Mayo survive minor scare in Leitrim
Mayo’s Darragh Connor has a firm grip on the ball as Leitrim’s Jack Guckian looks on during the Electric Ireland Connacht MFC Rd 1 at Carrick on Shannon last Friday evening. Picture: David Farrell Photography
Mayo were made to work hard for victory over Leitrim in their opening game of the Electric Ireland Connacht Minor Football Championship yesterday (Friday) evening in Carrick-on-Shannon, winning 1-17 to 2-11.
The visitors, who had a bye in the first round, made full use of the wind in the first half and led 1-8 to 0-0 after 12 minutes, the goal for Mayo coming from Evan Heneghan after good play by Adam Burton.
It appeared that Mayo were going to stroll to a straightforward win from here but Leitrim responded well, scoring five of the the next six points to trail only by seven at half-time, and it could have been even less had they taken a pair of goal chances they created.
It was game on two minutes into the second half as Seán Keaney, who had an excellent game for Leitrim, plundered in their opening goal of the game. Mayo fought back well from the setback with six of the next eight points, and another pair of singles had Mayo leading by eight with two minutes of normal time to play.
Matthew Spears would set up a grandstand finish with a two-point free and a goal in injury-time, and Conor McCabe almost rescued a draw for Leitrim in the final action of the game but saw his shot on goal go inches wide.
Mayo will look to make it two wins in a row when they face Roscommon next Friday, April 3, at 7pm in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.
