Mayo claimed the Dalata Hotel Group Connacht Under-20 title for the first time in seven years as they held off Roscommon in Tuam
Like any good rollercoaster, this one started gently. Too gently, some would have said, as Mayo sauntered into a 1-07 to 0-01 lead with 20 minutes played, dominating in most areas of the pitch and cutting Roscommon apart to set up chances that were slickly converted by the twin threat of Darragh Beirne and Tom Lydon in the corners.
Then Rory Carthy hit a two-point free and a goal in consecutive attacks, and from there supporters were treated to a thrilling encounter that kept them on the edge of their seats, with a late disallowed Roscommon goal for good measure.
Given that Rúairí Kilcline appeared to reverse out of the small parallelogram before leaping to palm the ball to the net for what would have been a lead score at the team, it appeared as if the right call was made by Thomas Murphy and his officials.
Murphy can take some share of the credit for the wonderful occasion as he allowed the two teams to play ball, letting physical contact go to the point that his first free – with one overcarrying exception – was in the 13th minute.
The two teams soon adjusted to this reality, though it all seemed academic given Mayo's early surge.
The goal arrived when midfielder Seamus Howard burst through the middle to collect a layoff and calmly place the ball under Patrick Gaynor, while Mayo looked very sharp in the two full lines, picking off scores at one end while Paul Gilmore, John McMonagle and Eoin McGreal were on top of their respective battles.
Then McGreal was forced off with an injury, Rory Carthy hoisted over a 45 metre free, and the next kickout was smashed back towards the Mayo goal, allowing Curran to float a pass across to Carthy for a goal.
That was the spark that set the contest well and truly alight.
John McGuinness darted through to score two excellent goals before half-time, either side of another Mayo goal from Beirne, assisted by a pinpoint Cathal Keaveney pass. 2-09 to 3-04 at half-time seemed to flatter Roscommon considering the supremacy that Mayo enjoyed for most of the half, but in the second half Cian Smith’s side proved that they were well worth their place in this decider.
They never looked like scoring at a great rate but Eoin Collins, Eoghan Carthy, David Higgins and Niall Heneghan all came up with some big possessions at midfield, and the contest moved along nicely with the sides trading scores. Early in the final quarter Colm McHale scored a point that looked like it might give Mayo a little bit of cushion, but only until Robert Heneghan tied the sides up with a fisted goal in the 52nd minute.
With the game on the line, Mayo showed that little bit more composure to secure their progression. Roscommon had possessions close to goal but Gilmore and Hugh O’Loughlin came up with huge turnovers when needed, and it fell to O’Loughlin, Dara Neary, McHale and Beirne to kick the scores that confirmed Mayo’s first title since their comprehensive win over the same opposition in 2018.
Mayo: Conor Meaney; Rio Mortimer, Paul Gilmore, Eoin McGreal; Colm Lynch, John McMonagle, Colm McHale (0-03); Oliver Armstrong, Seamus Howard (1-00); Oisín Cronin (0-01), Cathal Keaveney, Hugh O’Loughlin (0-02); Darragh Beirne (1-03, 0-02 frees), Niall Hurley (0-02), Tom Lydon (0-05, 0-02 frees).
Subs: Yousif Coghill for McGreal (19), Dara Neary (0-01) for Cronin (42), Diarmuid Duffy for Lynch (44), Luke Feeney for Armstrong (52), Daithí Butler for Gilmore (60+2).
Roscommon: Patrick Gaynor; Cillian Campbell, Tommy Morris, Keelan Kelly; Conor Grogan (0-01), Eoghan Carthy, Conor Kelly; Niall Heneghan, David Higgins; Eoin Collins, Robert Heneghan (1-00), John McGuinness (2-00); Rory Carthy (1-04, 1tpf, 0-02 frees), John Curran (0-01), Ryan Dowling.
Subs: Brian Greene (0-02, 0-01 mark) for Kelly (22), Cathal McKeon for Dowling (47), Ciarán O’Reilly for Higgins (52), Rúairí Kilcline for R Heneghan (55).
Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway).
