Late show by Lydon seals historic county title for The Neale
The Neale captain, Tom Lydon, and teammates celebrate with the Mayo GAA U21 C Cup after defeating Lahardane MacHales football final at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, this afternoon. Picture: David Farrell Photography
The Neale captain Tom Lydon led by example as he kicked ten points to guide his side to a maiden U21 county title over a gallant Lahardane this afternoon.
Both sides had to deal with a strong gale force wind, and Lahardane will feel they should have had more than a four-point lead at the break. Scores were at a premium but Fionn Reilly's goal on 25 minutes a the difference maker but Lahardane struggled to hold the ball for sustained periods, while they lost captain Matthew Maughan to injury at the end of the half.
Trailing 1-3 to 0-2 at half-time, The Neale needed a strong start to the second and they got it thanks to Tom Lydon's first two pointer of the day. A pair of Mark Sheerin frees cancelled it out but another Lydon point and Niall Rochford's goal on 40 minutes levelled matter.
Yet Lahardane refused to wilt. They nudged back ahead and Sheerin's goal on 54 minutes looked to have sealed it. But Lydon would come up trumps with a pair of two-point frees, the latter on 59 minutes putting them ahead for the first time, and points from Robbie Hughes and Daragh O'Dea saw this young Neale side write their names in the history books.
