Soccer
Helen Johnson Cup and Interleague Match Reports
By Pat Quigley
23, Oct 2016 - 11:05

Helen Johnson under 18 Cup

Manulla and Claremorris played out the final of the Helen Johnson under 18 Cup on Wednesday night last on a beautiful night in Milebush stadium.

In what turned out to be a cracking encounter Claremorris started the brighter and a had a few half chances early on .First from the lively centre forward David Mc cracken who turned the manulla defender and shot low and hard but his shot was smartly saved by the Manulla keeper Cormac Henry. Claremorris were causing Manulla problems down the left wing and a good cross from Ronan Commons was met on the head by Brian Mc Guinness but his header went narrowly wide.

Manulla started to come into the game after the first 20 Minutes and had the best chance to go ahead when a great cross on the right win by Aaron Walsh was headed inches over the Bar by the on rushing Connor Beirne. Manulla almost scored again a few minutes later when the impressive Niall Barrett split the Claremorris defence with a pin point pass to the on rushing Jack Hart but his shot went narrowly wide of the post.

The second half saw more of the same with half chances from both sides. There was always going to be just a kick of a ball between the teams and with 11 minutes remaining Manulla had the chance to go ahead after a long ball from Jack Hall fell into the feet of Aaron Walsh .He had a one on one with the Claremorris Keeper but the Claremorris keeper stud tall and Aarons shot hit the side netting.

Almost directly Claremorris broke the other end and Man of the Match David Mc Cracken got in behind the manulla defence rounder the on rushing Manulla keeper an Cooley slotted the ball into the Manulla net. It turned out to be the winning goal as manulla had nothing left after a gallant effort.

A great advert for Mayo soccer. A cracking game played in the right spirit by 2 good teams.

Mayo V Galway U16 Inter League

Mayo played Galway in Milebush Park on Friday evening (21 Oct 2016) in the return game in this U16 League.The first game was won by Galway by a score of 3-2 in Terryland. Tonight it was Mayo's turn to win by a score of 6 -4, and go forward to the Semi-finals by an aggregate score of 8-7.

A feast of football and a feast of goals, well done to the boys from Mayo

Interleague Connaught final Mayo vs Galway

Score Mayo 6 Galway 4, Agg after 2nd game Mayo 8 Galway 7.

Mayo and Galway Schoolboys played out a thriller last Friday night (21 Oct 2016) in Milebush Park on a beautiful night for football Mayo came out on top of this two legged affair on a score-line of 6 goals to four.

The game was beautifully poised after the first leg with Galway leading by three goals to two after their home game in Terryland Park. Mayo started the game like a steam train and were a goal to nil up after Luke O'Reilly got on the end of a Jack O'Connor cross. Mayo were on top in all areas in the early stages of the game and went two nil up when the lively Jack O'Connor cut in from the left wing and scored with a powerful shot into the right hand corner. After twenty minutes Galway got a free on the edge of the box, the Galway midfielder struck the free kick underneath the ball into the bottom left hand corner despite Cormac Henry's best efforts in the Mayo goal. This goal sparked Galway into life and within three minutes the sides were level after a ball over the top was met by the Galway centre forward who made no mistake and finished of the opportunity. The mayo men were shell shocked and Galway took full advantage when they scored a header resulting from a corner kick. Just when everyone thought the action was over for the first half. With just six minutes remaining in the first half, a long ball from Cormac Henry was latched onto by Luke O'Reilly who rounded the keeper and drew the sides level.

Whatever was said at half time sparked the Mayo men into life and they came out in the second half all guns blazing, within five minutes they were back in front when Lee Traynor struck a wonderful half volley from the edge of the box. Mayo were back on top and 10 minutes later went 5-3 up when the hard working Darragh Byrne scored from close range.

Galway were struggling to get a hold of the game and the Mayo men were first to every ball. They took full advantage and went 6 goals to 3 up when Luke O'Reilly scored from the edge of the box.

Galway continued fighting and with 7 minutes remaining they pulled a goal back from a corner kick. For the remainder of the game Galway were on the attack knowing that one more goal would have put them into an All-Ireland Semi Final. In the end, the Mayo Under 16s managed to hold out and win their second Connaught title in two years. They will now go forward and play an All-Ireland semi final where they will play the winners of the Ulster champions in early November.

Players for Mayo: Cormac Henry, Luke Dawson, Liam Og Horkan, Cillian Redmond, Darragh Byrne, Lee Traynor, Ben Stowe, Jack O'Connor, Danny Loftus (Captain), Luke O'Reilly, Simon Walsh, Colm Langan, Ryan McMahon, Alan McHale, Ciaran Lyons, Dean Fadden, Shea Pye, Sean Holmes, Eoin Reaney, Anthony Barrett.

Mayo 12 Roscommon 1

Interleague U15 In Milebush Park.

Mayo under 15 had a comfortable win at home to Roscommon in round 2 of the Connaught inter league.

Roscommon started the brighter and went a goal up after 8 minutes when Cian Naughton got on the end of a jack Downes cross, this early goal seamed to
wake Mayo up and mayo were back on level terms within 5 minutes when Cillian Heany got his first of 4 goals for the mayo men . Mayo started to dominate in all areas and it was not long until they went ahead . Paddy Henighan got on the end of a Roscommon keepers rebound to level matters up.

Mayo went into over drive and 6 more goals before half time from Cillian Heany 3 paul Walsh , Adam Vahy and a wonder strike from Oban Ruall left the game over as a contest .

Mayo played out the second half in second gear and added a few more goals. Mayo has to hope Galway drop points to have any hope of progressing in this year's competition. It would not look likely on today's performance from Roscommon but you never know.