Mayo suffer narrow defeat in FBD cup final

Galway 2-12 Mayo 1-14

AN injury-time breach infringement by Mayo proved costly at a chilly Tuam Stadium as a free from Galway’s Robert Finnerty secured a dramatic victory for Padraic Joyce’s outfit.

As the game ticked into injury- time Mayo held a slender 1-14 to 2-10 lead, but a momentarily lapse of concentration by the visitors in which they failed to keep three players in Galway’s half of the pitch, resulted in Galway plundering the victory.

This was certainly a lively encounter which kept the large attendance enthralled from first whistle until last.

Mayo made the brighter start and early points from Fenton Kelly and Darragh Joyce nudged the visitors into a 0-2 to no score lead after five minutes. The lead could have been more, but the impressive Kuba Callaghan was unlucky to see his rasping drive hit the upright, after he received a neat pass from Diarmuid Duffy.

Galway had better luck in front of goal and green-flagged efforts from Oisin McDonagh and the raiding Brian Cogger, shunted the Tribesmen into a 2-3 to 0-4 lead after 21 minutes. Galway’s second goal was fortuitous, as Jack Livingstone had produced a fine save to deny Cillian O’Curraoin’s initial effort before Cogger bundled home the rebound.

Cian McHale added a free for Mayo on 26 minutes, however, Andy Moran’s troops trailed 2-6 to 0-5 during the half-time musings.

Mayo made a lightning start to the second period and points from Charlestown’s Paul Towey, Cian McHale (a two-pointer) and a gem from Tom Lydon, reduced the arrears to just three points.

Galway had gained a 2-10 to 0-11 lead after 45 minutes, but a magnificent two-pointer from Jack Carney on 50 minutes, ignited a stirring comeback from the green and red.

Mayo were then awarded a penalty on 54 minutes after the rampaging John McMonagle was fouled inside the area. Kilmaine’s Adam Barrett was coolness personified from the spot-kick, and when Hollymount-Carramore’s Stephen Coen nudged Mayo into a slender one point lead on 56 minutes, a frantic finale was in store.

Mayo had a couple of chances to close out the game but couldn’t find the target.

Galway kept plugging away and Liam O’Conghaile levelled matters three minutes into injury-time, before Finnerty’s free on the stroke of full-time secured the silverware.

These two sides meet again next Sunday in Pearse Stadium, in the first round of the National Football League Division One.