Three-goal blitz puts an end to minors' challenge

Mayo 3-9Galway 1-10

Stephen Glennon

Three second half Mayo goals – netted in an incredible five-minute spell of football – put paid to Galway’s hopes of claiming a 26th Connacht minor title at McHale Park, Castlebar on Sunday.

Having contained a much vaunted Mayo attack for two-thirds of this keenly contested provincial decider, an injury-hit Galway led 1-5 to 0-7 approaching the three-quarter mark and they looked well capable of causing an upset. However, in a matter of minutes, this game was, to use that well-worn cliché, turned unceremoniously on its head.

In a sweeping move on 42 minutes, Mayo poured forward through Danny Kirby, Sean Kelly, Conor Walsh and Cillian O’Connor, before the latter was hacked down in the penalty area by retreating Galway defender Paul Varley. Up stepped Kirby. Given the size of the midfielder, one would have thought his effort would be all about power, but, instead, he stroked the ball to the left of Galway ‘keeper James Keane.

Leading 1-7 to 1-5, Mayo’s gander was now up and within a minute they harvested that zeal and produced a second goal. This time, wing-forward Fergal Durkan combined with Kirby to set up full forward Darren Coen for an absolutely cracking effort. It was nothing less than pure power from the Mayo target man.

Although Galway substitute Peadar Ó Gríofa and O’Connor (free) exchanged points on 44 and 45 minutes, the young Tribesmen’s nightmare continued on 46 minutes when Coen seized possession approximately 30 metres from the Galway goal.

It looked as if he would simply pick off his point, but, in a blink of an eye, he turned inside and hammered a low shot to the right of goalie Keane. In just 300 seconds, Mayo were eight points to the good, 3-8 to 1-6, and for all intents and purposes, it was ‘game over’.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.