Chance to emulate team of 2015
MAYO go into the Under 12 SFAI Subway Inter-League final against Dublin & District Schoolboy League (DDSL) as underdogs, but head coach Walter Barrett is not in any way overawed at facing the country's most dominant force at this level.
“Not, not at all,” he said in anticipation the big game, which will be played in Mullingar Athletic's grounds at 12.30 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon. “We're delighted to be underdogs. We competed really well against them in the Sligo Super Cup and would have been missing the Westport United lads who won the Under 12 Connaught Cup final that weekend. There are eight members of that (Westport) team on our squad. We were also missing Owen Elding (for the game against DDSL), who is one of the top players at that age in Mayo, if not the country.”
DDSL beat Mayo 3-1 in the Sligo Super Cup tournament and ultimately went on to win the tournament outright with a penalty shootout victory over Derby County, with Mayo finishing in fourth position overall in an eight-team tournament.
Campaign
Mayo got their SFAI Inter-League campaign off to a wonderful start with a 5-0 victory over Longford and followed it up with another convincing win against Roscommon (5-1) before a real ding-dong battle against Galway on a cold day in Milebush that was decided by a single goal very late on in the home side's favour.
All they needed from the final group game against Athlone & District League was a draw, and that's what they got from a game that ended 2-2.
It set them up for a crack at Donegal in the national semi-final, though it meant travelling to the Ulster county for the contest.
Again they needed a late goal in this tie, this time to equalise after Donegal had taken an early lead. Mayo went ahead in extra time but succumbed to a late leveller themselves, forcing penalties. The shootout went Mayo's way, however, sparking scenes of jubilation.
DDSL won three from three to top their group with a goal difference of +15 in the Leinster round of their campaign. That set them up for a semi-final against North Dublin Schoolboys/Girls League (NDSL), which went to penalties after a 1-1 draw. DDSL beat their neighbours in the shootout (4-3) before prevailing against Midlands Schoolboys/Girls League by three goals to nil in the Leinster final. The semi-final against Cork United was another test but DDSL won out by two goals to one, the winner coming very close to the final whistle.
Plan
Though he can't or won't reveal details of its specifics, Walter and his management team of Ollie King (Snugboro), Tom Dempsey (Killala) and Declan Leonard (Ballina Town) have a plan for the final.
“I can't see how we won't compete,” said Walter. “I can't see there being much between the teams. Thankfully, we have videos of their games and we've come up with a plan to play them.
“We're hoping that it will work and we'll put them on the back foot rather than them putting us on the back foot.”
The team – made up of players from clubs right around the county – are 'buzzing' for the final, Walter added. “They're a great crew of kids, with a lot of them playing at a really high level.”
All going well, Walter will be the second manager in four years to take a Mayo team all the way to a national title at Under 12 level. In 2015, Joe Kelly and crew beat Sligo/Leitrim 3-1 in the decider. Now, Walter and the entire Mayo set-up want to emulate that achievement. “I'm gunning for Joe Kelly,” he joked.
If he can repeat the achievement of Joe and the 2015 squad, it'll be another great day for Mayo football.
Panel
The full Mayo Under 12 panel is as follows: Oisin Mulroy (Castlebar Celtic), Conor Stapleton (Manulla), Conor Meaney (Westport United), Oisin McNicholas (Kiltimagh/Knock United), Adam Blake (Castlebar Celtic), Gavin Forry (Castlebar Celtic), Matthew Leonard (Ballina Town), Conor Nolan (Manulla), Brian McDonnell (Castlebar Celtic), Conor Reynolds (Westport United), Adrian Sotoparra (Conn Rangers), Cian Walsh (Castlebar Celtic), Senan Guilfoyle (Kiltimagh/Knock United), Alex Halpin (Westport United), Dan O'Malley (Westport United), Luke Flatley (Castlebar Celtic), Evan Durkan (Westport United), Shane Cunningham (Castlebar Celtic), Sean Fitzpatrick (Ballina Town), Jack Dawson (Westport United), Conor Gorman (Ballina Town), Thomas Morley (Kiltimagh/Knock United), Conor Cannon (Westport United), Danny Dunne (Claremorris), David Marrey (Westport United), Yosef Coghill (Castlebar Celtic), Dara Neary (Manulla), Jack Canny (Manulla), Cillian McGing (Westport United) and Owen Elding (Kiltimagh/Knock United).