Rossies too hot for Mayo in Minor Championship
Connacht Minor Championship Round 2
Kiltoom May 11th, 7pm
MAYO 0-11
ROSCOMMON 4-12
by Brían Mangan
Roscommon produced a fantastic performance to overcome Mayo in the Connacht Minor Championship by 13 points in glorious spring sunshine in Kiltoom. After Round 1 few could have possibly predicted such a dramatic turnaround in the two teams fortunes after Mayo won their first game by 22 points against Leitrim and Roscommon lost by 21 to Galway in Tuam.
Roscommon lead 0-9 to 0-5 at the half time whistle after a very entertaining open half of football. Roscommon were the best team in the opening exchanges and with Shane Cunnane giving an exhibition of midfield play, and ably supported by his partner Enda Crawley they led 0-8 to 0-2 with six minutes to go in the half after six points on the trot. Mayo steadied the ship with Enda Hession dangerous in the corner and Ruairí Keane attacking well from wing back to leave the gap only 4 at the break. Mayo had net minder Ronan Connolly to thank for staying in touch as he pulled off three superb saves in the first period when goals looked inevitable.
Roscommon eventually broke Connolly’s resistance with four brilliant second half goals, each one as good as the last. Adam McDermott scored a sensational hat-trick and James Fitzpatrick also rose a green flag in this time as Roscommon came at Mayo in droves, showing tremendous speed and kick passing ability throughout. Mayo were shellshocked by the avalanche of goals but they had good performances from Liam Óg Horkan, Martin Ball and Enda Hession. The competition now takes a break for the Leaving Cert but will resume with Round 3 on June 23rd with Roscommon travelling to Carrick-on-Shannon and Mayo hosting Sligo.
ROSCOMMON: D Connolly, C Brogan, D Murray, K Gunning, R Dolan, R Fallon, J Lohan, E Crawley (0-1), S Cunnane (C) (0-7, 0-4fs, 0-2 45s) A McDermott (0-1), L Ormsby (0-1), R Walsh, F Lennon, A McDermott (3-2), J Fitzpatrick (1-0) SUBS: N Moran, E Derwin C Carthy, J Doory, D Wynne, D Farrell
MAYO: R Connolly, S Holmes, E McHale, A Cosgrave, R Keane, L Óg Horkan, C Dunleavy (0-1), J Carney, H Burke, F Irwin (0-1), U O’Reilly, L Traynor (0-1), M Ball (0-2), F Ryan, E Hession (C) (0-6, 0-5fs) SUBS: E Ivers, E Henry, L Dawson, L O’Donoghue, C Mylett, P Timlin
