Tom Lydon inspires Mayo U20s to come from behind victory over Galway

Darragh Beirne from Claremorris hit the decisive score of the match, landing a two-pointer from the right when the sides were level in the final minute of normal time.

Tom Lydon scored 1-9 for the Mayo U20s in their thrilling Connacht U20 Football Championship victory over Galway. Pic: ©INPHO/Donall Farmer

Connacht U20 Football Championship: Mayo 2-18 Galway 3-13

A fine display of shooting from corner-forward Tom Lydon was key to Mayo making it two wins on the spin when they came from behind to oust Galway in a cracking Connacht U-20 championship clash at Tuam Stadium.

The Neale clubman finished with 1-9 as Mayo initially recovered from being five points adrift in the opening half and then from being a goal down in the closing stages to thwart their arch rivals.

But while Lydon led the way it was substitute Darragh Beirne from Claremorris who hit the decisive score of the match when he landed a two-pointer from the right when the sides were level in the final minute of normal time and Galway were unable to save the day during four minutes of added time.

Mayo led by 1-9 to 1-7 at the break after dominating the second quarter of a good, open game.

Galway, who opened their campaign with a win over Leitrim, built up a 1-5 to 0-3 lead after 16 minutes with Eanna Monaghan getting the goal.

But Mayo took over and hit 1-6 without reply with Lydon leading the charge and Josh Carey getting in for a goal three minutes from the break.

Galway’s Colm Costello cut the gap to 1-9 to 1-7 when he landed a two-point free just before the interval.

Niall Hurley got a two-pointer for Mayo directly after the restart. After they twice exchanged points, Galway hit the front when Costello and Ross Coen pointed before Costello drilled a superb shot to the roof of the net for the Tribesmen to lead by 2-11 to 1-13 after 42 minutes.

Mayo, having fallen a goal adrift, got back on level terms eight minutes from time before Galway substitute O’Donnell found the net to lead by 3-13 to 1-16 two minutes later.

Mayo didn’t panic and after Lydon levelled with a goal from a penalty after Seamus Horward was fouled, Burns stepped up in the closing stages to land a superb winner at the end of a highly entertaining contest.

Meanwhile, Roscommon bounced back from their opening round loss to Mayo to defeat Sligo 1-16 to 0-10 at King & Moffat Dr Hyde Park.

A goal from John Curran helped Roscommon lead by 1-6 to 0-6 at the break and they pushed on from there for a decisive win.

Scorers for Mayo: T Lydon 1-9 (1-0 pen, 0-5f, 1 2ptf), J Carey 1-1, N Hurley 0-4 (1 2pt), D Burns 0-2 (1 2tp), P Gilmore 0-1, O Cronin 0-1.

Scorers for Galway: C Costello 1-7 (0-3f, 1 2ptf), R O’Donnell 1-1, E Monaghan 1-0, S Dunne 0-2, S O’Connor 0-2 (1 2pt), R Coen 0-1.

MAYO: C Meaney; R Mortimer, P Gilmore, E McGreal; H O’Loughlin, J MacGonagle, C McHale; O Armstrong, S Howard; C Keaveney, N Hurley, O Cronin; J Carey, L Feeney, T Lydon. Subs: D Neary for Keaveney (38), D Duffy for McHale (42), D Beirne for Carey (44), C Lynch for Feeney (46).

GALWAY: K Gilmore; P Godwin, R Flaherty, C Dolan; M Mannion, J Lonergan, V Gill; P Keaney, C Marks; S Dunne, E Monaghan, S O’Connor; C Mulhern, C Costello, M Mulryan. Subs: R Coen for Flaherty (half-time), R O’Donnell for Mulryan (44), S Canavan for Dolan (48), C McDonagh for Lonergan (54), S Curley for Monaghan (63).

Referee: M McGirl (Leitrim).