Superb display catapults minor footballers into provincial final
Ronan Carr and his Roscommon team-mates produced a superb display to get the better of Mayo in Castlebar.
The Roscommon minor footballers have qualified for the Connacht final with a game to spare for the second year in succession after a superb team display comfortably saw off Mayo at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, on Friday evening.
Shane Moran’s charges produced their most complete performance of the campaign so far, with Seamie Carthy and Jayden Jennings hitting 0-11 between them and Cathal Nerney pouncing for two goals.
Enda Browne also produced a tour-de-force from wing-back, causing the home side all sorts of problems with his direct running alongside pitching in with a couple of points from play.
For Moran, it was his eighth Connacht championship win from eight games in charge of the young Rossies, and his team will be back in the provincial decider irrespective of what happens against Leitrim at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park next Friday evening following wins against Sligo, Galway and now Mayo.
Roscommon made a dream start when Seamie Carthy’s “up and under” wasn’t dealt with by Mayo goalkeeper Rowan McLoughlin, and Cathal Nerney was lurking to fist the loose ball to the net after a minute.
But Mayo responded quickly, with the dangerous Fiachra Ó Cinnseala fisting a point before the lively Charlie Fallon fired over two scores with his cultured left boot to restore parity after just five minutes.
Roscommon’s protection of the ball began to improve up front, and they duly made their dominance count.
Jayden Jennings landed a superb two-pointer, while Joshua Coyne tagged on a free after the rampaging Enda Browne was fouled.
Seamie Carthy was having a big influence on proceedings, and he bisected the posts in the 19th minute to nudge the visitors four points ahead.
A two-pointer from Mayo midfielder Conor Hoban ended a 17-minute barren scoring spell for his side, but Coyne’s second free of the evening was followed by a cleverly-crafted score by Jayden Concannon.
Ó Cinnseala pulled one back for Mayo, but Carthy started and finished a move to restore his side’s four-point lead.
In the last play of the half, Adam Burton clipped over a score to leave the home side trailing by 1-7 to 0-7 at half time.
Roscommon made their surge for home in the third quarter. Ó Cinnseala registered the opening score of the half, but an unanswered 0-7 — all from play, including two orange flags — put the young Rossies firmly in command.
Mayo withdrew four of their forwards inside the first 20 minutes of the new half, highlighting the dominance of the Roscommon defence where Colm Fitzgerald, who retired injured with cramp, made a brilliant block to deny Mayo midfielder Darragh Connor.
During Roscommon’s third quarter scoring burst, Jennings and Carthy effortlessly guided over two-pointers, while Carthy (2) and Browne accounted for the singles.
The icing on the cake arrived with five minutes remaining when Carthy bore down on goal. His effort was saved by McLoughlin, but Nerney hacked the rebound to the net.
Mayo grabbed a couple of consolation scores, but Jennings had the final say to bring Roscommon’s total to 2-17, of which 2-15 came from play.
ROSCOMMON: Z. Mullally (Clann na nGael); C. Tighe (Strokestown), T. Fallon (St. Brigid’s), C. Fitzgerald (St. Dominic’s); D. Kelleher (Kilbride), J. Brooks (Pádraig Pearses, 0-1), E. Browne (Pádraig Pearses, 0-2); J. Lally (Kilbride), S. Carthy (Roscommon Gaels, 0-6, one 0-2); R. Carr (St. Ciaran's), J. Jennings (Tulsk Lord Edwards, 0-5, two 0-2), B. Lenehan (Clann na nGael); C. Nerney (Roscommon Gaels, 2-0), J. Concannon (St. Aidan’s, 0-1), J. Coyne (St. Brigid’s, 0-2, two frees). Subs used: J. O’Brien (St. Brigid’s) for Carr (45 mins), D. Nerney (Roscommon Gaels) for Fitzgerald (46 mins), A. Martin (Clann na nGael) for Kelleher (52 mins), S. Duggan (St. Dominic’s) for Concannon (57 mins), D. Goode (Pádraig Pearses) for C. Nerney (57 mins).
MAYO: R. McLoughlin, B. Joyce, E. O’Boyle, H. Dooney; T. Kearney, A. Jennings, A. Smyth (0-1); C. Hoban (0-4, 0-2, one free), D. Connor; J. Jennings, E. Heneghan, A. Burton (0-1); C. Fallon (0-2), F. Ó Cinnseala (0-4), A. Brogan (0-1). Subs used: N. Kennedy for J. Jennings (36 mins), N. Dooley for Fallon (42 mins), A. O’Dea for Burton (42 mins), E. Golden for Heneghan (54 mins), L. Nolan for Connor (57 mins).
Referee: C. Ryan (Galway).
