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Connacht MFC Final/Roscommon 0-12 Mayo 0-9:  Roscommon yesterday ended a 14-year wait for a Connacht minor title at McHale Park…

Connacht MFC Final/Roscommon 0-12 Mayo 0-9: Roscommon yesterday ended a 14-year wait for a Connacht minor title at McHale Park, Castlebar, where they deservedly prevailed by three points.

In a high-quality and enthralling encounter, Mayo looked to have ended a three-year losing cycle in finals when they drew level five minutes into the second half and then went ahead through a point from Pierce Hanley, having trailed 0-5 to 0-6 at the break.

An excellent score from Conor Devaney soon had Roscommon on level terms, however.

Mayo then failed to score for 17 minutes as Roscommon went three points clear, Conor Devane with his second, centre back David Flynn with a fine score and Donal Shine hitting a long-range free.

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Tom Parson gave Mayo a glimmer of hope when he reduced the gap to two points with eight minutes remaining, but a magnificent point from the outstanding Roscommon forward Shine signalled the end of the Mayo challenge and a richly deserved title for Roscommon.

ROSCOMMON: M Miley; P Gleeson, M McLoughlin, S Ormsby; P Domican (0-1), D Flynn (0-1), C Garvey (0-1); D Keenan, K Higgins; C Devaney (0-2), J McKeague (0-1), D Shine (0-5, four frees): P Garvey, F Cregg (0-1), D O'Gara. Subs: C McHugh for K Higgins, A O'Hara for Garvey.

MAYO: A McCallig; L Tunney, F Burke, K McLoughlin; K Barrett, B Gibbons, A Murray; T Parsons (0-1), D Gallagher; S Prendergast, P Hanley (0-3), K Glynn (0-1); G O'Boyle (0-1), L Lydon, M Sweeney (0-3). Subs: D Keane for Murray, E Kenny for O'Boyle, B Gallagher for Glynn.

Referee: E O'Grady (Leitrim)