Roscommon seal Connacht final place with decisive win

Roscommon 2-17 Mayo 0-13

By Caoimhín Rowland

Roscommon secured their place in the Electric Ireland Connacht Minor Football Championship final with a commanding performance against Mayo at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park Castlebar running out nine-point winners.

This victory, coupled with wins over Sligo and Galway, sees Roscommon advance to the provincial showpiece fixture with one round robin game remaining to play against Leitrim on Friday, April 10 in King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park.

Over the game's duration, Roscommon were sharper, more clinical and ultimately deserving winners on the day, with midfielder Seamie Carthy and Cathal Nerney the standout performers in a polished Roscommon display.

Roscommon drew first blood inside the opening minute when Nerney palmed home after Carthy's long kick-in caught out the Mayo rearguard hesitant, and it set the tone for what was to follow.

Diarmuid Byrne’s side, to their credit, responded well. Charlie Fallon was lively in the early exchanges, raising two white flags, the second after Roscommon goalkeeper Zac Mullaly could only push a cross into the corner forward's path, while Fiachra Ó Cinnseala also chipped in as the home side worked their way back to 1-0 to 0-3.

The hosts' profligacy in front of goal proved costly throughout the first half. Shooting with the breeze, they missed five chances and dropped two more short into the goalkeeper's hands, a wastefulness that left them chasing the game when they should have been level or ahead. Roscommon, by contrast, made their chances count.

Jayden Jennings landed a well-taken two-pointer, Joshua Coyne was reliable from placed balls and Carthy added a fine score after patient Roscommon build-up play.

Adam Burton pointed just before the interval whistle to leave the half-time score 1-7 to 0-7.

Mayo began the second half with renewed purpose. Ó] Cinnseala opened from an acute angle after sustained possession, and there was a sense that the home side could mount a challenge.

However, Roscommon were not for turning. Carthy was simply magnificent, finishing with six points to his name including a two-pointer in the 44th minute that drew admiration from all corners of the ground for its power and precision.

Enda Browne of Pádraig Pearses was equally effective, making powerful runs from deep and finishing with two points from play, while Jennings and Jayden Concannon also contributed as Roscommon steadily stretched their lead.

Rowan McLoughlin produced several important saves in the Mayo goal to prevent further damage, but he could do nothing on 55 minutes when Nerney was quickest to react after his own shot came back off the goalkeeper, driving home Roscommon's second goal to put the result beyond doubt.

What's next: Roscommon host Leitrim in their final round robin fixture in King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park at 6.30pm on Friday, April 10. Roscommon will contest the Connacht minor football final on Friday, May 8, at a venue and time to be confirmed.

Scorers - Roscommon: C. Nerney 2-0; S. Carthy 0-6 (1tp); J. Jennings 0-4 (2tp); J. Coyne 0-3 (3f); E. Browne 0-2; J. Concannon and J. Brooks 0-1 each. Mayo: F. Ó Cinnseala and C. Hoban (2f) 0-4 each; C. Fallon 0-2; A. Burton, A. Smyth and A. Brogan 0-1 each.

Roscommon - Zac Mullaly; Conor Tighe, Tadgh Fallon, Colm Fitzgerald; Dara Kelleher, Jack Brooks, Enda Browne; Jack Lally, Seamie Carthy; Ronan Carr, Jayden Jennings, Bobby Lenehan; Cathal Nerney, Jayden Concannon, Joshua Coyne. Subs used: Daniel Nerney, James O'Brien, Aaron Martin, Dylan Goode, Sean Duggan.

Mayo - Rowan McLoughlin; Brian Joyce, Eanna O'Boyle, Harry Dooney; Tadhg Kearney, Adam Jennings, Alexander Smyth; Conor Hoban, Darragh Connor; John Jennings, Evan Heneghan, Adam Burton; Charlie Fallon, Fiachra Ó Cinnseala, Aidan Brogan. Subs used: Aaron O'Dea, Noah Donnelly, Nathan Dooley, Eoin Golden, Liam Nolan.

Referee - Chris Ryan (Galway).