Manager hails team character after late winner

Mayo FC manager Anthony O’Neill cut a very relieved figure come full-time at Umbro Park on Saturday afternoon.

Having led 1-0 from the 60th minute on, Mayo’s long search for a second victory in the FAI National League looked as though it may continue after Letterkenny Rovers levelled matters in the 85th minute.

However, Connor McCarthy fired home a late header to snatch back the victory.

“You’d think that we’ve thrown it away,” O’Neill told the Western People at full time. “But the lads showed great character to come back and get the winning goal in injury time.”

“What a goal it was. It was a great cross from Sean McAteer and right onto Connor McCarthy’s head. We see him score goals like that all the time in training, he is such a threat in the box and a brilliant finisher.”

O’Neill was delighted with the performance of young Aron Heaney on his debut, who won a penalty and pulled the strings in the Mayo midfield.

“He’s just 17, doing his Leaving Cert this year. He has been a standout performer for the U20 team and we felt like this was the time to blood him and give him a full debut. He was very brave and courageous in terms of always wanting the ball and doesn’t hide.”

“We have Daire O’Connor out there at right centre back today as well. He’s only 18 and it is great to be blooding these young local Mayo lads, they really, really want to play for Mayo. They’re passionate about it and you can see that on the pitch.”

O’Neill said he is hoping that this result can give Mayo FC a platform for the remainder of the season.

“It was a very difficult game as we knew it would be. We went up to Letterkenny a few weeks ago and played well on the day but lost 3-0 so we knew the threat they would pose.”

“I think we’ve been unfortunate with some of the games we’ve lost. We just keep our heads down, drive on and thankfully today we came out on the right side of the result.”

He praised the character of his side for their ability to bounce back from their recent poor form.

“The lads have been great and maybe the week off did us good because we took stock of things. The lads have been superb, not just the starting 11 but the lads on the bench as well, even the lads who didn’t get off the bench today. I got to mention them because they’re driving the standards every week of training.”