Close encounter in Castlebar as Galway edge Mayo
Mayo and Galway played out an intense battle in round three of the Connacht minor football championship at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar. In the end it took a converted free by Galway’s Charlie Cox deep into injury time to decide this close encounter in the Tribesmen's favour, 1-12 to 1-11.
While it was very even throughout the entire game, both sides were guilty of unnecessary mistakes at different stages during the 60 minutes.
However, like last year, it will come as a surprise if these two teams don’t meet again before the destiny of the Tom Kilcoyne Cup for 2023 is decided.
Galway started much the better and dominated the early exchanges. Yet despite coming under some severe pressure at times, the Mayo defence kept the opposition forwards under wraps and made it difficult for them to get scores.
Although Galway opened up a two-point lead after nine minutes, Mayo hit the front two minutes later when a high ball by Darragh Beirne deceived the Galway goalkeeper, Cillian Walsh, and ended up in the top of the net.
While the visitors responded with two well-taken points, Mayo upped their game for the final 10 or 11 minutes of the half and outscored their opponents by four points to three. Team captain Rio Mortimer led the way with a well-taken point, with before Gavin Forry and Beirne (two) also raising white flags to send the sides in for the interval break on level terms, 1-4 to 0-7.
Galway hit the front with a point from Shay McGlinchey within 90 seconds of the resumption but it was Mayo dominated the third quarter. Four unanswered points from Colm Lynch, Tommy Lydon (two) and Darragh Beirne had the home side three in front as the game entered the final quarter.
After Jack Heneghan and Lydon exchanged points, Mayo were caught on the break by Galway and following a great pass by Ross Coen to the unmarked Heneghan in front of goal, the wing-forward made the most of his opportunity to plant the ball in the back of the net in the 49th minute.
Both sides went on to raise two more white flags to remain level as the game entered injury time.
However, it was Galway – who by now were down to 14 players after Shay McGlinchey received a straight red card in the 59th minute – that came up with the winning score, a pointed free by Cox, deep into injury time.
Galway: C. Walsh; T. Proulx, C. McNally, V. Gill; B. O’Malley, R. Coen, S. Rattigan (0-1); S. McGlinchey (0-1), S. O’Grady; J. Heneghan (1-1), C. Mulhern (0-2), C. McDonagh (0-2); C. Cox (0-3), S. Walsh, D. Fitzmaurice (0-1).
Subs used: M. Mulryan (0-1), R. Walkin, S. O’Flynn, R. Igoe, P. Faherty.
Mayo: C. Meaney; J. Lavelle, E. McGreal, Y. Coghill; J. Clarke, R. Mortimer (0-1), F. O’Reilly; T. Egan, S. Cunningham; C. Lynch (0-1), T. Lydon (0-4), S. Guilfoyle; D. Beirne (1-3), J. Carey, G. Forry (0-1).
Subs used: C. Jennings, D. Neary, C. Ryder, R. Gibbons, M. Leonard.
Referee: M. McGirl (Leitrim).