Green and Red are left Down and out

EirGrid All-Ireland U20 ‘B’ Football Championship Semi-Final 

Down 2-10 

Mayo 0-15 

At Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan 

A valiant effort by Mayo was undone by Finn Murdock’s late winner for Down as the Green and Red were beaten in the All-Ireland U20 ‘B’ semi-final at Kingspan Breffni Park in Cavan last Sunday afternoon.

The loss will come as a bitter blow to Peadar Gardiner’s young team as they were left to rue not making more of their dominance, particularly in the first-half. However, two goals conceded in the opening quarter proved fatal while at the other end, goal chances that fell Mayo’s way were not taken.

It looked like this game was heading to extra-time before Murdock’s winner three minutes into stoppage-time brought an end to a disappointing U20 season, one where Mayo finished bottom of the group in Connacht.

Whether it was the proper decision by management in the first place is open to debate but all of this Mayo team are eligible to play at the U20 grade next season. The players will have learned plenty from this campaign and the hope is that it will stand to them and bring about a much-improved showing in 2025.

In a blistering start, Mayo hit the first three points through Tom O’Flaherty, a free, and two well-taken scores from play by wing-back Diarmuid Duffy and Oisin Cronin, but all that good work was undone inside a minute as the Mournemen raised a green flag with their first meaningful attack. In what was a soft goal to give way, miscommunication saw two Mayo defenders get in each other’s way when collecting the ball and it allowed Donal Scullion to win the ball and fire a left-footed effort into the net A Jack Mulchrone howitzer put Mayo back ahead but Down would score another goal straight from the restart. From the kickout, Down forced the Mayo defence into another mistake and it was Scullion again who beat Mayo goalkeeper David Dolan to raise a second green flag for the Ulster outfit.

To Mayo’s credit, they settled once more and were the better side for the remainder of the first-half. Cathal Keaveney, Conal Dawson, Jack Mulchrone and a second Tom O’Flaherty free were countered by two Down points to see the sides tied 0-8 to 2-2 at the break, when the scoreboard really should have been in Mayo’s favour but scoring chances were not taken.

Down went back in front through Jamie Doran’s point after the restart but two great scores through Sean Morahan and Cathal Keaveney restored Mayo’s advantage. That one point lead remained in tact after O’Flaherty and Dolan exchanged scores with Doran and Emmet Rogers before O’Flaherty’s first from play for Mayo left two between the sides as the game entered into the final quarter.

Mayo failed to extend their lead further and were punished for more wastefulness though Doran and Micheal Murdock to bring the scores back level. O’Flaherty, a free, and Quinn traded further points before substitute Cormac O’Reilly put Down back in front coming into stoppage time.

Oisin Cronin looked to have sent this game into extra-time but full-back Murdock sent over a monster effort to book Down’s spot in the final against Westmeath next weekend.

Scorers – Down: Donal Scullion 2-1, Jame Doran 0-3, Finn Murdock, Senan Carr, Ryan Quinn, Emmet Rogers, Cormac O’Reilly and Micheal Murdock 0-1 each.

Mayo: Tom O’Flaherty 0-5 (4f), Jack Mulchrone, Oisin Cronin and Cathal Keaveney 0-2 each, David Dolan, Diarmaid Duffy, Conal Dawson and Sean Morahan 0-1 each.

Down: Niall Rice; Matthew Murray, Finn Murdock, Mark McSwiggan; Dan Rafferty, Cian Cunningham, David Ruddy; Tom McCarroll, Senan Carr; Ryan Quinn, Jamie Doran, Nathan Rogers; Donal Scullion, Emmet Rogers, Luke Quinn. Subs used: Tom Gilroy, Ronan Kelly, Cormac O’Reilly, Micheal Murdock.

Mayo: David Dolan; Paul Gilmore, Eoin McGreal, David Slattery; Diarmuid Duffy, John MacMonagle, Jack Mulchrone; Jack Melvin, Sean Morahan; Finbar McLoughlin, Tom O’Flaherty, Conal Dawson; Darragh Beirne, Oisin Cronin, Cathal Keaveney. Subs used: Yousif Coghill, Darragh Reilly, Niall Hurley, Diarmuid Coggins.

REF: Enda McFeely (Donegal)