The first matches of 2020 involving Mayo teams took place today. Tooreen were in action against Fr O’Neill’s of Cork in the All-Ireland Intermediate club hurling semi-final while the county’s U20 footballers took on Roscommon in the opening round of the Leo Murphy Cup.
Tooreen were ranks outsiders this afternoon against the Cork club at O’Connor Park in Tullamore. Despite this, they battled hard all day and fought back from being 0-10 to 0-5 in arrears at half-time to close the gap to just two points with five minutes left to play.
That was as close as they got, however, as Fr O’Neill’s held their nerve to seal the win by four points on a scoreline of 0-19 to 1-12.
Match reports – Irish Examiner, The 42.
Over in Castlerea, meanwhile, Mike Solan’s U20s took on Roscommon in the U20 Development League, in which this year Mayo are competing for the Leo Murphy Cup. They’re in Group 1 alongside Derry and Donegal as well as today’s opponents.
Early on in this afternoon’s match the Mayo lads looked well on their way to victory. With only five minutes played they were 1-2 to 0-0 in front, the goal coming from full-forward Kuba Callaghan.
The home side steadied the ship between then and the break, however, at which point Mayo’s lead stood at 1-8 to 1-5. A second Roscommon goal soon after the restart altered the game’s complexion and from then until the finish it was the visitors who were battling to get back on terms.
Roscommon looked to have done enough to squeeze home by the minimum margin but then Mayo were awarded a 14-yard free and, with it, the chance to level it up. A tricky one it was too, with sub James Jennings having only a very narrow angle at which to aim. No bother to him he nailed it perfectly.
The match finished all square on a scoreline of 1-13 to 2-10. The U20s’ next outing is this day week when they have a home match against Derry.
Was an entertaining enough game in Castlerea. The quality was lacking due to the poor weather and pitch. Mayo started off really well and then conceded an incredibly sloppy goal. This competition is to replace challenge games etc so it’s hard to read into results and performances but one concerning matter is how little breaking balls we won, Rossies won alot more and it allowed them to build a platform for attack. Our full back line was very exposed too. They showed good heart to pull out a draw when really Roscommon should have won.
Kuba pulled his hammer early on and that’s concerning. Paul Towey was very good in attack. Think he got 5 points.
Tooreen will have regrets as they had a massive opportunity to make the final but for the amount of wides they had. Even allowing for the step up in intensity that this game had some of their wides and shot selection was poor. But even then they had O’Neills on the rack due to O’Neills indiscipline which saw 2 red cards and a sense of panic enveloped O’Neills. But with game in the balance the ref obviously felt he needed to even things up abit, first disallowing a levelling goal and then giving Kenny Feeney a straight red, after the goalie ran into him and fell down clutching his face.
Yes regrets but they can also reflect that they had the measure of the Cork and Munster champions so they should fear no one in this competition. But it’s back to the start for this very talented team.
Why were the teams wearing red (Mayo) and black (Ros)?
Any word on the result of the senior team V NUIG in Dangan today?
I was out for a walk with the family and was happy to see them out. Hardly anyone apart from the squads in attendance. Tom P was playing midfield, which was nice to see. Kevin Mc, Mattie also looking good.
Mayo won 0 17 to 2 09.
0-17 to 2-9 for mayo.
Hard luck to Tooreen, hopefully if they can win Mayo and Connacht next year they will have a better chance of making the final, given that they would be up against an Ulster team rather than the cream of Munster or Leinster.
Cathal Freeman was interviewed for an excellent piece in De Paper last weekend:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/gaa/the-big-interview-with-toreens-cathal-freeman-the-truth-is-hurling-is-dying-a-death-973478.html
Some sombre thoughts on the future of hurling outside the established counties.
As 2020 is upon us, and once again and our Hope’s and Fear’s come to the fore….Mayo has it easy next weekend… playing Galway in Castlebar in the FBD…. But spare a taught for these poor cratures ,it’s not so simple for our City Slicker Friends Dublin, they have to head all the way to Longford for an O’Byrne Cup Clash….A fearsome journey for them, almost as far as Connacht…. Despite their millions of euro Sponcership from AIG, imagine if some of their fan’s happened not to get off the Sligo bound train in Longford and crossed the Shannon into Connacht….Be Jazus, they could get lost, or even worse!…. And That would be an end to the Dublin team or fan’s ever having to go to any other Leinster Venue, for a Leinster Championship Match…. This weekend if any of ye see, these poor cratures in AIG Blue, after you have congratulated them on their Five in a Row… they might ask you to key in the address for Longford on the Sat Nav…Be kind and help them out…If you are on the train from Connelly Station to Sligo, be sure to wake them up and make sure that they get off in Longford, otherwise they could end up in Connacht never to be seen again in Croke Park….By Monday the Dublin Fan’s will be thinking of themselves as the Dublin City Ramblers, after such fearsome journey.. almost on a par with the ‘Flight of the Earl’s’ centuries ago!
Just read that Cathal Freeman interview. I hope some of the big shots in the GAA read it too. It contains a lot to think about for those who are in power positions.
U20s game v Derry next Saturday, down for 2pm in Ballina, on Derry gaa website
Galway team named tonight for Sundays game, a mix of new and experienced, Shane Walsh will captain Galway this season..
Tuamstar, only four new players on that Galway team. The rest has started championship games for Galway. Shane Walsh doesn’t come across as captain material.
How time flies! I’m guessing that FBD won’t be televised as per usual, but if anyone does hear anything about it showing / a youtube link could they put that up?
WJ – thanks as ever for your time and effort to keep the blog going