Connacht U21B Hurling semi-final

Mayo 1-13 Sligo 2-8

Brendan Geraghty in Markievicz Park

Sligo hosted Mayo hurlers for the semi-final of the Connacht U21B Championship in Markievicz Park on Wednesday evening last and almost upset the odds putting in a very impressive performance against the visitors. With ideal weather conditions and the pitch in very good condition the stage was set for a good game of hurling.

Mayo made a lot of the early running with points from Captain Sean Regan and Tooreen's Fergal Boland before the Sligo lads got to the pitch of the game with 2 pointed frees from midfielder Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch. Sligo forward Kevin Gilmartin was causing a lot of problems for the Mayo defence with his strong running on goal which resulted in a penalty mid-way through the first-half which Gary Cadden duly despatched to the back of the net. Both teams then traded points up to the half-time whistle to leave the score-line even on 1-4 for Sligo to 0-7 for Mayo.

Upon resumption in the second-half things remained tight with Mayo notching up points from Fergal and Shane Boland and Regan to gain an upper-hand. When Mayo corner-forward Robert Comer goaled for the visitors it looked like they would run out easy winners but a determined Sligo had other ideas. Sligo corner-forward Kevin Gilmartin flicked the ball to the Mayo net following a long clearance from full-back Cathal Murphy which brought Sligo right back into contention. From there until the final whistle it was nip and tuck all the way with Sligo pressing hard for a winning score but two late points from Regan and Shane Boland sealed victory for the visitors on a final score-line of Sligo 2-8 to Mayo 1-13.

Mayo Manager Christy Phillips and his backroom team of Austin Kenny and Donal O'Brien were very relieved to hear the final whistle but also know that a repeat of this performance will not be good enough against current All Ireland Champions Roscommon in the Connacht final next week. The best performers for Mayo on the night were Kieran Kiely, Damien Kedian, Sean Regan, Robert Comer, Fergal and Shane Boland.

Mayo: Barry Lane, Daniel Cunnane, Kieran Kiely, Cathal Walsh, Dylan Lynskey, Damien Kedian, Kevin Keena, Nathan O'Malley, Eoin Collins, Fergal Boland (0-3), Art O'Suilleabhain (0-1), Pat Kiely, Shane Boland (0-2), Sean Regan (0-6, 0-3f, 0-1 sideline), and Robert Comer (1-1). Subs used Ciaran Finn, Paul O'Grady, Zak O'Toole and Corey Scahill.

Next up for Mayo; Connacht U21B Hurling Final, Mayo vs. Roscommon, Thursday 15th August at 7.30 pm in Elvery's MacHale Park, Castlebar. Tweet

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