Tough day out for Mayo against Tribesmen
The Mayo FC U15s suffered their first defeat of the season against an excellent Galway United outfit on a chilly afternoon in Umbro Park last Saturday lunchtime.
Despite the heavy loss, Raff Cretaro’s young side will learn a lot from coming up against a group who have been together for two years at League of Ireland level, with the movement, passing and pressing from Galway United over the 90 minutes a step above their Mayo counterparts.
“We knew a bit about Galway before the game. They’re big, strong physical lads and we knew it was going to be tough. It’s all learning. Only four out of the 20 played National League before. They’ll learn a lot from today,” said Cretaro.
The visitors dominated possession from kick-off and had already registered three shots at goal in the opening five minutes. Such was their dominance on the ball that a set-piece was Mayo’s best chance of making a breakthrough, which almost occurred on 12 minutes from Eoghan Powell’s brilliant free-kick but Adam Burton couldn’t make contact.
Galway took the lead three minutes later after a mix-up at the back and Tomiwa Lofinmakin tapped home from close range.
Enda Browne was in for Galway after Harry Naylor’s kickout was intercepted by Lofinmakin and the goalscorer played him through but Naylor was equal to his effort.
Mayo saw more of the ball early in the second period but went 2-0 down on 38 minutes after a low drive by Ihor Semkiv into the net.
Galway continued to boss possession from there but met an inspired Naylor, who denied Bobby Lenehan on two separate occasions. As Mayo chased a way back early in the third period, Galway broke on the counter and Enda Browne beat Naylor at his near post to make it three-nil.
They would finish with a flourish as Browne netted a second with a brilliant effort into the corner before Mark O’Callaghan added a fifth after he was slipped in by Semkiv.
The Mayo U15s will be back in action next Saturday afternoon when they welcome Treaty United to Milebush, who have won their opening three games against Longford Town, Galway United and Sligo Rovers.
