Sligo U17s come up short as Mayo dominate
SLIGO and Mayo’s U17s went to battle in MacHale Park, Castlebar, on Sunday ahead of the 2pm throw- in between their senior counterparts.
It was a game that hosts Mayo dominated from the beginning and they were cruising throughout.
The Martin McIntyre- managed side had three open goal chances in the first ten minutes alone, which they failed to convert. One hit the upright, while Sligo keeper Alan Davey saved another with another goal attempt sailing wide of the posts.
The Yeats men were relying mostly on Red Óg Murphy for all of their scores bar one, the Curry man showing his Mayo opponents his scoring ability.
It was the visitors who got on the scoreboard first through a Murphy free in the third minute but from the fifth to the 14th minute it was all Mayo.
They scored 1- 5 without reply as Sligo needed to halt their scoring spree, the scoreline reading 1- 6 to one point by 14 minutes.
The influential James Jennings hit the post in the 22nd minute for Mayo with a Gavin Gorman point for Sligo leaving the gap 1- 9 to six points in favour of Mayo at the break.
Pat Lambert, who played an integral role for his club Westport in their All- Ireland Intermediate success earlier this year was a thorn in Sligo’s side throughout.
The Westport player scored both of Mayo’s goals in a brilliant performance.
Also impressive for the hosts were Aaron McHale, Aaron McDonnell, Paul Towey and substitute Kuba Callaghan.
Red Óg Murphy was influential for Sligo however the visitors hadn’t enough to quell the Mayo dominance.
MAYO: J McNicholas, J Coyne, B McLeod, J Higgins, A McHale, R Brickenden, A McDonnell, P Goldrick, J Gallagher, P Lambert, E Rowlry, L Burke, J Jennings, T Morris, P Towey. Subs: K Callaghan for Rowley, L Tunney for Morris, C Gavin for Burke, D Trench for McHale, D Corden for Jennings, S Treacy.
SLIGO: A Davey, B O’Hanlon, J Stephenson, E Lyons, K Kennedy, E Hallinan, C Murray, M Meehan, G Gorman, S O’Hara, B Molloy, P Benson, C Stenson, R Óg Murphy, A Kilcullen. Subs: T Taheny for Murray, S Hailstones for Benson, H Gilvary for Stenson, S Carroll for Hallinan, K Cosgrove for Kilcullen.
REFEREE: B Healy ( Roscommon).