Photo: @MayoAdvertSport
It looks for much of today’s Hastings Cup semi-final that the county’s long losing run against Roscommon at U21 level was coming to an end but the holders struck late with an unanswered goal and two points to seal the win and a place in next weekend’s decider. The final score at Rathcline, Lanesboro, was 1-10 to 1-6 in the Rossies’ favour.
Our lads started the match brightly and led by 0-3 to 0-2 after twenty minutes, though by then Val Roughneen had already gone off injured, with Eoghan Lavin replacing him. We then took what looked to be a decisive hold on proceedings when James Durcan fisted the ball across the square to Brian Reape who punched it to the net. Roscommon hit back, though, with two points at the other end to leave just one between the sides at the break.
The second half was nip and tuck all the way, with the neighbours levelling it up, our lads edging in front once more (this one from Conor Finnerty), their lot equalising and us responding again, with Eoghan Lavin’s point leaving us one up with less than five minutes to go.
That, though, was the end of our scoring for the day. Roscommon levelled again with two minutes left and disaster then struck for us when Cathal Kenny found the net for them with the game heading into injury time. They added another point before the finish to win by four.
It’s obviously a disappointing result – and galling for the county to lose twice to the Sheepstealers in less than a week – but it’s been a good Hastings Cup campaign for Niall Heffernan and his charges. The matches they’ve had over the last few weeks should stand to them even if today’s defeat provides further evidence that it’ll be as hard as ever to get out of the west in the U21 provincial championship this spring. The fact that all four Hastings Cup semi-finalists this year hail from Connacht bears this out.
Mayo team and subs: Marc Mulligan; Kevin Lynch, David Kenny, James Stretton; Michael Hall, Sean Regan, Cian Burke;
Matthew Ruane, Val Roughneen; TJ Byrne, James Durcan, Darren McHale; Morgan Lyons, Liam Irwin, Brian Reape. Subs: Sean Shaughnessy, Mark Forkan, Darragh Ruane, Steven Conroy, Conor Finnerty Aidan O’Sullivan, James Quinn, Eoghan Lavin, Ronan Carolan.
Full details on our scorers today, as well as subs introduced, aren’t to hand, I’m afraid.
Thanks to @MayoAdvertSport, @MayoClub51 and @MayoGAA for all the excellent updates from the midlands this afternoon.
Good competive game today, looks like both sets of management were playing cat and mouse in case of a championship meeting at this level as there was at least 5 starters not playing for Ros and I assume ye are talking similar numbers
Hard luck but like the FBD, this is a pre season competition so no need to panic, although a win for the Rossies would be nice. No Adam Gallagher or Stephen Coen suggests they are involved in senior A v B games this weekend.
Diarmuid O’Connor could be another – he was named in the team announced this morning but then didn’t feature.
A good competitive match which I thought Roscommon deserved to win. They seemed physically bigger and stronger and too often Mayo carried the ball into contact and then lost it. Our full forward line were very poor at winning possession and the approx 30 minutes either side of half time when we failed to score was costly in the end.
There was a good attendance but arrangements were very poor – no programme or public address to announce teams and substitutions. I was in Ballinamore [Co Leitrim] a few years ago for an FBD match where arrangements were an example of how to do these things and I’m told it was the same for the Leitrim v Mayo Connacht hurling League match earlier this year. Also it was a bit like the old days with no sideline fencing and the crowd with their toes on the sideline for most of the second half – no stewarding.and a garsoon doing linesman.
Saw a few pics and there is surely no excuse for that in this day and age AndyD. If people are good enough to travel the least they deserve is the courtesy of a teamsheet and/or a PA. Plenty of decent venues around god knows.
Yes a poor set up, if Longford GAA want to stage these games then play it in Pearse park. Over the course of the game the better side won however without P Durcan,D O Connor,S Coen,A Gallagher it was good effort by Mayo and a massive improvement on last year U-21s and much to build on. Leitrim at home in March the focus now and they pushed Galway all the way today losing by just one point in extra time.
Connacht the most competitive championship at this level by the looks of it.
Saw it reported on Twitter that Maurice Deegan will be reffing the match against Kerry. Also saw it said that Kerry will be without:
B Kelly, M O Se, A O Mahony, A Maher, Darren O Sullivan, Donaghy, O’Donoghue, D Walsh, P Crowley, Gooch and Declan O’Sullivan (retired). 2 points while blowing away some cobwebs would be nice, because we won’t get much else out of it.
The connaught championship could be an interesting affair this year with Mayo Galway and Roscommon all competitive. I think we could be in store for a Galway, Roscommon final which would capture the imagination a bit. Could the rossies be a surprise package this year and Galway as connaught champs make an all Ireland semi against Dublin. A quarterfinal appearance for mayo might be the height of our achievements. AS for Sam Dublin Kerry final with the Dubs prevailing. ..Mind you last year’s championship was poor enough quality so any team who put a run together could do well. As the physicality approach and the win at all cost continues to destroy gaelic football as an artisan sport….
Hard luck to the Mayo U21s. With the U21 Championship not starting for a few weeks it gives a chance to the U21 players involved with the Senior team to stake a place in the team for the games ahead, best of luck to them!
Two very interesting Articles here, interviews with Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Brian Cody. Maybe we can learn something from these two counties.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/defending-the-kingdom-with-reserves-of-strength-30933303.html
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/joe-brolly-blast-missed-the-point-says-brian-cody-308134.html
Agree with AndyD on his observations on todays match. Roscommon appear to be that little bit stronger than us at the moment at U21 level. I thought David Kenny, Cian Burke and T J Byrne were Mayos best players today. No disrespect to the players that lined out in the full foward line but thet could not hold on to possession. Going to Killarney next weekend looking foward to it.Whats organized for Saturday night in Killarney?
I’d like to take the opportunity and congratulate Roscommon on a fine fbd title win, well done.
Also congrats to Waterford footballers and the Carlow hurlers.
As far as I am aware this Ros team were missing a number of significant players from the senior side. So it appears that the Connacht Champions will be the team to beat come the championship. Great opportunity for the Mayo management to run over the 2 teams in the final. No need to get too upset about the outcome of the Hastings Cup trophy. It is an opportunity for young men to show their footballing skills or lack of them that’s all.
Something tells me lahan man is a troll. Cant wait for the league opener next week. Hope allianz are runing their predections league again.
They are, Juan – and I’ll set up a mini-league on it in the next day or two. I’m still smarting, though, over my near-miss with overall victory in last year’s competition!
A mini league here would be brilliant WJ, we do it in work and throw a few pound on it. Thought you had it in the bag last year alright, but sure theirs always this year!!!.
Good stuff WJ, I’ve already joined 3 other mini leagues! I made a right balls of most of my predictions last year. I’ll probably go the whole hog this year and come last!! 🙂
Not if I have anything to do with it Mayo Mick … the prediction leagues prove to me every year beyond a shadow of a doubt that I actually know feck all about football!