Sligo turn over Mayo for third time in as many years

Mayo's bid for a place in the semi-final of the Connacht Under 20 Football Championship ended in heartbreak at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park this evening, where Sligo triumphed with five points to spare (0-14 to 0-9).

The result puts Sligo into a semi-final meeting against Galway, with Roscommon automatically through to the final having beaten Leitrim in the other final round game played this evening.

Mayo’s second-half collapse looked unlikely given the power and the pace they brought to the first half, but nine first-half wides proved fatal at the end of the evening for the home side.

Mayo had scored just one point in the second half until they added their second and only other score deep into five minutes of injury time, while Sligo kicked 11 points – and that tells the story of this game.

It was a litany of errors and turnovers which led to Mayo’s demise in the second half, a black card for Liam Maloney not helping matters in the last 15 minutes either, but credit must go to Sligo too, who upped their game.

The role of the bench was significant, with Eli Ronney contributing two points from the bench, but the man of the match was undoubtedly Luke Marren, who finished on six points, three of those from play, while Dylan McLoughlin, Conor Sheridan and Mark McDaniel were other players who stood up for the Yeats County, who have now defeated Mayo in this competition for the third tyear in a row.

Mayo were fully deserving of their four-point interval lead (0-7 to 0-3), but manager Peadar Gardiner had a few anxious moments in that first as he watched his side dominate but finish with nine wides.

Sligo will also feel they had two very good goal chances, Mayo 'keeper David Dolan making great saves on both occasions.

Just before Sligo's Conor Flynn had his effort saved, Jack Melvin was clean through on goal at the other end slid a pass off to Tom O’Flaherty whose effort came off the post.

In fairness, Mayo hit some excellent points in that first half, and they had four on the board before Ronan Niland opened Sligo’s account in the 12th minute.

Oisin Cronin, Niall Hurley, Cronin again and Conal Dawson were all on target in that opening period.

Sligo had two chances from frees to narrow the gap but the dominance of Jack Melvin at midfield and the work of Tom O’Flaherty, who also hit the target in that opening half, had Mayo in a very strong position at the break.

That was all to change utterly in the second half as Sligo took control of the cockpit.

Mayo: D. Dolan; R. Mortimer, J. MacMonagle, D. Slattery; D. Duffy, S. Morahan (0-1), T. O’Flaherty (0-1); J. Melvin, C. Dawson (0-1); F. McLaughlin (0-1), C. Keaveney, O. Cronin (0-1); D. Beirne (0-1), N. Hurley (0-2), D. Reilly.

Subs used: L. Maloney, P. Gilmore, B. Collins, T. Lydon.

Sligo: E. Carden; R. Chambers, C. Johnston, T. Ross; R. O’Hehir, D. McLoughin (0-1), R. Sloyan; C. Sheridan, R. Doherty; C. Walsh, R. Niland (0-1), J. Donlon (0-2); M. McDaniel (0-1), L. Marren (0-6, 3f), C. Flynn (0-1).

Subs used: D. Walsh, E. Rooney (0-2), R. O’Kelly, D. Gallagher.

Referee: J. Moylan (Galway).