The FBD gets underway tomorrow but with our lads still away sunning themselves in Dubai (and good luck to them) and so not due to take the field for the first time until this coming Friday, it was left to the U21s – now managed by Niall Heffernan – to get our 2014 inter-county year up and running today. By the sounds of it they did so in fine style.
The U21s were in action this afternoon in the Hastings Cup, where they faced Longford in a Round 1 match played at Emmet Park, Killoe, Co. Longford. This competition, by the way, is a long-running one that counties use as prep for the U21 championship and this year a total of twelve counties are taking part in it – further details here.
Photo: @MayoGAA
Today’s match in Killoe ended in a 2-14 to 0-12 win for our lads. We were in control right from the off and first half goals from captain Adam Gallagher and Evan Regan put us in the driving seat. We led 2-7 to 0-8 at the break and then proceeded to ease home with eight points to spare.
I haven’t got full details of who scored what for us today but the team that started for us (info courtesy of @MayoGAA) was as follows:
Mayo: M Moylette; G McLoughlin, L Kitterick, A Butler; S Regan, S Coen, C Burke; D O’Connor, G O’Donnell; A Jordan, A Gallagher, R Neary; J Shaughnessy, E Regan, K Gibbons.
Nice to start the year as we mean to go on – on a winning note 😉
I think Gallagher scored 1-7 goal came from a penalty and Regan scored the other goal. Longfords best forward Smyth with 0-9 got a black card with 20mins to go.
Thought AdamGallagher was majestic esp in first half, the new Ciaran mac. Long day, on train back to dublin now.We are in an era thats going to last a while.Up Mayo
Sean
Hope you’re right. Nothing like a win to start us off.
Hope so. Our preparation for under 21 over the last few years was very disrupted. Entering the Hastings Cup is a good development, it will build moral and team work, things badly missing in Tuam last year v Galway.
Exactly my thoughts rober.We had a savage u 21 team last year but it just didnt surface , hipefully this hastings cup will stand to them and we just ate roscommon alive in Castlebar come championship.I truly believe the fruits of the development squads 18 -21 of the last couple of yesrs will start to show this year. There was a good article in the mayo news i think just after sept defeat, Michael fitzmaurice gave a good gauge of what theyre at.Time will tell but im sticking with this postive vibe im feeling.
The U-21 Football Team lined out as follows today with names in full and clubs:
1 Marcus Moylette Islandeady
2 Gerard McLoughlin Charlestown
3 Liam Kitterick Westport
4 Aidan Butler Claremorris
5 Sean Regan Ballina
6 Stephen Coen Holly/Carra
7 Cian Burke Ballymun Kickhams
8 Diarmuid O’Connor Ballintubber
9 Gareth O’Donnell Charlestown
10 Anthony Jordan Moy Davitts
11 Adam Gallagher (Capt.) Mayo Gaels
12 Ronan Neary Bonniconlon
13 James Shaughnessy Claremorris
14 Evan Regan Ballina
15 Kevin Gibbons Louisburgh
Subs Introduced on the day were:
18 Kevin Lynch Mayo Gaels
19 Eoghan Collins Ballyhaunis
22 Brian Heneghan Moy Davitts
23 David McHale Knockmore
26 Owen Jordan Ballaghaderreen
Also, U-21 Manager is Niall Heffernan
In fairness that was a very good Galway team one that was good enough to win the All Ireland.
Only ate poor Roscommon sides alive. Will be very little between Mayo,Ros Gal in this years championship and the winner of Connacht will go all the way to the AI final at least IMO.
Dublin are also the team to beat at this level.
Thanks for that and for the correction re Niall Heffernan – at least I got the surname right!
Anyone know the other results from Hastings cup today? That no 5 Sean Regan Ballina was very impressive today too, very big frame on him too.
Group 1
Cavan 1-14 Offaly 0-8
Group 2
Roscommon 2-19 Clare 1-7
Westmeath 2-6 Kildare 1-17
Group 3
Leitrim 1-7 Tipperary 1-18
Meath 2-17 Wicklow 1-6
Mighty bucks!
Is Kevin O’Neill involved with the U-21’s this year?
He is, Mick – he’s part of the new U21 management team this year.
Good start and well done to the lads. I know its hard to read much into team selection at this stage but just 2 of last years minor side played today (I think), Coen and O Connor. Bit surprised there wasn’t a few more of them involved, early days yet I suppose. Tommy Conroy of kiltane plus the castlebar Mitchell’s lads will obviously not play in this comp till the clubs are finished.
Its Roscommon we have to face in the championship, thats why i said that.Maybe my tone was a tad aggresive but i do feel its important for the overall picture that we stop this losing streak at 21s.
There is a few lads there that i believe merits a start on senior panel.Anyone agree? Any info from the camp?
Let the U21s concentrate on U21 for the springtime. When that campaign is over we can consider introducing them to the senior panel. Many of them will also be involved with colleges, Sigerson/Trench cup etc so there is no point in overloading them. And there is a big enough panel of over 21s to work on, hopefully till the All Ireland U21 final.
Looking at the panel there seems to be quite a few who did not feature at minor over the last 3 years which indicates that there was a good trawl throughout the county for talent.
Names please. Although I agree with some other poster that we should leave the u21 panel alone and let them see what they can do, ie try and win the title. We have a wide spread of talent in all ages so maybe leaving them to their brackets as long as possible is the best idea.
I don’t nessaseraly about keeping the under 21s together.On the other hand Davey fitz had a predominant under 21 team on the senior panel that won the mcarthy as well well as under 21 title.Im just throwing it out there that’s all 🙂
The U21 hurling championship does not get underway until the second half of the year [the final is the Sunday after the Senior final] so it makes it easier to include them in the Senior panel from the start of the year. There is lots of opportunity to include U21s in the Senior panel when the U21 campaign is over. Having to many players in a panel would result in some players not getting a real opportunity to prove themselves.
Fair point AndyD .didn’t think about when the hurling schedule