Roscommon produced a steely performance to draw with Mayo on the opening night of the Connacht U20 championship.
Mayo landed three quick first-half goals, but inspired by Shane McGinley (1-8) including five frees and one 45 saw Roscommon grab a deserved draw.
Mayo led 3-3 to 1-6 at half-time after a goal fest in the first-half.
Niall Hurley’s eighth minute goal adding to Darragh Beirne’s opening goal giving Mayo a 1-1 to no score lead. Hurley added another point three minutes later.
Shane McGinley opened the hosts scoring immediately with a point. McGinley rattled the net two minutes later, making it a one point game.
The Mayo reaction was two goals in three minutes through Finbarr McLoughlin and a second Beirne goal.
Two McGinley frees brought it back to a five point game. Hurley and Bobby Nugent exchanged points from play making it 3-3 to 1-4.
Nugent from play and a McGinley 45’ saw Mayo lead 3-3 to 1-6 at half-time.
Shane McGinley’s 1st half goal. #RosGAA pic.twitter.com/ekoHeQ1GGf
— Roscommon GAA (@RoscommonGAA) March 20, 2024
Beirne picked-up where he left off two minutes after the restart with a free. McGinley cancelled the point out his own free moments later.
David Dolan sent over a Mayo 45’ with Ryan Conlon responding from play. Oisin Cronin pushed it out to a four point game before another McGinley free brought it back to three points.
Roscommon comeback
Cronin and Nugent exchanged scores with 10 minutes to go as Mayo led 3-7 to 1-10. Another McGinley free made it a two point game on 52 minutes.
Ryan Conlon pulled it back to a one point game with three minutes remaining. Shane McGinley levelled the game up with a free.
Both sides had the chance to win it late-on, but a draw was the fair result on the night. Roscommon 1-13 Mayo 3-7
Roscommon play their second game in the Connacht U20 championship away to Sligo on Wednesday March 27th
