Mayo start Under 17 campaign with strong performance against Roscommon

Aiden Henry

Mayo got their Connacht Under 17 football championship campaign off to a winning start when they proved too strong for Roscommon in what was a very entertaining and exciting first round game in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar. It finished Mayo 2-13, Roscommon 2-7.

While it was a good all-round Mayo team performance, the star of the show was Crossmolina’s Kobe McDonald. Son of former senior star, Ciaran, he ran the show from start to finish and ended up scoring 1-5 of Mayo’s total, many of them out of the top drawer.

There were many more fine performers in this victory, both in defence and attack. Judging from what we witnessed tonight, joint managers Tom Reilly and David Heaney have assembled a very strong squad of players, and it is going to take a very good side to beat them.

However, although the final scoreline might suggest otherwise, this was not all plain sailing for Mayo. Indeed, for most of the first half Roscommon gave as good as they got. Indeed, the visitors found themselves only two points down at the interval after playing against the strong wind.

It was a different story in the second half, however, as Mayo upped the ante and despite never throwing in the towel, Roscommon were unable to live with Mayo.

The Rossies opened the scoring as early as the second minute with a Dean Casey point from play. Mayo, on the other hand, had to wait seven minutes before registering their opening score, a massive 50-yard pointed free by McDonald.

After Oisin Deane and Stephen Tighe exchanged points, Mayo went two clear with another magnificent effort from McDonald, this time from play, and an equally fine point from the very impressive corner forward, Evan Walsh.

Although Roscommon scored two more points from frees, Mayo also raised two more white flags at the other courtesy of a second from Walsh and one from Harry McHale, which left them leading by 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval.

On the resumption, Conor Moriarty extended Mayo's lead with a fine point from play in the opening minute. However, six minutes later the Mayo lead was wiped out after Roscommon hit the net, Dean Casey sliding the ball home.

Yet before the Roscommon supporters had fully stopped cheering this goal, Mayo hit back with a goal of their own 30 seconds later. It came when they went straight up the field from the kick-out before the ball was transferred to substitute Andrew Quinn, who in turn waltzed past three Roscommon defenders before planting the ball in the back of the net.

When another Mayo substitute, Joe Forry, full-back Tom Hession and McDonald followed up with three great points, there was only going to be one winner.

An Evan Walsh point was followed by another magnificent Mayo goal, this time McDonald appyling a sublime finish. Before the game ended, McDonald tacked on two more points.

Although Roscommon did manage to net a second goal in injury time, it only put a slightly better look on the scoreboard at the end of the game.

Mayo: N. Roddy, C. Coghill, T. Hession (0-1), D. Butler, D. Hurley, M. Noonan, C. Kavanagh, K. McDonald (1-5), J. Moyles, H. McHale (0-1), O. Loughney, D. Flynn, E. Walsh (0-3), C. Moriarty (0-1), O. Deane (0-1).

Subs used: A. Quinn (1-0), J. Forry (0-1), M. Sheeran, F. O’Kinsella, O. Murphy.

Roscommon: P. Gaynor, L. Finneran, G. Casey, M. Connaughton, A. Conroy (0-2), K. Kelly, C. Murray, D. Devaney, D. Kennedy, S. Malec Hannon, E. Collins (1-0), C. Enright, D. Curran (0-1), S. Tighe (0-3), D. Casey (1-1).

Subs used: C. Mulry, J. McKeon, K. Mahon, C. Kennedy, M. Brooks.

Referee: J. Gilmartin (Sligo).