The county’s Minors began their Connacht Championship campaign with a Round 1 win over Leitrim at Ballinamore this evening. Leading by 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time, Tomás Morley’s charges pulled away after the break to win decisively by 1-20 to 0-6.
Early points from Ethan Murphy (two), Aidan Cosgrove and Paddy Heneghan settled us well into this contest and gave us a lead we’d never subsequently relinquish. Further points – from Emmet Murphy, Paul Walsh and Rory Morrin – saw the margins between the teams widen to four points by half-time.
The points kept coming on the resumption, with a succession of scores putting the result beyond doubt well before the finish. Three frees in a row by Frank Irwin got us going nicely in the second half and then three long-range points from play followed, knocked over by Paddy Heneghan, Ronan Hughes and Owen McHale.
By now we were cruising. Three more points, two from Ray Walsh and the other from Ciaran Mylett, pushed us twelve clear before Leitrim eventually got their sixth point of the evening, from a free, with five minutes left to play.
But our lads weren’t finished yet. Frank Irwin weighed in with a goal and two further points late on, with our final point of the evening scored by Cian O’Connell to complete a seventeen-point win.
Match report – Irish Independent.
Well done to the lads. Next up for them is a Round 2 meeting with Roscommon next Friday evening, with that match fixed for James Stephens Park, Ballina (throw-in 7.30pm).
The Rossies, by the way, came from eight points down at half-time against Galway to win by 1-17 to 1-15 in the other Round 1 game played this evening (match report here). I think it’s safe to assume, then, that they’ll ask more searching questions of our lads than the ones they dealt with so well at Ballinamore this evening.
Well done to Tomas and the team onwards and upwards.
Does scoring difference come into play at the end of round-robin?
Well done. Now drive on.
Good win,score and spread of scorers against a poor Leitrim team that probably won’t win any game in this Connacht championship. The rossies win throws the cat among the pigeons. The round 2 game next weekend will be played in James Stephens Park, Ballina.
4 of the starting forwards from Ballina great achievement.
Great win for our hurlers against Louth today, 3-20 to 1-13.
Tyrone were beaten by Sligo in the other group match so a win against group leaders Sligo could have us Sligo and Tyrone on 4 points!!
Well done minors and hurlers.
Re Cillian and posts by Larry Duff and Sean Burke yesterday, RTE website reported yesterday that Cillian will not be available for Ros – Diarmaid will. James Horan quoted on Cillian. It may be that he’s not able to gain his place with his level of fitness and rustiness. Or, perhaps not.
Does anyone know are the minors playing in Ballina next Friday and if so what time. Thanks.
They are, Backdoorsam – it’s a 7.30pm throw-in. I updated the post earlier on when these details were confirmed.
Thanks Willie Joe
Seen some good photos of the Mayo panel on the Rockland GAA facebook page from their meet and greet day, Cillian looking very lean, and I see Micky Murray was with the main panel.