30-04-2025
Mayo survive Roscommon goal-fest in cracking U20 final to end seven-year Connacht title wait
MAYO claim first Connacht U20 title in seven years after a thrilling win over Roscommon
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After 20 minutes of dominant, powerful football, Peadar Gardiner's
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Mayo captain John MacMonagle lifts the cup after his side's victory in the Connacht GAA Football U20 Championship final over Roscommon at Tuam Stadium
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Mayo ended their seven-year wait after a cracking clash in Tuam
Darragh Beirne and Tom Lydon were piling on the scores, and Seamus Howard capped a sweeping move with a well-worked goal. Roscommon were in disarray.
But momentum suddenly shifted. Rory Carthy landed a two-pointer, and moments later, after Roscommon won the next kickout, he gathered a pass from John Curran, swivelled, and rifled a low shot past Conor Meaney. Tuam Stadium now had a classic on its hands.
John McGuinness then scored two stunning solo goals before half-time, though Beirne's composed finish from Cathal Keaveney's precise ball kept Mayo in front.
Only a missed two-point effort from Carthy in the final action of the half kept
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In the second half, Cian Smith's spirited Roscommon side showed exactly why they had edged past Galway and others to reach the final.
Eoin Collins and Niall Heneghan steadied the ship in midfield, while Tommy Morris marshalled the defence impressively as the sides traded scores.
When Robert Heneghan fisted in a goal on 51 minutes to level it at 2-13 to 4-7, the comeback was complete and the smash-and-grab was on.
But Mayo found another gear. Hugh O'Loughlin and Colm McHale kicked vital points, and Beirne brought his tally to 1-3 with a fine effort from a tight angle. All that was left was to hold firm.
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Roscommon did find the net a fifth time, but Rúairí Kilcline's effort was disallowed for a square ball infringement. With that, Mayo had sealed their first Connacht title since 2017.
MAYO 2-17 (2-0-17)
ROSCOMMON 4-8 (4-1-6)
Oisin McConville urges GAA to ditch big rule change mid-season after controversial ending to Championship clash
Scorers:
Mayo:
D Beirne 1-3 (0-2f), T Lydon 0-5 (0-2f), S Howard 1-0, C McHale 0-3, N Hurley 0-2, H O'Loughlin 0-2, O Cronin 0-1.
Roscommon:
J McGuinness 2-0, R Carthy 1-4 (1-0 tpf, 0-2f), R Heneghan 1-0, B Greene 0-2 (0-1m), C Grogan, J Curran 0-1 each.
Mayo:
C Meaney; R Mortimer, P Gilmore, E McGreal; C Lynch, J McMonagle, C McHale; O Armstrong, S Howard; O Cronin, C Keaveney, H O'Loughlin; D Beirne, N Hurley, T Lydon.
Subs:
Y Coghill for McGreal (19), D Neary for Cronin (42), D Duffy for Lynch (44), L Feeney for Armstrong (52), D Butler for Gilmore (62).
Roscommon:
P Gaynor; C Campbell, T Morris, K Kelly; C Grogan, E Carthy, C Kelly; N Heneghan, D Higgins; E Collins, R Heneghan, J McGuinness; R Carthy, J Curran, R Dowling.
Subs:
B Greene for Kelly (22), C McKeon for Dowling (47), C O'Reilly for Higgins (52), R Kilcline for R Heneghan (55).
Referee:
Thomas Murphy (Galway)
