Mayo begin U20 campaign with Rossies test
Peadar Gardiner begins life as Mayo U20 manager with a trip to Roscommon.
The Mayo U20s will begin their championship this evening (Wednesday) even when they make the trip to Roscommon town.
Peadar Gardiner has succeeded Maurice Sheridan in the role for a two-year term and has brought a big-name backroom team that features the former Mayo senior manager James Horan, Mark Ryan (Kilmeena), Ger Cafferkey (Ballina) and Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis).
Unlike previous years, this year’s championship will be played in a round robin format as opposed to straight knockout. After the Rossies, they will Galway in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park on Wednesday, March 27, at 7.30pm. An away trip to Leitrim will be next on Wednesday, April 3, followed up with a bye before they finish the group stages with a home tie on Wednesday, April 17, against back-to-back champions Sligo, who also reached last year’s All-Ireland final against Kildare.
Gardiner and his team will set their sights on a first Connacht title for the Mayo U20s since 2018.
Should Mayo top the group, they will go straight into the final on Saturday, May 4. If they finish second or third, they will play a semi-final on Wednesday, April 24.
Speaking to the media last September, the round robin format was one that was preferred by the Crossmolina man.
“It would be fantastic if it does (go to round robin) because a one-off game is very tough for players and management. If we’re talking about player development, that’s games.” Gardiner will have experienced first hand how tough it can be at this level. He was part of Maurice Sheridan’s backroom team as Mayo fell to a heavy defeat to Roscommon in the 2021 final and were beaten by Sligo the last two years (the final in 2022 and semi-final in 2023).
Gardiner has spoken previous of creating a ‘winning culture within the camp’ but equally as import is to ensure a smooth transition.
to adult club football and possibly senior county football in the future, full of belief in the talent within the county.
“We want to create a winning culture but it’s all about the process for us. We want to create a Mayo team that will be hardworking, that will be well-conditioned, that will be skillful, will be professional and a tough team to play against.
“If we do that, results will take care of itself after that but we do want to create standards, we want to create a winning culture. Player development is the key. We want to create a structure that will develop players and make it easier to transition into Kevin McStay’s senior teams and transition into adult club football into Mayo.”
David Dolan (Balla); David Slattery (Claremorris), John MacMonagle (Castlebar Mitchels), Lorcan Silke (Westport); Jack Mulchrone (Kilmeena), Paul Gilmore (Claremorris), Yousif Coghill (Breaffy); Diarmuid Duffy (Ballinrobe), Conal Dawson (Westport); Finbar McLaughlin (Westport), Cathal Keaveney (Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin), Tom O’Flaherty (Aghamore); Darragh Beirne (Claremorris), Niall Hurley (Claremorris), Darragh Reilly (Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin).
Dylan O’Brien (Davitts), Brendan Collins (Ballina Stephenites), Oisín Cronin (Balla), Tom Lydon (The Neale), Liam Maloney (Cill Chomáin), Seán Morahan (captain, Castlebar Mitchels), Liam Moore (Kilmeena), Conor Mulroy (Castlebar Mitchels), Eoin McGreal (Garrymore).
Oliver Armstrong (Knockmore), Diarmuid Coggins (Crossmolina Deel Rovers), Fiachra Cruise (Moy Davitts), Owen Doherty (Kiltane), Jack Ferguson (Swinford), Ciarán Kilcoyne (Kilmeena), Jack Melvin (Davitts), Rio Mortimer (Claremorris), Aidan Sloyan (Ballyhaunis).
Team Manager: Peadar Gardiner; selectors: Mark Ryan, Ger Cafferkey, James Horan, Keith Higgins and Noel Gibbons.
This is a ticket only event.
Purchase your tickets here.
Connacht GAA will be live streaming this game, you can access it by clicking here.
