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EirGrid Connacht U20: Impressive Mayo win in the west

Ryan O Donoghue netted a first half penalty for Mayo.

Ryan O Donoghue netted a first half penalty for Mayo.

EirGrid Connacht Under 20 Final

**MAYO 3-16 ROSCOMMON 1-6 **

By Cian O'Connell at Dr Hyde Park

Mayo’s blend of power and pace proved too much for Roscommon. A smart second half burst yielding 2-4 without reply from the Green and Red was decisive as Roscommon were unable to recover.

High expectations were attached to this Roscommon crop following triumphs over Sligo and Galway, but Mayo demonstrated that they were the most competent team at this level in the west in 2018.

There was no shortage of lively football during an interesting opening period as Mayo eventually went in armed with a 1-5 to 1-3 advantage.

Mayo, though, spurned several gilt edged chances registering 1-5 from 14 opportunities with Ryan O’Donoghue’s 29th minute goal an important score.

By that stage Mayo, who played into the teeth of a reasonable breeze, trailed by one against an efficient Roscommon outfit.

Cian McKeon clipped three points, while Aidan Dowd netted a 21st minute goal for Roscommon, who hit the front as the interval approached.

Mayo, though, responded as a foul on Ryan O’Donoghue by Lorcan Daly resulted in the Belmullet attacker converting the subsequent penalty.

It remained interesting after the restart with the action continuing at a good clip, but Mayo, aided by a fine point from substitute Colm Moran were 1-8 to 1-5 ahead at the three quarter mark.

Paul Lambert, dashing throughout for Mayo, crafted a goalscoring chance which was taken with aplomb by Conor Diskin.

Evan O’Brien banged over a brilliant point before Tommy Conroy struck a splendid third goal for Michael Solan’s impressive team.

In the closing stages Roscommon’s Damien Duff and McKeon were sent off for second bookable offences as Mayo confidently marched on to the All Ireland series.

**Scorers for Mayo: **Ross Egan 0-8 (6fs), Tommy Conroy, Conor Diskin, and Ryan O’Donoghue 1-0 each, Paul Lambert 0-3, Colm Moran 0-2, Evan O’Brien, Stephen McGreal and Patrick O’Malley (45) 0-1 each.

**Scorers for Roscommon: **Cian McKeon 0-4 (3fs), Aidan Dowd 1-0, Aaron Brady 0-2 (1f, 145).

MAYO: Patrick O’Malley; Johnny Maughan, Brian O’Malley, John Cunnane; Paul Lambert, Oisin Mullin, Cathal Horan; Jordan Flynn, Evan O’Brien; Nathan Moran, Ryan O’Donoghue, Oisin McLaughlin; Conor Diskin, Ross Egan, Tommy Conroy.

Subs: Colm Moran for McLaughlin (41), Joe Dawson for Mullin (45), John Gallagher for Conroy (54), Stephen McGreal for Diskin (54), Sean Og Tigue for O’Brien (58), Brian O’Neill for Cunnane (60).

ROSCOMMON: Aaron Brady; Damien Duff, Luke Mollahan, Lorcan Daly; Aidan Dowd, Evan Flynn, Darren Nerney; David McManus, Eddie Nolan; Keith Murphy, Gavin Byrne, Dylan Ruane; Paul Carey, Cian McKeon, Brian Derwin.

Subs: Gerry Galvin for Daly (28, BC), Ciaran Sugrue for Byrne (28), Cian Corcoran for Ruane (49), Callum Fahey for Derwin (50), Michael Conroy for Nerney (50), Darragh Kildea for McManus (60).

REFEREE: Barry Judge (Sligo).