Roscommon prove far too strong for Mayo

Roscommon 4-10
Mayo 1-8

Roscommon powered their way past Mayo with an impressive win in this Connacht Under 21 championship preliminary round tie at MacHale Park, Castlebar last evening before a crowd of over 4,000.

Roscommon produced three quality goals in the first half, Mark Nally with the first on 17 minutes but the best by far was their second goal, superbly put away by Diarmuid Murtagh after 25 minutes who cut in from a tight angle before firing low to the bottom corner.

Murtagh was also involved in creating the third goal as he was fouled by the Mayo goalkeeper as he was about to pull the trigger and the resultant penalty was neatly tucked away by Donie Smith.

Evan Regan found the net for Mayo after just three minutes but Roscommon grew in strength from once they hit that first goal to lead 3-5 to 1-3 at the interval.

A goal two minutes after the restart from Donie Smith left Mayo chasing a ten-point lead and try as they might they could never come to terms with a much physically stronger and sharper visiting side.

ROSCOMMON: C Lavin; D Murray, S Mullooly, C Kenny; C Daly, F Kelly, F Sweeney; T O'Rourke, T Corcoran; C Kilcline (0-1), M Healy (0-1), E Smith (0-2); D Murtagh (1-5, 0-3f), M Nally (1-0), D Smith (2-0, 1-0 pen). Subs: R Davey for Sweeney (40), S Killoran for O Rourke (46), K Finn for Nally (49), J Earley for Kilcoyne (55), U Harney (0-1) for Corcoran (58).

MAYO: M Flanagan; K Lynch, L Kitterick, A Butler; C Burke S Coen, P O'Hora; P Prendergast, D O'Connor (0-1); G O'Donnell, M Plunkett, A Gallagher (0-1); J Shaughnessy (0-1), E Regan (1-3, 0-2f) , C O'Shea (0-1). Subs: E Collins (0-1) for O'Hora (23), S Conroy for Plunkett, A Jordan for Prendergast (both h-t), M Hall for Burke (40m BC), S Regan for Shaughnessey (55).
Referee: E O'Grady (Leitrim).