Connacht U20 football round-up: Two goal Kobe McDonald sends Mayo past Galway

BRACE: Mayo’s Kobe McDonald celebrates a late. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie.

Two superb goals from the talismanic Kobe McDonald helped defending champions Mayo to book their place in the Connacht Under-20 football championship final in emphatic fashion with a 3-16 to 1-12 win over Galway at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park on Wednesday evening.

Galway, who faded out of contention alarmingly after a bright start, will now take on Roscommon in next week’s semi-final, but Kevin Johnson’s side have a lot to work on after this comprehensive defeat.

The aforementioned McDonald’s excellent performance — he hit 2-2 in the opening half — helped wind-assisted Mayo to build up a match-winning lead by half-time as they led by 2-10 to 0-4.

The sides had been level after six minutes when Darragh Beirne’s two point free was cancelled out by well-worked scores from Ross Coen and Cian Mitchell.

Galway also engineered a few other chances that weren’t taken and were unlucky not to hit the front. They were to regret that profligacy later in the game.

Mayo’s blitz of the opposition goal was fast and furious as seven points arrived in the space of four minutes with Oisin Deane’s neat effort followed by a hat-trick of two pointers from Joey Holmes, Darragh Beirne and Kobe McDonald to open up some daylight after 15 minutes.

Galway were now on the backfoot while Keith Higgins’ charges went for the jugular.

There were 19 minutes gone when McDonald touched a long Mayo kick-out down to himself before racing through the empty heart of the opposition defence and drilling a shot low past Brian Carroll for another classic goal for his burgeoning collection.

Six minutes later the 18 year-old lashed in his third goal of this campaign, running on to a pass from Tom Lydon before sprinting away from the chasing pack and finishing with customary efficiency.

It was now 2-10 to 0-3 and the damage had been done.

Galway did a pull point back from a Mikey Mulryan free on the stroke of half-time but there was no mistaking the contrast in body language as the teams left the field.

The second half was really all about game management from a Mayo perspective, and while Galway did start positively with points from Mikey Mulryan (2) and Matthew Collins, the mini-revival never got any major momentum.

Crossmolina team-mates Kobe McDonald and Oisin Deane (2) both shot scores up at the other end to restore Mayo’s comfortable lead before their club-mate, Dylan Flynn, broke through to fire home a goal in the 47th minute that settled the argument once and for all.

The winners were now 14 points clear and cruising, but Galway continued to battle right to the bitter end with Mikey Mulryan driving over a couple of two-point frees before the Caltra attacker weaved his way through the Mayo defence to crown an impressive display with a consolation goal.

The best of Mayo’s late scores came from wing-back Colm Lynch who powered forward twice to kick a brace of neat points that capped an impressive evening’s work for the title holders.

Meanwhile, Roscommon ran out 3-6 to 2-7 winners over Leitrim at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park to book their place in next week’s semi-final.

Leitrim struck for an early goal from Colm McLoughlin, but two goals from John Curran and one from John McGuinness helped the Rossies to lead by 3-3 to 1-2 at half-time.

Cian Smyth’s side only added three points in the second half, but despite Frankie McManus’ goal, Leitrim were unable to reel them in.