Fitzgerald's injury-time point snatches title

Galway ... 1-9 Mayo ... 1-8 Galway full back Kieran Fitzgerald is unlikely to score a more important point than his injury-time effort which snatched the Connacht under-21 football title from Mayo in dramatic fashion at McHale Park last night.

In monsoon-like conditions the champions Mayo were always chasing the game until a dramatic twist six minutes from the end saw Robert Moran power home a penalty to tie the game at 1-7 each.

The same player flashed over a point a minute later to put Mayo in front for the first time.

However Galway, with the strength and leadership of five senior players and in particular Joe Bergin and Kieran Comer, held their nerve.

Matthew Clancy put the Tribesmen back on level terms before Fitzgerald scored that dramatic winner.

However, many in the crowd of approximately 1,000 felt that the game should not have been played because of the dangerous conditions.

It was Galway who made the better fist of things in the first half and led by 0-5 to 0-3 despite playing into a strong wind and driving rain.

Leaving Certificate student Michael Meehan, a brother of Declan and Tomás, suggested it was all over for Mayo when he crashed home a brilliant goal inside 10 seconds of the restart.

But Mayo battled back gamely. James Gill, omitted from the start with an injury, came in and balanced the books at midfield where Bergin and Comer proved a powerful partnership. But bravery was not enough on a night when the under-21s ensured that John O'Mahony's term with Galway will continue for at least a little longer.

GALWAY: D Morris; C Monaghan, K Fitzgerald (0-1), R Murray; K Brady, D Blake, M Comer; J Bergin (0-1), K Comer (0-3); D Burke, M Clancy (0-2), D Hanley; M Meehan (1-1), D O'Brien (0-1), R O'Hara. Sub: N Joyce for O'Hara.

MAYO: F Ruddy; C Cafferty, R Walsh, D Geraghty; P Kelly, P Clarke, C Moran; P Navan (0-1), P Doherty; P Harte, PJ Padden (0-1), E Casey; C Mortimer (0-3), A Dillon, R Moran (1-2). Subs: J Gill (0-1) for S Moran, D Munnelly for Harte, M Webb for Padden.

Referee: P Carney (Roscommon).