. The future is bright for these lads!
Well done to our U21’s today. Was good to make the final and get another game under their belts. To win in the manner in which they did under a lot of pressure in the closing quarter was a good sign. Focus now turns to the serious matter of training very hard for the monumental challenge that lies ahead against an excellent Galway team in March.
To anybody that was at the match today, how did Stephen Brennan play?, a fellow Claremorris man.
Any word on Seamus Cunniffe and Mathew Ruane?
Actually I just noticed Mathew Ruane came on as a sub. Great to have him back fit. If we can get Seamus Cunniffe back it will add some size and strength to the backs.
Great stuff well done lads. A winning Start to the year
Well done to the Mayo U21 team today. They will have a hill to climb against Galway but there are well capable also.
Well done lads! Great to be winning silverware so early in the year.
Congrats lads, you make us proud!
Michael Solan has proved to be a great apointment by the County board ….John Maughan was in for that job at the time ….Its nailed on at this stage already that Solan will get a go at the Seniors in time even though i know we have a good management team already….Keep it going Mayo u21s
@freespoonwitheverytub
It wasn’t a great appointment by the CB, he got the job by default. John Maughan was lined up to come on board with Pat & Noel and only withdrew his name when the two lads got the boot, Michael Solan was the only name left in the hat.
He has turned out to be an excellent manager and I’m not being disparaging towards Michael in any way, however it is untrue to state that the CB had the foresight to appoint a young, relatively unproven manager when the complete opposite is true.
Good win for the young bucks yesterday. When they drop it a gear and put the pressure on they’re hard to live with but early days all the same.
The best of fortune to the Clew Bay delegations today. Can’t make the game but I sneak a listen on the wireless at work.
That’s one slant on it, Liam, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that Michael Solan was a great appointment. The same argument you use could also be made for Stephen Rochford’s appointment – the two lads were ousted and Rochy was the only available alternative. That one has worked out okay for us too.
Is mayo playing donegal to day in a warm up were is the game dos any one know
I 100% agree Mike Solan has been a fantastic appointment WJ, what I’m saying is he is one of those people in life who by accident more than design ends up in a position. That he grasped it with both hands and achieved what he did speaks volumes of the man. Comparing his appointment to that of Stephen Rochford is unfair I feel. Stephen had won the club All Ireland as both a player and manager and was already being widely touted as a future senior manager with the county, the exit of N&P just accelerated the process. Michael Solan applied for the U21 postition having managed Ballaghadreen for a season and was relatively unknown.
Solan’s achievments and ability are not being questioned, but his appointment was the result of the CB needing to quickly find a solution for a major problem they found themselves in with the players heave, foresight played absolutely no role in Michael Solans appointment.
Jack Charlton’s appointment was the result of a (typical) mess up by the FAI.
Home sweet home mayo, aye, the challenge game was on in Sligo. We beat you by a point. Murphy got a goal in the first half but I believe Mayo could have sealed it at the death only for Kevin mcloughlin shot wide of the post.
Thanks lorrie if it was on in donegal i would have went
No bother. I think it was in the centre of excellence. I’m saving my babysitting tokens for next week!
Well done Westport. Huge result
Congrats to Westport. That was great to get the win!
Well done Westport and hard luck Louisburg. You have both done Mayo proud today.
Jese a mighty battle by Westport. Huge games by Brian Mcdermott, Shane Scott and Colm Moran who did really well as an at times one man full forward line.
Just heard that 4 of Mayo’s league matches are televised.. v Monaghan, v Kerry, v Roscommon, and v Dublin..
Liam ———- You are right on the money regardinng the U 21 management appointment by c/b.
Nominations were sought from clubs as is standard practice. Two names were forthcoming from the Clubs ie M.Solan and one other, not J.M. C.B executive later announced J.M was being added to the list, but subsequent events overtook this, resulting in departure of P.& N and J M s name was curiously withdrawn. ?
One is tempted to think that this scenario might be related to the players issue with extra poeple around the team.
The good news is that we seem to have almost accidentally unearthed a good new manager with no apparent baggage. Best of luck to him going forward.