McDonald stars for Mayo as minor footballers suffer opening round defeat
The Roscommon minor football panel that were defeated by Mayo at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park this evening. Picture: Courtesy of Roscommon GAA
Kobe McDonald, son of former Mayo footballing legend Ciarán, kicked 1-5 as Roscommon commenced their Electric Ireland Connacht minor football championship campaign with a defeat in Castlebar this evening.
Dean Casey opened Roscommon’s account after three minutes before McDonald equalised with a free from outside the 45-metre line, which he struck off the deck.
Stephen Tighe restored Roscommon’s lead from a placed ball but the away side were held scoreless for 15 minutes as Mayo, despite kicking five first-half wides, gradually increased their lead with Oisín Deane, McDonald and Evan Walsh all on target.
Alan Conroy and Dara Curran kicked frees for Roscommon, but Harry McHale and Walsh helped Mayo lead by 0-6 to 0-4 at half time.
Despite playing against the elements, Mayo controlled the final period with Conor Moriarty increasing his side’s lead early in the second half.
Roscommon struck a blow when a defensive mishap allowed Dean Casey to roll the ball into an empty net, and, momentarily at least, Roscommon were level.
Their joy was short-lived, however, as from the resulting passage of play, half-time substitute Andrew Quinn streaked clear before netting to restore Mayo’s three-point advantage. This kickstarted a run of 1-3 without reply for the home side as Quinn, Joe Forry and Tom Hession pointed.
Two Stephen Tighe points gave Roscommon hope but another run of 1-3 for Mayo ended the game as a contest with the outstanding McDonald firing high to the net.
Eoin Collins netted in injury time while Alan Conroy forced goalkeeper Nathan Roddy to tip his effort over the crossbar to reduce the damage on the scoreboard.
Roscommon must dust themselves down for the visit of Galway, who drew with Sligo in Tuam, to Dr. Hyde Park on Friday evening next.
MAYO: N. Roddy; C. Coghill, T. Hession (0-1), D. Butler; D. Hurley, M. Noonan, C. Kavanagh; K. McDonald (1-5, three frees), J. Moyles; H. McHale (0-1), O. Loughney, D. Flynn; E. Walsh (0-3), C. Moriarty (0-1), O. Deane (0-1). Subs used: A Quinn (1-0) for McHale (h-t), J Forry (0-1), for Moriarty (34 mins), M Sheeran for Loughney (54 mins), F O’Kinsella for Flynn (54 mins), O Murphy for Kavanagh (56 mins).
ROSCOMMON: P. Gaynor; L. Finneran, G. Casey, M. Connaughton; A. Conroy (0-2, one free), K. Kelly, C. Murray, D. Devaney, D. Kennedy; S. Malec Hannon, E. Collins (1-0), C. Enright; D. Curran (0-1, free), S. Tighe (0-3, two frees), D. Casey (1-1). Subs used: C Mulry for Enright (42 mins), J McKeon for Malec Hannon (44 mins), K Mahon for Murray (52 mins), C Kennedy for Casey (54 mins), M Brooks for Finneran (60 mins).
