Heaney delighted with victory, but there's room to get better

At this level, players are learning on the job and it can be a steep learning curve but whatever lessons there have been for Mayo in the Connacht minor championship, they have not just been learned but achieved with distinction.

Like Leitrim did in the group stage, Roscommon came with a game plan and frustrated Mayo for large period but once Mayo caught on, the power, intensity and, fittingly, the class kicked as Mayo surged in the second half to a third Connacht minor title. Mayo joint-manager David Heaney was delighted with the win and lauded the impact of Andrew Quinn and Joe Forry off the bench, but knows there is more to come.

“It was a bit stressful there for a while. Even 10 minutes into the second half, we just couldn't get going. I think Roscommon players had 13 men back, or 12, and we played into their hands. We were too slow, we were hand pass across the midfield and 45’ and we just didn't get the right players breaking lines on the ball.

But we changed a little bit around in the second half, the game opened up and thankfully it suited us a lot more, taking on a few scores so happy to be back.

Heaney added: “I suppose the difference (from the Leitrim game) is that Roscommon are a better team probably. They're better quality, they're better defenders and when they broke, they broke with purpose. They hurt us a few times and probably had a few misses, t probably should have been maybe a point or two up they should have been maybe in the second half or in half time.

“But look, I'm delighted with the lads, the character they showed in the second half, they never stop working, they never stop fighting and I knew eventually we'd turn them over.” “They're smart kids, they're smart boys, and just the impact. Like Joe Forry came on and made a massive impact, Andrew Quinn, their subs have done that all year. We've a strong panel of 34 and they're always fighting for the top 15, even the top 24, so, just a delighted overall.

“I don't think they’ve played to their potential, but delighted that they got a reward for their hard work over the last couple of months.” The three-in-a-row marks Mayo’s first time achieving the feat at minor since the successes of 2008, 2009 and 2010. The winning habit can only be a good thing as far as Heaney is concerned and that it will help the under-20s in the next couple of years.

“I didn't actually know that till someone told me yesterday. But look, I suppose this is all about development. I suppose for Peadar’s under-20s next year, hopefully he'll see the fruits of the lads from the two years before us and maybe a few of them this year. It's good, but you need the lads to progress at the same time. You know, you have to bring them through it.

“I'd listened to Tommy Walsh and (he said_ they never worried for Kilkenny playing in All-Ireland finals as they won it all the way up at underage. They were used to winning, they never froze coming near the winning post. It's a great habit to be in. Like that team, I don't think they lost since under-15 level, so they have that winning habit and hopefully they'll keep it.

Cork now await in the All-Ireland quarter-final in a fortnight’s time. The Rebels were well beaten by Kerry in the Munster final and Heaney is expecting a reaction “I saw the first game, the preliminary game, where Kerry beat them by two points so I was very surprised with the Munster final. I didn't actually see it, but I'll get a look at it.

“I'm surprised that they lost by 14-15 points in the end so I'm sure they'll be trying to get back in the field and right the wrongs and prove that they're not as bad as they were that day. So look, we have a battle. Cork are always strong. There's no easy game there.”