The county’s hurlers this afternoon qualified for the final of the Nicky Rackard Cup as they saw off the challenge of Armagh at a sun-splashed Páirc Seán MacDiarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon. Trailing at half-time, Mayo came with a powerful surge after the break to claim a fairly comfortable 2-23 to 2-9 win.
I was busy with other Saturday stuff earlier on so I didn’t follow this one blow-for-blow, though I did catch the final ten minutes on Midwest. The Twitter updates told me that we were one behind at half-time but the next time I checked, midway through the second half, we were well ahead.
Cathal Freeman – back from injury and needed too, as Shane Boland was suspended for this game – bagged the first goal early in the opening half. Our second goal came right at the end, with Adrian Phillips’ strike putting the cap on a fine team performance.
Match report from the Connaught Telegraph is here.
Derek Walsh’s team now advance to the Rackard Cup decider, which is provisionally fixed for next Saturday though this has yet to be confirmed. In that final they’ll face Tyrone who today pulled off a surprise six-point win over defending champions Donegal.
Well done to our lads and the best of luck to them in the final.
Well done, Mayo hurlers! I’m so delighted for all the lads (and especially Keith Higgins). Hurray!!
Great going. Now for the big one next week ; )
Great win for our hurlers after such a disappointing week of football. Pity about the number of supporters in Carrick, heard the commentator say there were just seven Mayo fans and none from Armagh. Hope we make a better effort for the final the lads deserve it.