Donegal lift the spirits with victory over Mayo in Leo Murphy Cup

Donegal produced their first victory in the Leo Murphy Cup (Under-20 Tournament), when they got the better of Mayo at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence.

Mayo 1-11 Donegal 1-13

The home side only led for two minutes of this intriguing battle against a lively Donegal outfit who played with dash and drive from first whistle to last.

That said, the result was irrelevant to Mayo who had already qualified for next weekend’s final against Meath, and maybe that state of comfort impacted their performance. Donegal had gone down to Derry and Sligo in their opening fixtures.

Two superb saves from BDavid Dolan made sure that Mayo went to the interval with only a single-point deficit, 0-8 to 0-7. Points from James Maheady, Cian McHale, Cathal Corless, Dara Hurley, Ciaran Boland and accurate free-taker Jack Fallon accounted for Mayo’s scores, but hesitancy in attack did them no favours.

At the other end, Donegal were causing a lot of problems and attackers Conor O’Neill, Cian Rooney and Blake McGarvey looked dangerous when the ball came their way. Rooney was through on goal on two occasions only to be denied by Dolan and the ‘keeper pulled off another great save four minutes into the second half to deny McGarvey.

Fallon balanced the scores after 40 minutes but five minutes later a poor kick-out from Dolan was finished to the net by Rooney and the visitors were buzzing.

However, Mayo roused themselves and a superb goal from Dara Hurley — after fine play from Fenton Kelly and Conal Dawson — had the game level going down the home straight.

Jack Fallon kicked the hosts in front for the first time six minutes from the end, but the advantage was short lived. Donegal ruled the roost for the closing minutes and kicked three points without reply to deservedly win the game. 

Mayo: D Dolan; B Collins, J Ferguson, D Joyce; C Boland (0-1), S Morahan, P Gilmore; J Fallon (0-6, 6fS), C Dawson; D Hurley (1-1), C Corless (0-1), F Kelly; C McHale (0-1), J Maheady (0-1, mark), A Beirne.
Subs used: R Fadden for Beirne, F McLaughlin for McHale, A Battle for Boland, O Cronin for Fallon, J O’Reilly for Morahan.

Donegal: A Cullen; S Doherty, F Doherty, D Gallagher; C McMenamin (0-1), K Murray, K McGee; O Caulfield, S Ward (0-2, 1f); L McGranahan (0-1), C O’Neill (0-4, 3fs), C Rooney (1-2, 2fs); C Mulligan (0-1), K Lynch, B McGarvey (0-2).
Subs used: C Reid for McGranahan, D Ó Fearraigh for Gallagher.