Mayo's minor championship campaign ends in narrow defeat

Mayo exited the Connacht Minor Football Championship after suffering a narrow 2-10 to 1-12 defeat against Galway, at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.

Prior to throw-in Mayo knew that a victory against their great rivals was imperative if they hoped to extend their championship campaign.

Diarmuid Byrne’s outfit began the first half in a bright fashion and were full of endeavour, with Ballintubber’s Conor Hoban pointing a free from an acute angle after seven minutes. Indeed, the green and red could well have scored a goal after three minutes, but Alexander Smyth just missed out on Fiachra O’Cinnseala’s inch-perfect cross.

Galway managed to acquire their first point of the evening through Joey Cullinane on nine minutes, and the guests nudged in front on 13 minutes, when Shane Heneghan pointed a tidy effort to muster a 0-3 to 0-2 lead for the maroon and white.

However, Mayo once again began to win possession, and the influential Hoban landed a peach of a two-pointer free towards the end of the opening quarter.

Mayo’s Aidan Brogan almost pounced for a goal on 17 minutes, but the Claremorris forward had to be content with a point.

Galway were under pressure and the guests were counting their lucky stars when Aaron O’Dea’s attempt on goal for the hosts flashed inches wide.

Ballycastle’s Smyth produced an industrious display and his marvellous point on 28 minutes helped garner a 0-8 to 0-6 interval lead for the green and red.

The maroon and white had the aid of the wind during the second half and their impressive corner-forward Shane Heneghan scored a morale boosting goal on 32 minutes.

Mayo regrouped and points from Brogan, O’Cinnseala, and Hoban (free) turned the tide in their team-mates favour and the local’s led 0-11 to 1-7 after 44 minutes.

However, crucially Mayo wouldn’t trouble the scoreboard operator again until the 59th minute, during which time Galway made significant gains with Heneghan adding his second goal of the joust on 47 minutes.

The Galway substitutes also contributed to the scoreboard with efforts from Aaron Hanrahan and Mikey Mitchell garnering a 2-10 to 0-11 lead for Cossie Gilmore’s side after 58 minutes.

A penalty from the hard-working Hoban one minute into second injury-time set up a frantic finale, nevertheless Galway held on for the victory.