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All-Ireland Minor C Hurling Regional Final Epic Finish Sees Mayo Through Mayo
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Forty-eight hours after the Mayo U-16 Hurlers had qualified for the All-Ireland U-16 C Final, their Minor counterparts repeated the feat with a gutsy and spirited finish to pip a strong Longford outfit at the death in Athleague. And it was one of the U-16 stars, Cathal Freeman, who converted a last gasp '65 in the dying seconds, which put the Mayo lads forward to play the Ulster Section winners in the coming weeks. Little separated the teams in the early exchanges as the sides were tied at 0-3 apiece after 15 minutes of play. Tooreen's Enda Kenny recorded two of Mayo's points from play while the other came from the stick of Fergal Lyons when a goal looked on. Mayo points from Sean Gavin, Colm Monahan and Jason Swords between the 23rd and 26th minutes were overshadowed in the 28th minute however when Longford full-forward Brian McGlynn converted to the net from close range to undo Mayo's earlier good work. Longford finished the half stronger through a point from Brendan Cassidy to go in at the break 1-4 to 0-6 in front. Mayo's plight was not helped on the resumption when in a matter of seconds, Longford hit Mayo for a second goal as sharpshooter McGlynn again got in behind the Mayo cover to net from close range. Mayo's response was almost immediate as captain Austin Lyons, in an attempt to convert a long-range point, found his effort deceive Longford goalkeeper Kevin Burke to find its way to the Longford net. Mayo's Colm Monahan and Longford's Neil Casey then exchanged points from free's before Mayo's second goal of the game came from the stick of hard working wing forward Sean Gavin. This goal left Mayo two points in front with just five minutes remaining. As the game drew to a conclusion and with the result very much in the balance, Longford's towering centre back Neil Casey converted two long range free's in the 57th and 59th minutes to draw his side back level. As time was almost up, Mayo were given the chance of a winner as Mayo won their first 65' of the game in the 62nd minute. Up stepped 15-year-old Cathal Freeman from his wing back position and he duly obliged as his effort sailed between the Longford posts. The resulting puck-out was greeted by all Mayo supporters and players alike as the full time whistle drew a halt to proceedings, as jubilant scenes erupted around the ground. Mayo had many fine performers on the day but none more so than defenders Brian Higgins, Cathal Freeman and Keith Staunton. Staunton in particular was a tower of strength at centre back for Mayo as he cleared his lines well throughout the encounter. Also effective for Mayo was their midfield duo of Austin Lyons and Eoin Madigan while in attack Sean Gavin, Enda Kenny, Jason Swords and Colm Monahan were constant threats to the Longford defence. In the end it came down to one puck of the ball to decide the outcome of the game, and the courage and nerve shown by young Cathal Freeman under immense pressure in the dying seconds of the game was the telling difference at the end.
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