Round-up: Dalata Hotel Group Connacht U20 Championship action

Dalata Hotel Group Connacht U20 Football Championship

Galway 1-13 Sligo 0-15

Mayo 3-21 Leitrim 1-12

The penultimate round of the Dalata Hotel Group Connacht U20 Football Championship group phase ended with both Galway and Mayo punching their tickets to the knockout stage and Sligo eliminated following their third defeat of the competition.

A goal from sub Eoinín Ó Cualáin just shy of the three-quarter mark proved the key moment as Galway did just enough to hold off a spirited late rally from Sligo at Tuam Stadium.

Defeats to Mayo and Roscommon left the Yeats County with no margin for error entering the fixture. And though Stephen Henry's side battled back to draw level at 0-11 apiece in the 37th minute, they were unable to kick on with the wind at their backs.

Galway scored the only goal and also kicked three of the game's four two-pointers. Though Mikey Mulryan landed the first of them, Sligo were full value for a 0-5 to 0-4 lead on 20 minutes.

They enjoyed the lion's share of midfield possession and had reward from Adam Feeney's three points from play, including a goal attempt that Galway 'keeper Brian Carroll diverted over, as well as two Eamon O'Mahony frees.

In a match in which both sides played in fits and starts, Galway looked to have made a decisive move when reeling off seven points without reply before the break.

Ross Coen and Shay McGlinchey both raised orange flags while Matthew Collins pointed twice. Senior forward Ciaran Mulhern sent over the score of the evening following a kickout mark and 60-metre run.

Though Sligo trailed 0-11 to 0-5 at the break, three Aaron Lang points along with further efforts from Conor Walsh, Matthew Walsh and Eamon Keane had the sides on level terms by the 37th minute.

However, it was Galway's turn to grab the momentum and they responded with 1-2 without answer that would sustain them to the finish.

Ó Cualáin edged them in front with his first involvement and then netted with conviction after Killian Joyce pounced on a loose pass by Sligo deep in their own defence.

Mulhern left five points between the sides in the 46th minute but Galway would not score again. Sligo ended their 18-minute barren spell with a Cian Nicholson two-pointer and though late points from Lang and sub Oisín Devlin cut the gap to the minimum, Galway held on for their third straight victory.

Matters were far more clearcut at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada as holders Mayo also maintained their 100 per cent record and moved to the top of the standings on scoring difference with a 3-21 to 1-12 win over Leitrim.

Andy Moran confirmed last week that Kobe McDonald and Darragh Beirne will not be part of Mayo's match-day 26 for their Connacht SFC opener in London this weekend. Both were pressed into action by U20 boss Keith Higgins and found the net along with Dylan Flynn.

It was 2-12 to 0-5 to Mayo at the break and with captain Colm Lynch and Tom Lydon prominent in the point-scoring stakes, the visitors were always comfortable on their way to a game high lead of 20 points.

Colm McLoughlin struck for a consolation goal and top scorer Paul Honeyman a two-pointer for Leitrim late on.