Goals in the last 10 minutes from Eoghan Smith and Jack Lavin set up Sligo’s first-ever U-20 title
FORTUNE favours the brave – just look at how brave and fortunate the Sligo U-20 Gaelic footballers were when making history in last Wednesday’s provincial Eirgrid Connacht GAA U-20 Football Championship final.
Five points down to Mayo, 1-11 to 2-3, with 52 minutes played and a player less because of corner-back Shane Molloy’s red card, Sligo’s dream appeared crushed at Markievicz Park. But this group is made of stern stuff – witness how they stuck at it in their gutsy semi-final defeat of holders Roscommon – and an amazing late revival, with 2-1 scored in the last six minutes of normal time, delivered a first-ever Connacht U-20 title for Sligo. The goals that changed history were scored by Eoghan Smith and team captain Jack Lavin.
With the county never having won the provincial competition when the age limit was U-21, with the competition first introduced in 1964, this truly was an historic achievement. Essentially, this final – Sligo’s 10th at this level and Mayo’s 37th – was two parts, what happened up to the 52nd minute and then was gloriously unfolded from the 54th minute onwards.
Sligo were initially inspired by lively forward Jack Davitt’s brace of firsthalf goals, scores that helped them lead by a point at half-time, 2-3 to 0-8, and helped the St Molaise Gaels player get the Connacht GAA Player of the Match gong.
But 24 scoreless second-half minutes and Mayo eventually slipping in front – they went ahead for the first time, 0-10 to 2-3, with 43 minutes on the clock – left Sligo fans almost certain that this was yet another one of those absolutely awful days.
Mayo stretching their lead via a freakish goal – full-forward Paddy Heneghan’s hooked shot, looking for all the world like a point attempt gone wrong, somehow found a way into the net – rubbed salt into Sligo’s wounds. Then the tide turned, miraculously and dramatically. A Sligo free into Mayo’s goalmouth dropped short, the ball broke to Eoghan Smith, who rifled home the hosts’ third goal.
Smith had been largely quiet up to this moment – and he hadn’t scored either – which contrasted to his marvellous seven-point haul against Roscommon at the same venue a week previously.
The Drumcliffe-Rosses Point forward then converted a free and Sligo were only a point behind, 1-11 to 3-4. Mayo, who started without the injured Sam Callinan, a Mayo senior player, made it a twopoint game when substitute
Niall Treacy pointed.
CONNACHT WINNERS: Members of the Sligo U-20 panel and the JJ Fahy Cup.
Treacy’s score was actually a goal effort blazed too high, as was the case for their 10th point when Rory Morrin scored.
There was still time for Sligo as the game’s biggest twist arrived. Possession was carefully moved from one side of the field to the other through the hands of Luke Casserly, Canice Mulligan, Marc McGowan and Conor Johnston. Possession came to centre-back Jack Lavin who, around 45 metres out on the left wing, launched an almighty kick towards the Mayo goal. The huge shot tailed off, with the ball dropping fiercely into the mixer. Mayo goalkeeper Brian O’Flaherty
PICTURES AND REACTION FROM THE U-20 THRILLER AT MARKIEVICZ PARK: