Heartache for Mayo as Rossies snatch minor crown
Mayo’s Conor Hession and Roscommon’s Diarmuid O'Higgins. Picture: INPHO/Evan Logan
Some things just aren’t meant to be.
Mayo could hardly have done much more in their attempt to earn the county a fourth consecutive Connacht minor title, when beaten by two points by Roscommon in Castlebar on Friday evening.
Despite losing both of their midfielders, Cian May and Adam Kelly, to injuries just minutes either side of half-time, the Green and Red produced a magnificent third quarter display to place themselves within touching distance of the Tom Kilcoyne Cup. They outscored Roscommon 0-8 to 0-1 between half-time and the 45th minute to lead by four points, however, the visitors forced themselves back level before a 58th minute Dara Curran goal sent them onwards to victory.
Managed by Charlestown native Shane Moran, Roscommon enjoyed the best of the first-half despite Tony Carey smashing home a Mayo goal after only 62 seconds. An inspired display by John Price, who struck 1-2 in the first-half, saw the Shannonsiders lead 1-7 to 1-4 at the break but whatever it was that Mayo’s management said in the dressing-room, their players emerged like young men possessed. Star of the show was Tony Carey who added four points to his earlier goal, while Conor Hession, three points, Ben Holmes and wing-back Dara Flanagan were each on target too, to turn the game completely on its head.
Roscommon, who had beaten Mayo by nine points in the group stage, had to be admired for the manner in which they arrested their slide; Dean Casey was unerring from placed balls and when midfielder Sam Hannon pounced on a Mayo error to set-up Curran for their second goal, the momentum had shifted dramatically.
Mayo got back to within one point courtesy of singles by sub Rhys Neary and Flanagan again, but that was as good as it got for the Green and Red who will play the Leinster champions, Louth or Offaly, and Roscommon the losers, in next month's All-Ireland quarter-finals.
Scorers – Roscommon: Dean Casey 0-2-3 (2tpf, 2f), John Price 1-0-3, Dara Curran 1-0-0, Luke Shally, Adam Killian, Christopher Feerick and Seamie Carthy 0-0-1 each.
Mayo: Tony Carey 1-0-4, Conor Hession 0-1-3 (1tpf, 2f), Ben Holmes (f) and Dara Flanagan 0-0-2 each, Fiachra Ó Cinnseala and Rhys Neary 0-0-1 each.
Mayo: Thomas Williams; Conor Coghill, Barry Langan, Cahair Tighe; Ryan O’Donnell, Declan Duffy, Dara Flanagan; Adam Kelly, Cian May; Patrick Garvey, Ben Holmes, Conor Jordan; Tony Carey, Conor Hession, Oran Murphy. Subs: Ben Joyce (for May 30, inj), Rhys Neary (for Feerick ht), Fionn Ó Cinnseala (for Kelly 34, inj), Fiachra Ó Cinnseala (for Murphy 50), Peter Quinn (for Holmes 60).
Roscommon: Cian Trimble; Conor Tighe, Tadgh Rogers, Colm Fitzgerald; Adam Killian, Diarmuid O’Higgins, James Cassidy; Alex Oates, Sam Hannon; Christopher Feerick, Dan Curran, Dean Casey; John Price, Shay McGuinness, Luke Shally. Subs: Seamie Carthy (for Oates 37), Marc Shally (for L Shally 41), Seamus Hussey (for Killian 44), Tadgh Fallon (for Fitzgerald 47), Conor Kelly (for Feerick 57).
REF: Ronan Hynes (Sligo)
