By Charlie Collins
Donegal 0-14 v 2-10 Mayo
The first half sending off of Eoghan Walsh for two yellow cards in quick succession and goals by Mayo’s best two forwards Colm Enright and Ronan Fallon were the key factors in this exciting Under 20 B Championship clash, Enright’s two late points clinching the victory for the visitors.
It was Enright’s late goal in the first-half which got Mayo really back in this game after Donegal had dominated and deserved to be more than just the two points ahead at the break.
Four points from Brendan Gaffey, two from play, in the opening ten minutes got Donegal off to a good start in this clash at O’Donnell Park. Ronan Fallon finally opened Mayo’s account in the 13th minute but Gaffey converted two quick frees to bring his and Donegal’s total to six and a 0-06 to 0-01 lead after fifteen minutes.
Fallon replied with his second free but Mayo were guilty of some bad wides from both play and frees during this period also. Gaffey added another point from a 65 after going for goal from a close-in free which was deflected wide by a defender on the line, and Daire Tully added Donegal’s eight point.
But before half time Donegal were reduced to 14 players as Eoghan Walsh was sent off after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession, both for fouls on goalkeeper Brian O Donavan. This lifted Mayo and after Fallon converted another free, Colm Enright raced through to lob a fine goal and at half-time Donegal who had looked much the better team for most of the half were now only two points ahead, 0-08 to 1-03, down to 14 men and facing a tough second-half test.
Colm Enright opened the scoring for Mayo, their first point from play, but Aidan McKinney from play and a Gaffey free had Donegal three ahead, 0-10 to 1-04. But very quickly Enright replied with a point and then set up Ronan Fallon for a Mayo goal and they led for the first time as the extra man advantage began to tell, 2-05 to 0-10 with eighteen minutes left.
Brendan Gaffey brought them level from a free but Enright and Sean McGee points had Mayo ahead by two but the 14 men of Donegal fought back again with points from Daire Tully and Brendan Gaffey’s free, 0-13 to 2-07 and the tension rising.
James Byrne put Mayo ahead, Gaffey converted another free to level it, 0-14 to 2-08, but two Enright points cliched it for Mayo and Donegal’s gallant effort in the second-half was in vain, the two Mayo goals and the sending off certainly proving a key factors in the end.
Donegal: Joseph Patton, Joseph Duddy, Cormac Hanlon, J P Curran, Evan Mc Fadden, Conor Neely, Fionn Farren, Peter Kelly, Donal Farrelly, Brendan Caffey (0-11), Daire Tully (0-02) Aidan McKinney, Ciaran Porter, Johnny Lambe, Eoghan Walsh. Subs used: Callum Purves.
Mayo: Brian O Donavan, Conor Ketterick, Michael Foody, Anthony Rowland, Joe O Donnell, Matthew Connor, Aidan McGing, Sean McGee (0-01), Lucas Kenny, Fiachra Glavey, Eoghan Ketterick, Eoin Ryan, Colm Enwright (1-05), Ronan Fallon (1-03), James Byrne (0-01). Subs used: Mark Jordan, Joe O Donnell, Sean Geraghty, Jake Glavey, Sean Lynskey.
