Electric Ireland Connacht Minor Football semi-final

SLIGO 1-9 MAYO 1-7

This year’s Electric Ireland Connacht minor football final will be a novel pairing as Sligo secured their place alongside Roscommon in the provincial decider in three weeks’ time thanks to a 1-9 to 1-7 win over Mayo at the Connacht Centre of Excellence in Bekan this afternoon.

This will go down as a surprise result but recent form has shown that Sligo are a resurgent force on the underage scene in the west. This is Sligo’s third Connacht final in the last six years at this age grade as they seek to win their first provincial final since 1968. The last time Sligo and Roscommon met in a Connacht final saw the Yeats County win after a replay 71 years ago in 1949.

Mayo enjoyed wind advantage in the opening half as Cian McHale kicked four points in the opening half for the 40-time Connacht champions. However, an Adam Gallagher goal for Sligo in additional time helped them lead by 1-5 to 0-6 at half time. Despite a Cian McHale free for Mayo, Sligo notched the next four points with Luke Marren grabbing a brace of points as Ciarán O’Reilly and Dylan Walsh (free) found the target. Mayo ended a 25-minute scoreless spell with a Sam Callinan goal to set up a nervous finish but Sligo held on for a deserved triumph.

Electric Ireland Ulster Minor Football Championship

MONAGHAN 2-17 ANTRIM 0-8

TYRONE 0-8 DONEGAL 0-7

DERRY 1-7 ARMAGH 0-8

FERMANAGH 0-10 DOWN 1-4

Meanwhile in Ulster, Monaghan moved a step closer to lifting the Liam Murray Cup for the third year running as they dispatched Antrim by 2-17 to 0-8. Mark Counihan’s side will face Fermanagh in the Ulster semi-final. Stephen Mooney was on top from for the victors as he kicked three points before the water break before Shane Slevin’s goal helped Monaghan lead by 1-6 to 0-4 at half time. Mooney kicked three more scores as Monaghan moved eight points clear after 40 minutes before Calum Higgins replied for Antrim. However, Cremartin club man Mooney rattled a goal to end the game as a contest. To Antrim’s credit they never gave up with Sean Duffin kicking a fine score but it wasn’t enough as Monaghan ran out deserving victors.

Tyrone overcame fierce rivals Donegal by 0-8 to 0-7 in a tight battle in Ballybofey as they set up a semi-final showdown with Derry. Ruairi Canavan, son of Tyrone legend Peter, was top scorer for the victors with five points. Despite Tyrone kicking 13 wides, Donegal did not punish these misses. McGrath, Canavan and Conor McGillion helped Tyrone in to an early lead but two Robbie MacDonnell points and a Conor O’Neill score from a mark helped Donegal lead by the minimum at half time. Two Canavan points helped Tyrone level proceedings before the sides exchanged scores. Goalkeeper Harry Morgan converted a ’45 for Tyrone before Canavan tipped the scales decisively in Tyrone’s favour, despite a late Donegal score.

Derry secured an impressive 1-7 to 0-8 win against Armagh as Matthew Downey produced an inspirational display for the winners. He kicked five points in a ferocious battle at Owenbeg. The Oak Leafers gained revenge for a two-point defeat to the same opposition in last year’s championship. Armagh kicked three of the first four scores before the sides exchanged efforts before the water break. A Derry point by Lachlan Murray meant they trailed by 0-4 to 0-3 at half time. Two Downey frees levelled the contest before Dan Higgins found the net. Armagh kicked two points in a row to level the game, but Downey converted two frees to help Derry home.

Fermanagh overcame 14 man Down in a nervy encounter as they held on for a 0-10 to 1-4 victory at Brewster Park in the other last-eight decider.

The sides shared the first four points before Fermanagh kicked five scores in a row to surge clear before the break with Ronan McGovern kicking the pick of the bunch. Down started the second half quickly with Niall Toner scoring a goal, however, Fermanagh kicked three unanswered scores with Fionan O’Brien grabbing two of these. Down’s cause was not helped by Tony McCartan receiving a red card but despite the numerical disadvantage they kicked two further scores. They were unable to find another goal as Fermanagh clung on for a significant victory.