Connaught Minor Final 1996
24 Jul 1996
Rochford to the rescue as . . .
Mayo run the gauntlet against slicker Sligo outfit
Minor Report:
John Melvin
Mayo 0-10 - - - - - - - - Sligo 0-10
The quickness of thought saved Mayo from an embarrassing defeat in Sunday's Connaught minor final which saw Sligo come within a whisker of a famous victory.
Time appeared to be running out for Mayo as injury time ticked into it's second minute and Sligo looked on course to winning only their third ever title in this grade, the last back in 1968. Lyndon Reilly had the opportunity to level the match with a free well over forty yards. Team captain Stephen Rochford must have spoken a few words of wisdom to the Ballintubber lad as he stepped up for such a crucial free. Reilly, despite six points under his belt, was not having the most profitable of afternoons.
He took the right option when he delivered the ball to the unattended Rochford . Time and Sligo stood still as Rochford steadied himself and sent this match back to Sligo on Sunday next for a decision.
Sligo will be cursing themselves for dropping their guard at crucial stages in the second half, while Mayo will be thanking someone on a higher plane for giving them a reprieve just as the trapdoor appeared ready to be sprung.
There was a communal sigh of relief among Mayo supporters as they watched their team put up a dismal first half performance when they failed to score, and at times didn't even look like scoring.
Stronger, hungrier and just more determined, Sligo raked the midfield skies and sprayed the ball around with intensity and purpose, scattering the Mayo backs to the four winds while the Mayo forwards just couldn't get a look in at all against a very strong Sligo line of defence which tackled hard and policed well.
Sean Davey, a player who lived up to his big reputation and Kevin Giblin, a wonderful dead-ball specialist dictated the shots for Sligo while Keith Carty and Philip Gallagher were working like greyhounds in helping Sligo build that 0-7 lead with the breeze at their backs.
There minutes into the second half Mayo finally got of the mark when Reilly adjusted his sights to knock over a good free having missed a few potable shots earlier. Gradually Mayo began to turn the handle and it was Reilly with four frees, and one fifty, which had the deficit back to just three points 0-9 to 0-6.
The Sligo defence, which was marshalled so well in that first half, was forced into giving away frees with Niall Dunne, Ger Brady and Karl Boyle, who profited from the move to midfield, finally beginning to make an impression. And when Stephen Rochford and Paul Nevin left their half back berth to snatch two wonderful points, only a point separated the sides with eight minutes remaining.
However, it seemed Sligo had got the score they needed when Tom Brennan fisted a point five minutes from time and although Lyndon Reilly burst through to send the ball, which could easily have been in the net, screaming over the bar, it seemed time had run out for Mayo.
Fintan McHale did have an opportunity to tie matters while Neil Dunne was penalised for over-carrying.
It seemed Sligo's day was about to dawn.
That was until Reilly stepped up for the short free and Rochford, with the true qualities of a captain steadied the nerve to draw the game.
It was a draw Mayo certainly didn't deserve on their first half display but they must be given credit for coming back so well in the second half, and indeed, had they taken all their chances they could have well snatched it.
But Sligo certainly didn't deserve to lose and won't feel to aggrieved at having not taken it on this occasion. They have a solid side that can play football, football that was not always matched by Mayo who were inclined to take too much out for the ball while the midfield sector is going to cause problems for Mayo in the re-play.
However, Mayo might just approach that replay in a different frame of mind. They were fortunate to get the chance and it should provide the opportunity for them to prove their attack is not as bad as Sunday's game would suggest but they have to resolve that midfield crisis if Mayo are not to lose their fourth consecutive final.
On this occasion their half back line rescued a game that could have been lost but Sligo will once again wonder had they even a pinch of self-belief they could have settled the argument on the day.
Mayo: S. Campbell, G. Brady, C. Reilly, J. Feeney, S. Rochford (0-2); P. Nevin (0-1); G. Walsh, M. Fahey, E. Lavelle, G. Brady, N.Dunne, J. Mullen, D. Leonard (0-1); K. Boyle, L. Reilly (0-6- five frees). Subs: J. O'Malley for Fahey, F. McHale for Leonard, V. Cawley for Mullin.
Sligo: C. Gordon, S. King, N. McGuire, J. Hayes, T. Clancy, D. McGarty (0-2); K. Morley, S. Davey (0-1); K. Giblin (0-5); T. Brennan (0-1); K. Carty, P. Gallagher, E. Cawley (0-1); J. McPartland (0-1); K. Gilligan. Subs: B. Doyle for McGarty.
Ref: P. Brennan (Roscommon).
Connaught Telegraph - News - July 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sport - July 1996
