Roscommon overcome Mayo in extra time thriller to claim Connacht U20 title

When the final whistle sounded, it was just like three days ago all over again as Roscommon’s players and supporters erupted in celebration.

Wed, 29 Apr, 2026 - 21:50

Kevin Egan, Tuam Stadium

ROSCOMMON 5-16 (5-2-12) MAYO 2-22 (2-1-20) (After extra-time)

It was nothing like three days ago, in that there won’t be a single word of criticism about anyone involved with Mayo U-20 football after they played their part in a truly sensational Connacht final.

But when the final whistle sounded, it was just like three days ago all over again as Roscommon’s players and supporters erupted in celebration, while Mayo’s heartbreak was palpable. In a historic stadium where the ghosts of famous games gone by watch over every ball that’s kicked, this one will haunt Mayo for years to come.

There were four points between the teams when they met in the group stages and it looked like Mayo might double or treble that margin as they played with greater fluency and style in the opening half, with more than a sprinkling of Kobe McDonald magic on top of it all.

After Roscommon opened the scoring, he glided through the defence and easily picked out the top corner of the net for a Mayo goal, and throughout the first half the Mayo attack was sharp and potent. Tom Lydon finished with precision including a floated shot over Patrick Gaynor for a goal, while Darragh Beirne was no less influential in the other corner, albeit with a few more mistakes mixed in.

John Curran’s goal pulled Roscommon back to within five approaching half-time, but two misses before the interval left it 2-7 to 1-5.

Just like last Sunday, Roscommon wasted no time in eroding that advantage with four points in five minutes, then a two-point free from Eoghan Carthy that nudged them into the lead.

On Sunday, a similar surge led to a Mayo collapse. Here, Lydon, McDonald and team captain Colm Lynch came up with the big plays to get them back into the lead, and the ship was much steadier.

Their scores came easier, but Roscommon had the goal threat and every time they were in trouble, they found the net. A gifted handpass enabled substitute Ruairí Kilcline to roll the ball into an empty net, and John McGuinness was next to rattle the twine, albeit that lead was short lived as Kobe hit back with a sublime double.

Mayo were the ones with their noses in front going into stoppage time and they turned over three consecutive Roscommon possessions but kept giving the ball straight back. Eventually it was wing back Keelan Kelly who took responsibility for the shot and he split the posts, forcing extra time.

Again, Mayo took the lead, again Roscommon netted, this time through Kevin Hester, though Mayo still weren’t done with Kobe, Colm Lynch and Dylan Flynn on the mark. Just as he had done in the semi-final against Galway however, Ruairí Kilcline’s introduction as a monstrous target on the edge of the square turned the game.

With the spectre of penalties looming large in the fading light as just three minutes of extra-time remained, he found himself one-on-one on the 20m line, he used his huge frame to hold off the Mayo defender and with advantage in his favour, his perfect low finish brought a sensational contest to a close.

SCORERS FOR ROSCOMMON: R Kilcline 2-0, J Curran 1-2, J McGuinness 1-1, E Carthy 0-4 (1tp, 1tpf), K Hester 1-0, D Casey 0-3 (1f), N Heneghan 0-2 (1m), P Gaynor 0-1 (1 ’45), C O’Carroll (1f), C Murray, K Kelly 0-1 each.

SCORERS FOR MAYO: K McDonald 1-7 (1tp), T Lydon 1-6, D Beirne 0-3, J Moyles, C Lynch 0-2 each, D Flynn, C Walsh 0-1 each.

ROSCOMMON: P Gaynor; D O'Higgins, N Berzins, M Gillooly; C Grogan, K Kelly, E Carthy; N Heneghan, C Enright; C McKeon, J McGuinness, E Collins; J Curran, C O'Carroll, D Casey.

Subs: C Murray for Grogan (half-time), D Kennedy for McKeon (half-time), R Kilcline for Casey (43), D Higgins for Enright (49), K Hester for Curran (54), L Finneran for O’Higgins (full-time), S Tighe for O’Carroll (full-time), Casey for Collins (73), Enright for Carthy (75), McKeon for McGuinness (76).

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

Subs: C Walsh for Holmes (43), T Tuffy for Moyles (49), C Jordan for Staunton (55), M Noonan for Mortimer (full-time), D Neary for Quinn (full-time), Y Coghill for Lavelle (67), B Holmes for Lydon (75), J Carey for Flynn (76).

REFEREE: Thomas Murphy (Galway).