EirGrid Connacht U20 Football Championship Semi-Final

Sligo 0-17 Mayo 1-9

By Colm Gannon at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence

Sligo booked their passage to the Connacht U20 final next week against Galway with a comprehensive victory over Mayo in the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan.

The defending provincial champions put in a stunning middle third in this game, where theY did the heavy lifting to put themselves well clear of Mayo. Sligo led by seven points with 10 minutes to go.

The opening exchanges of the game played in windy conditions saw Sligo spring into an early 0-3 to 0-1 lead thanks to scores from Luke Marren, Matt Henry and Ronan Niland.

Mayo looked to have found a footing when Bob Tuohy slung over two points either side of Fenton Kelly’s goal to have Mayo leading by three with 19 minutes gone.

But it was Sligo who took control of the game from this juncture and they reeled off six points to Mayo’s one over the rest of the half with Ross Sloyan and Matt Henry grabbing two each in this run. Mayo were further damaged when Sean Morahan was shown a black card late in the half.

Dylan Walsh and Dara Hurley exchanged early points in the second half to leave the game finally balanced, with Sligo two points in the lead and they doubled down on their efforts and went on another scoring blitz to leave Mayo down and out.

Ronan Niland, Dillon Walsh and Henry all pointed in quick succession to put their side further clear near the three quarter mark. That was followed by another rally of points though a Marren brace, a fisted effort from O’Boyle and a stunning 45 off the boot of Walsh that put Paul Henry’s men into a 0-17 to 1-5 lead and with both feet almost into the final.

Mayo did rally late on with Fenton Kelly reeling off three points and Ryan Fadden one to close the gap on the scoreboard, but Sligo had done the hard work earlier.

Scores for Sligo: Matt Henry 0-4, Luke Marren 0-4 (3fs), Ronan Niland 0-2, Daire Boyle 0-2, Rossa Sloyan 0-2, Dylan Walsh 0-2 (1 45), Dillon Walsh 0-1.

Scorers for Mayo: Fenton Kelly 1-3, Bob Tuohy 0-2, Dara Hurley 0-2, Tom O’Flaherty 0-1, Ryan Fadden 0-1.

Sligo: Ethan Carden; Ross Chambers, Conor Johnson, Luke Casserly; Dylan Walsh, Dylan McLoughlin, Ross Sloyan; Conor Sheridan, Canice Mulligan; Mark McDaniel, Ronan Niland, Ross Doherty; Luke Marren, Daire O'Boyle, Matt Henry.

Subs: Dillon Walsh for McDaniel, Joshua Flynn for Niland, Ciaran O’Reilly for Sloyan, Brian Byrne for Sheridan, James Kiernan for Doherty.

Mayo: David Dolan; Cian McHale, Sam Callinan, Ciaran Boland; Paul Gilmore, Sean Morahan, Conal Dawson; Bob Tuohy, Fenton Kelly; Cathal Corless, Tom O'Flaherty, Jack Fallon; Cian McHale, James Maheady, Dara Hurley.

Subs: Ryan Fadden for Fallon, Brendan Gilmartin for McHale, Finbarr McLoughlin for McHale, Dara Joyce for Corless, Adam Beirne for Hurley.

Referee: Michael McGirl (Leitrim).