Mayo defy London to win National Hurling League title
Mayo senior hurling team captain David Kenny celebrates with team manager Ray Larkin at the final whistle of the Allianz National Hurling League division 3 final at Manguard Park, Hawkfield, Newbridge, County Kildare, this afternoon. Picture: David Farrell Photography
Mayo claimed the Allianz National Hurling Division 3 title after overcoming a misfiring London at a wet and windy Newbridge this afternoon on a scoreline of 0-14 to 1-8.
The game was in the melting pot until the final seconds. London had a free deep into injury time to bring it to extra-time. Mark Kilgannon’s free was driven and it landed into the path of Jack Morrissey, but his goal chance went inches wide and with it, London’s chances of a league title.
The miss summed up London’s issues in this decider. Despite playing with a strong wind, London only led 1-5 to 0-4 at the break, with eight wides in the first half (16 overall) costing them a great chance to pull away like they did in their league encounter at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence.
Paul Kennedy dealt best with the conditions in the first half, hitting the first of his three points with London’s opener after four minutes.
Mayo’s forays into attack were few and far between, but Liam Lavin produced an excellent individual effort for Mayo’s first on 11 minutes.
The crucial score of the half arrived six minutes later. London had not much joy in the first half driving balls on top of the Mayo square but the one breakthrough they got mattered as a sideline ball in was controlled down and following a scramble, Conor O’Carroll bundled it in.
Jason Coyne and Paul Kennedy traded efforts as Mayo began to get a foothold. Shane Boland, a free, and Sean Kennedy brought the gap to two with ten minutes of the half remaining, but London would finish the half strongly through Paul Kennedy and frees each by David Devine and Sean Glynn to double their advantage before the interval.
London’s woes in front of the posts continued into the second half as Cormac Phillips, Shane Boland (two) and Liam Lavin pulled Mayo level before Boland put the Green and Red in front for the first time on 48 minutes.
Devine brought London level moments later, but they would score only one more point in the final 20 minutes of the game. Boland brought his tally to seven with another trio of points, as well as efforts from his Tooreen clubmates Liam Lavin and Eoin Delaney, to lead by four after 66 minutes.
Devine’s free made it a one score game going into added time, but Morrisey fluffed his lines with his last gasp effort as Ray Larkin’s side claimed the title.
