Roscommon 0-14 Mayo 1-14

Mayo retained the Fahey Cup with a three-point victory over Roscommon in Kiltoom in the Connacht U-21 Football Championship.

Pat Holmes's side looked easy winners with a six-point half-time lead but a brave second half fightback by the home side had reduced the deficit to a single goal at the final whistle.

Man-of-the-match Aidan Campbell opened the scoring for the champions inside the first minute with Jason Doherty also pointing soon after. Points from Kevin Higgins, Donal Shine and Robbie Gaynor had Roscommon in front by ten minutes.

The goal that was eventually to prove the difference between the sides at the finish came midway through the half when a 35-metre free-kick from Campbell was fisted to the net by Mikey Sweeney from the Kiltane club.

Inspired by the goal, a physically stronger Mayo thereafter clocked up the scores and four unanswered points had the visitors leading 1-6 to 0-3 by the 24th minute.

Gaynor and Campbell exchanged points before half-time with Mayo going in for the break in a commanding position.

A fighting second half display by Roscommon had reduced the margin of victory to just three points at the final whistle, but a penalty-kick sent over the bar and a late Cathal Cregg piledriver, which bounced off the crossbar, proved costly for the home side.

Aidan Campbell again opened the scoring on the resumption of play but two pointed frees from Donal Shine and a point from substitute Paul Garvey had Roscommon back in contention by the tenth minute.

James Burke and Padraic O'Connor restored the champions lead to six points, with further points at either end still leaving the visitors in front 1-12 to 0-9 as the game entered the final ten minutes.

The turning point in the contest came when Roscommon failed to find the net with a penalty after Chris Barrett had fouled Kevin Higgins. Much to the dismay of the large home support, Donal Shine sent the kick over the bar.

Roscommon, however, never gave up the fight and further points from Shine and Cregg had just a goal between the sides as the game entered the closing stages.

Points from Mayo's Campbell and Jason Doherty cancelled out similar scores from Gaynor and Shine with the champions desperately hanging onto their goal lead as the game went into stoppage-time.

There could have been a dramatic finish to the contest when Roscommon almost forced extra-time with one of the last kicks of the game deep in stoppage-time.

Paul Garvey set up Cathal Cregg but from 25 metres out the Roscommon captain saw his fierce drive bounce off the crossbar and end the Connacht final in dramatic fashion.