Boylan strike snatches Mayo victory

MAYO 2-15 ROSCOMMON 1-17 CONNACHT JFC

A 65th-MINUTE goal from Ciarán Boylan, watched by his father and Meath football legend Seán, sealed Mayo’s passage into the semi-finals of the Connacht junior championship, where they will meet reigning champions Leitrim next week.

In what turned out to be a tactical masterstroke, Mayo manager Jarlath Trench deployed Matthew Flanagan as a fly-keeper in the closing stages with his team desperately chasing the game.

Brendan Carr starred for Trench’s side with seven points (six from frees).

Mayo led by three points at the break courtesy of a goal from Cormac Doohan in the 10th minute, but Roscommon rallied well in the second period.

Hubert Darcy and Finbar Cregg kept Roscommon ticking over and by the 58th minute the Rossies led by three points and appeared to be almost home and hosed.

However, a late rally from Mayo, capped by Boylan’s goal, ensured that Kevin McStay’s charges suffered heartbreak right at the death.

SCORERS – Mayo: B Carr 0-7 (6f); C Doohan 1-3; C Boylan 1-1; TJ Byrne 0-2; E McGrath, J Forkan 0-1 each.

Roscommon: H Darcy 0-6 (5f); F Cregg 0-5 (3f); S Dowd 1-0; C Cregg, C Lennon 0-2 each; C Hussey , R Timothy, 0-1 each. ROSCOMMON – J Featherstone; T McKenna, P Domican, F Lennon; C Hussey, U Harney, R Daly; C Daly, P Kelly; S Dowd, R Timothy, H Walsh; C Cregg, H Darcy, F Cregg. Subs: C Lennon for H Walsh (h-t), R Hughes for S Dowd (h-t), D Petit for T McKenna (43), A Lyons for U Harney (47), A Dowd for C Cregg (54), L Cregg for R Daly (58).

MAYO– C McGlynn; E McGrath, J O’Dowd, E Doran; J Dowd, B Leonard, C Burke; P Gallagher, S Walsh; J Kelly, C Bohan, B Carr; C Doohan, TJ Byrne, D Joyce. Subs: J Forkan for J Dowd (3, b/c), C Boylan for B Leonard (18, b/c), K Hopkins for C Bohan (39), S Lally for D Joyce (43), D Lydon for P Gallagher (52), M Flanagan for C McGlynn (60).

REF – S Hehir (Galway)