Mayo defeat Galway to book Connacht final spot

Mayo booked their place in the Electric Ireland Connacht GAA Under 17 Football Championship final with a well-deserved 3-15 to 0-15 win over Galway in their last four encounter, writes Aiden Henry.

Victory was secured in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, and the final between Mayo and Roscommon will be played at the same venue next Friday (May 9) at 6.30 p.m.

Although Mayo finished up nine-point winners against Galway yesterday (Friday), the win was not as easy as the final scoreline might suggest.

Indeed, with just eight minutes of normal time remaining the two sides were deadlocked and the game was there to be won by either side.

However, the Mayo boys – who had dominated this contest for long periods – finished strongly by outscoring their opponents by 2-5 to 0-2 to book their place in the decider.

Playing with the aid of a strong wind, Galway got off to the better start and by the end of the opening quarter they had built up a four-point lead thanks mainly to two two-pointers from Cian Hynes and Andrew Kehoe.

However, as the game progressed, Mayo began to take control in most areas of the field. Tony Carey, Cian May and Oran Murphy were denied goals by the brilliance of Galway ‘keeper Evan Burke, but the netminder could do nothing to stop Murphy’s thundering shot which rattled the net in the 26th minute.

The goal was timely as it came just 60 seconds after Galway’s Barry Keating had hit their third two-pointer to go 0-8 to 0-3 clear.

By the time the two teams trotted off for the interval break, Galway's lead was down to the minimum, 0-8 to 1-4.

On the resumption, Galway again started strongly and extended their lead to three points by the 35th minute. However, once Mayo got into their stride, they began to pick off some fine scores, including two delightful two-pointers from Conor Hession.

The game really swung in Mayo’s favour once Tony Carey cracked home a brilliant goal in the 52nd minute. When substitute Rhys Neary added another goal four minutes later, Mayo’s place in the final was as good as sealed.

There was still time for the impressive Conor Hession to add two more two-pointers before substitute Ben Joyce pointed from a free to leave Mayo deserved winners.

Mayo: T. Williams; C. Coghill (0-1), B. Langan, C. Tighe; R. O’Donnell, D. Duffy, D. Flanagan; A. Kelly, C. May; P. Garvey, B. Holmes, C. Jordan; T. Carey (1-3), C. Hession (0-10), O. Murphy (1-0).

Subs used: Fionn Ó Cinnseala, R. Neary (1-0), Fiacre Ó Cinnseala, B. Joyce (0-1), E. Dever.

Galway: E. Burke; A. Hyatt, E. Cunningham, C. Winston; J.J. Oifoh, C. Forde, C. O’Toole; A. Kehoe (0-2), C. O’Donnell; G. Curran (0-1), C. Hynes (0-6), E. Gacquin; O. Ó Neachtain, D. Costello, B. Keating (0-6).

Subs used: E. Newell, T. Madden, R. Connolly, C. McPhillips, J. Cullinane.

Referee: B. Judge (Sligo).