Roscommon denied by Mayo in thrilling Connacht U20 final
Mayo 2-17
Roscommon 4-8
Roscommon suffered provincial heartache on Wednesday night when they were narrowly defeated by Mayo in an epic Connacht U20 final played in Tuam Stadium.
In what was a fast paced and high scoring affair, it appeared that Roscommon would succumb to a heavy loss having trailed by nine points after 19 minutes, but they rallied and had a late goal by substitute Ruairi Kilcline not been ruled for a square ball infringement the final scoreline may have been in their favour.
Roscommon responded to an early scoring tour de force from Mayo and by half-time the lead was down to two points, goals from Rory Carthy and a brace from John McGuinness reducing the scoreboard arrears.
Roscommon came under pressure at the start of the second period but goalkeeper Patrick Gaynor twice saved well to deny Oisin Cronin and Darragh Beirne, while Cronin blasted his shot wide.
Mayo continued to maintain scoreboard superiority and were three points to the fore as the game entered its final ten minutes.
However, a fourth goal for Roscommon courtesy of Robert Heneghan restored parity to the contest and at this stage they appeared to be the team with momentum.
However, two wides in a row didn't help their cause and Mayo rallied with three points in succession through Colm McHale, substitute Dara Neary and Beirne to leave them three points ahead in the final minute of regulation time.
As four minutes of added time were announced Roscommon pulled a point back through Conor Grogan and but for the disallowed goal the primrose and blue would have taken the lead with time almost elapsed.
However, Mayo had the final say when Tom Lydon dissected the posts late on to ensure provincial success was achieved.
Mayo: Conor Meaney; Rio Mortimer, Paul Gilmore, Eoin McGreal; Hugh O’Loughlin (0-3), John MacMonagle, Colm McHale (0-2); Oliver Armstrong, Seamus Howard (1-0); Oisin Cronin (0-1), Cathal Keaveney, Colm Lynch; Darragh Beirne (1-3, 1f), Niall Hurley (0-2), Tom Lydon (0-5, 2f). Subs used: Yousif Coghill, Dara Neary (0-1), Diarmuid Duffy, Luke Feeney, Daithí Butler.
Roscommon: Patrick Gaynor; Keelan Kelly, Tommy Morris, Cillian Campbell; Conor Grogan (0-1), Eoghan Carthy, Conor Kelly; Niall Heneghan, David Higgins; Eoin Collins, Robert Heneghan (1-0), Ryan Dowling; John Curran (0-1), Rory Carthy (1-4, 1tpf, 2f), John McGuinness (2-0). Subs used: Brian Greene (0-2, 1f), Cathal McKeon, Ciaran O'Reilly, Ruairi Kilcline.