Connacht MFC Final: A goal two minutes into the second half by Galway's Ray Hogan proved the difference between the sides in a disappointing Connacht minor football final at Pearse Stadium yesterday.
In a scrappy game both defences were on top and there was very little free-flowing football over the hour. Mayo played against the breeze in the first half but raced into a four-point lead in the opening quarter with points from Henry Gaughan, and Aidan Kilcoyne (three).
Galway finished the half with good scores from substitute Aonghus Callanan, Cathal Blake, Cillian de Paor and Seán Armstrong (two)to lead at half-time, 0-5 to 0-4.
Two minutes into the second half Mayo goalkeeper Richard Byrne made a great save from de Paor but Mayo failed to clear and de Paor set up Ray Hogan for the crucial goal.
Mayo recovered well and took the lead with a long-range free from Kilcoyne.
Once again Galway finished the half well and three Armstrong frees and a fisted point by substitute Fiachra Breathnach sealed Galway's 22nd minor title.
GALWAY: B Donnellan; C McGrath, S Hanley, M Flannery; N Coyne, O Kelly, T Goggins; N Coleman, C Blake (0-1); J Meehan, R Hogan, (1-0), C de Paor, (0-1); S Hogan, S Armstrong (0-5, frees), J Canney. Subs: A Callanan (0-1) for Meehan (29 mins); S Breathnach (0-1) for S Hogan (half-time).
MAYO: R Byrne; T Howley, K Higgins, J Malone; S Ryder, D Sloyne, D Padden; JG Stenson (0-1), S O'Donnell; A Kilcoyne (0-7, six frees), H Gaughan (0-1), K Costello; N Ronaldson, M Conroy, C Boyle. Subs: E Tiernan for C Boyle (half-time); D Coleman for Conroy (39 mins); H McLoughlan for D Padden (52 mins); B Kelly for F O'Donnell (56 mins).
