In their third consecutive victory in the Connacht minor football final, Mayo triumphed over Roscommon with a score of 14-10 at Dr Hyde Park. Initially, at 7-7 in the early phase of the second half, the competition appeared evenly matched. However, the match soon turned in favour of Mayo who were led by Oisín Deane and Kobe McDonald. They took advantage of several crucial mistakes from Roscommon and ended up as the rightful victors.
The opposition was tough in the initial parts of the match. Mayo’s relentless press performed efficiently on Roscommon’s kickouts. The opening score was acquired by Oisín Deane for Mayo, following an interception by Evan Walsh of a kickout by Roscommon’s goalkeeper, Patrick Gaynor. Roscommon retaliated efficiently via Darragh Devaney’s outstanding catch which eventually led to Dean Casey bringing in the levelling point.
Soon after, Mayo regained the lead through a score by Walsh. Nevertheless, Dara Curran secured a lead for Roscommon by successfully landing a couple of frees, making the score 3-2 by the end of the initial quarter. After some time, Mayo managed to claw back through scores by Conor Moriarity and Kobe McDonald.
Alan Conroy levelled the match for Roscommon, but a 40 meter free by McDonald saw Mayo taking the lead again. The first half ended in a tie at 5-5, after Roscommon made a crucial turnover and Stephen Tighe scored an imaginative equalizer.
As the match reached the 36th minute, it was still anybody’s game, as the scores tied at 7-7 after an exchange of points between both teams. However, Mayo started to pull away as Roscommon’s errors piled up. McDonald secured a remarkable 55-meter free, and their lead broadened with scores from Deane and substitute Andrew Quinn.
Roscommon tried a comeback with a point by Dean Casey and almost secured a goal chance for Curran, which sadly ended up as another point only. Roscommon’s goalkeeper Patrick Gaynor’s possession error nine minutes before the end, wherein he was tackled by Mayo’s Joe Forry, proved to be the turning point for Mayo’s win.
Gaynor received a black card, with McDonald taking the free kick that followed. Mayo executed a successful defence and maintained a safe gap with the Rossies, securing a victory for the Tom Kilcoyne Cup.
The Mayo team comprised of N. Roddy, C. Coghill, T Hession, D Butler, D Hurley, M Noonan, M Sheeran, J Moyles, O Loughney, H McHale, K McDonald, D Flynn, E Walsh, O Deane, and C Moriarty. Substitutes were A. Quinn, who replaced Moriarty at half-time, and J. Forry who came in for McHale at the 43rd minute.
The Roscommon team consisted of P Gaynor, L Finneran, G Casey, C Murray, E Collins, K Kelly, D Kennedy, D Delaney, C Enright, J McKeon, D Curran, A Conroy, S Tighe, S McGuinness, and D Casey. Substitutions included S McDonnell for McKeon at 41 minutes, M Connaughton for Kennedy at 48 minutes, S Malec-Hannon for Tighe at 57 minutes, M Brooks for G Casey at 58 minutes and J Oates for D Casey at 60 minutes. The referee was C Ryan from Galway.