EirGrid Connacht U20 Championship Quarter-Final

Mayo 1-6 Galway 1-4

By Cian O'Connell at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence

Mayo did enough to fend off a late Galway rally in wretched weather conditions in the west.

Maurice Sheridan's promising outfit set up a semi-final meeting with Leitrim next Wednesday following a tough test on a wild night in Bekan.

With the wind howling furiously Mayo made a critical burst in the second half when reeling off 1-4 without reply.

In such a low scoring game that was when the chief damage was done before Galway launched a late comeback mission.

Early on it was apparent that it would be a real battle which was perfectly illustrated by the fact the teams were level, 0-2 each, at the interval.

Scoring chances were scarce, but after the restart there was a bit more zip to the game.

A splendid Nathan Grainger 45 steered Galway in front for the first time, but then Mayo seized the initiative.

Cian O'Connell restored parity with a point before Jack Fallon planted an important 36th minute major.

Substitute Bob Tuohy, Frank Irwin (free), and Paddy Heneghan added Mayo points guiding them six points clear,

Galway, managed by Donal Ó Fatharta, summoned a late reply as James McLoughlin, who featured in the Allianz Football League Division Two decider on Sunday, netted a goal.

Grainger subsequently kicked a free reducing the deficit to two, but Mayo closed the deal.

Scorers for Mayo: Jack Fallon 1-0, Cian O'Connell and Frank Irwin (1f) 0-2 each, Paddy Heneghan and Bob Tuohy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: James McLoughlin 1-0, Nathan Grainger 0-2 (145, 1f), Dylan Brady and Daniel Flaherty 0-1 each.

Mayo: Brian O’Flaherty; Ruairi Keane, Fenton Kelly, Alfie Morrison; Aiden Cosgrove, Sam Callinan, Conan Dawson; Dylan Thornton, Frank Irwin; Tom O’Flaherty, Donnacha McHugh, Jack Fallon; Cian MacHale, Paddy Heneghan, Cian O’Connell.

Subs: Mark Cunningham for O'Connell (42), Paul Walsh for MacHale (43), Conor Reid for Fallon (46), Bob Tuohy for Dawson (52), Seán Morahan for Morrison (57).

Galway: James Egan; Conor Corcoran, Eanna Donohue, Colm MacDonnacha; Ruairi King, Johnny McGrath, Daniel Flaherty; James McLoughlin, Conall Gallagher; Rory Donnellan, Warren Seoige, Dylan Brady: Charlie Power, Tomo Culhane, Nathan Grainger.

Subs: Daniel Cox for Donnellan (HT), Cormac Greaney for King (39), Evan Nolan for Gallagher (45), Jake Slattery for Power (53), Liam Ó Conghaile for Seoige (56).

Referee: Michael McGirl (Leitrim).