Late Beirne point seals Connacht U20 opening round win for Mayo against Sligo

Mayo’s Darragh Beirne scored the crucial point to clinch it for Mayo. Pic: David Farrell Photography

Connacht U20: Mayo 0-17 Sligo 0-15

Darragh Beirne's 63-minute point ensured Keith Higgins side came away with an opening round victory over the Yeats men.

Sligo started the game brightly with the impressive Eli Rooney scoring his first two-pointer from a free after just two minutes of play.

A large crowd was in attendance to see both Kobe McDonald and Darragh Beirne, with the latter replying with a point from a free after three minutes.

Sligo restored a two-point lead with Rooney getting his third point of the half as they lead 3-1 after 14 minutes of play.

Mayo would take control of proceedings as they would score eight points on the spin in a seven-minute period, with the first two coming from Oisin Deane, who had the sides level for the first time in the match.

Mayo took the lead for the first time a minute later with Deane pointing again and this score was followed by a point from lively Tom Lydon.

Beirne had a chance of a goal in the 19th minute, but a super save from Gareth Cummins denied the corner forward. The resulting 45 from McDonald was converted expertly.

Three further points followed for the Mayo men as they led by six points. Sligo failed to score for 12 minutes and a badly needed point was scored by full forward Daire Mostyn.

Colm Lynch restored the lead point, but Sligo rallied before the break with a monster free from Rooney as Sligo only trailed by three points at the break, 10-7.

Sligo got the opening point of the second half through Matthew Walsh to cut the deficit to just two points. Keith Higgins' side had only weathered the storm as they went 14-9 in front after 41 minutes, with Beirne and Lydon among the scores.

Rooney wasn’t making it easy for Mayo as he helped drag his side back into contention with a third two-pointer and a point from Eamon O’Mahony as Sligo had the lead by just one point with 12 minutes to play.

Mayo appeared to have regained control of the contest, with McDonald showing real leadership as the teenager fired over a superb point to put his side two points clear with ten minutes remaining The sides were level after 54 minutes when Beirne edged his team back in front. 

The game looked set to go down to the wire, and Rooney had a chance to snatch a late winner, but his free drifted wide. At the end, Beirne added a crucial insurance score to seal an opening round victory for his side.

Scorers for Mayo: Darragh Beirne (0-5,3fs); Tom Lydon (0-4); Oisin Deane (0-3,1tp); Kobe McDonald (0-2,145), Colm Lynch, James Lavelle, Shane Cunningham (0-1 each). 

Scorers for Sligo: Eli Rooney (0-11,3tpf, 3fs); Dara Mostyn (0-1,1f); Cian Nicholson, Eamon O’Mahony, Matthew Walsh (0-1 each) 

MAYO: C Meaney; J Lavelle, T Lambert, A Coggins; C Lynch, R Mortimer, T Tuffy; S Cunningham, A Quinn; O Deane, K McDonald, D Flynn; D Beirne, J Holmes, T Lydon. 

Subs used: Y Coghill for A Coggins (47); J Moyles for T Tuffy (54); J Carey for A Quinn (56).

SLIGO: G Cummins; J McHugh, P Brady, J Lavin; E Keane, A Lillie, O Harte; C Walsh, C Gilligan; E O’Mahony, M Carroll, C Nicholson; A Lang, D Mostyn, E Rooney. 

Subs used: L Higgins for O Harte (7 temporary); O Harte for L Higgins (16 temporary); M Walsh for M Carroll (25); P Flynn for D Mostyn (45); O Delvin for E O’Mahony (59); A Feeney for M Walsh (63) 

Referee: Aaron Clogher (Roscommon).