O'Toole score books Mayo's final spot

Mayo's hurlers clinched a place in the All-Ireland Under-21 ‘B’ final following a narrow victory over Roscommon in this Connacht derby at a wet and windy MacHale Park in Castlebar on Saturday. (Stock photo)

Independent.ie Newsdesk Twitter Email

August 22 2016 02:30 AM

Mayo's hurlers clinched a place in the All-Ireland Under-21 'B' final following a narrow victory over Roscommon in this Connacht derby at a wet and windy MacHale Park in Castlebar on Saturday.

The sides had already met in the Connacht final, which Mayo won with a bit to spare, but there was nothing between the sides in this close contest as a late point from Zac O'Toole, three minutes from time, swung it for the home side.

Star of the show was Mayo's Fergal Boland, who hit eight points, including three gems from play, and it was his point which levelled the game, four minutes from time, before O'Toole struck for the winner.

A second Roscommon goal from Gearoid Keenan shot Roscommon into the lead with three minutes of normal time left, but Boland levelled before the winner came from O'Toole.

A long-range free from Dylan Keaveney, deep in injury-time, edged Roscommon into a one-point lead at the break - 1-4 to 0-6.

Mayo had built up an early three-point lead thanks to some fine scores from Boland, David Kenny and Corey Scahill but Jason Martin booted the ball to the net to put Roscommon ahead on 23 minutes.

Roscommon's second goal saw them hit the front but Mayo's superb finishing power eventually turned the tide.

SCORERS - Mayo: F Boland 0-8 (5f), S Mulroy, D Kenny, C Scahill, H Harrisson, Z O'Toole 0-1 each. Roscommon: J Martin 1-1, D Keaveney 0-4 (4f), G Keenan 1-0, C Mulry 0-1.

MAYO - M Parsons; C Murphy, M Phillips, J Lyons; D Harrisson D Kenny, C Murray; S Mulroy, J Gallagher; F Boland, C Scahill, Z O'Toole; S Forde, A Abbasi, J Coyne. Subs: N Robinson for Parsons (inj, h-t), D Gallagher for Lyons (h-t), S Healy for Forde (40).

ROSCOMMON - K Kelly; T Treacy, M Beirne, K Crehan; W Boyle, J Fitzmaurice, G Egan; G Keenan, C Mahony; E Cogivan, D Keaveney, T Doyle; C Mulry, J Martin, O Hession, A Finnerty for O Hession (50). Subs: B Lawlor for Mahony (39). L Clogher for Creshan (49).

REF- R McGann (Clare).