Donegal Youth League’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the FAI Youth Inter-League competition were torn apart by Mayo this afternoon.
Donegal Youth League 0 Mayo 3
By Charlie Collins at The Diamond Park
Jimmy McCardle, Cormac Caulfield and Dylan Walker hit the goals for Mayo at the Diamond Park as Eamonn McConigley’s men bow out.
Mayo took the lead in the 17th minute when Ben Eden set up Walker. From the edge of the area, his shot beat Donegal ‘keeper Oisin Cannon, only to rebound back off the post.
However, McCardle reacted quickest and fired home, in spite of the best endeavours of Jack Dwyer on the line.
Early in the game, Joel Gorman called Mayo goalkeeper Brian McMahon into action from a free, but the visiting netminder was alert to save.
Donegal went close in the 27th minute. Stephen McFadden did the spadework for Conor O’Donnell, whose well-timed run was only halted at the last moment by Oran Gallagher.
Cannon denied Liam Durkan and Mayo had a slender advantage at the break.
Disaster struck for Donegal 14 minutes into the second half. Cannon was dispossessed by McCardle, whose resulting shot was handled by Oran Winston.
The Donegal defender was sent off and Caulfield hammered home from the penalty.
Nineteen minutes from time, Walker raced through and coolly slotted beyond Cannon and any doubts were well and truly put to bed.
Sub Michael O’Hora hit the post with a cracking drive from 20 yards, but Mayo were already well on their way to the last eight.
Donegal Youth League: Oisin Cannon, Jack Dwyer, Conor Coll , Matthew McLaughlin, Oran Winston, Conor Friel, Eoin Logue, Conor O’Donnell, Stephen McFadden, Joel Gorman, Luke McCarry. Subs: Noel Donnelly for McCarry (half-time), Nathan Plumb for O’Donnell (56), James Kernan for Friel (68), Dee Murray for Logue (73), Caolán McConnell for Dwyer (75).
Mayo: Brian McMahon, James Cunningham, Michael Fahy, Oran Gallagher, Ruairi Henry, Cillian Redmond, Ben Edeh, Cormac Caufield, Jimmy McCardle, Liam Durkan, Dylan Walker. Subs: Jordan Waldron for Caufield (68), Evan Reape for Walker (73), Thomas Gillespie for McCardle (75), Sean Murphy and Michael O’Hora for Fahy and Eden (both 78).
Referee: Marty McGarrigle.
