Reilly wondergoal helps Mayo U14s to victory
Cillian Reilly scored the pick of the goals as the Mayo FC U14s picked up their first win of the season at home to Longford Town on Sunday afternoon.
Cillian Reilly scored the pick of the goals as the Mayo FC U14s picked up their first win of the season at home to Longford Town on Sunday afternoon.
Reilly’s long-range effort put Mayo back in front after Longford Town cancelled out Kian Redmond’s opener. Tony Cunningham provided the third for Mayo to put daylight between the two teams.
Coach Joe Kelly will be pleased with the performance as Mayo were on top throughout the game, which is played at this level over three-25-minute periods with rolling substitutions. Matthew Daly came closest for Mayo in the opening third of the game, meeting Liam Murphy’s cross with a towering header but Longford netminder James-Michael Jennings was equal to it with a smothering save.
After dominating the opening period, it did not take long for Mayo to turn their constant pressure into a goal. Kian Redmond, who scored in the opening defeat to Galway United, made it two in two games for himself, rising highest to meet and turn in John Mulroy’s corner to make it 1-0.
Chances were at a premium for Longford but four minutes later, they were level. Kacper Slezak whipped in a corner and Jonah Hassett bundled it over the line to make it 1-1.
With 41 minutes played, Mayo had some sustained possession in the Longford half. Cillian Reilly picked up the ball about 30 yards out and leathered it towards goal. It floated over the head of the keeper and smacked the underside of the bar on its way to the net. 2-1 to Mayo.
In the closing minutes of the second-third of play, Mayo struck their third and the game’s final goal. Noah Coughlan’s cross found Tony Cunningham at the back post and he applied the finish.
Jamie Ruddy was electric in the final period of the game for Mayo and would have deserved a goal. He had hit the bar in the previous period and came close again in the closing minutes. Longford offered little in the way of a threat going forward and that was often down to the good work of Mayo defenders like Alex Nolan and Ethan Kelly. The visitors ended the game with 10 players after a straight red card to David Kelly in the 53rd minute.
The Mayo U14s are at home again next weekend against Sligo Rovers, who beat Athlone Town in their opener but suffered defeat against Galway United over the weekend.
