The Mayo Minors got their Connacht Championship campaign off to a winning start at James Stephens Park in Ballina this evening. Opponents Leitrim battled hard all the way but the home team pulled clear at the finish, winning by five points on a scoreline of 0-15 to 0-10.

Mayo enjoyed the advantage of a strong enough breeze in the first half and they were to the fore early on. Points from Adam Kelly and Oran Murphy got them going before Leitrim opened their account with a Jack Prior free.

The home side then added five points without reply. These scores, from Ryan O’Donnell, Oran Murphy, Ben Holmes and a superb two-pointer from Fionn Ó Cinnseala, put Tom Reilly’s team firmly in charge.

Leitrim rallied well before the break, however, with Jack Prior bagging their first from play on 26 minutes and then two converted frees cut the gap to just three at the break.

Conor Hession scampered clear to claim the opening score of the second half for our lads on the resumption. Two points from Leitrim’s Daire McCabe (one a free) cut the gap to two but we then reeled off three on the spin, one from play by Ben Holmes and two frees from Fionn Ó Cinnseala as we surged five clear.

Leitrim proved sticky opponents, though, and after we’d traded points – Fionn Ó Cinnseala once again getting ours – they cut the gap to two, with points from Conor Reynolds and a two-point free by Jack Moolick.

The visitors, backed by noisy support in the covered terrace, were now all-in in this contest and they could sense that the chance to snatch a win was there. It was then, however, that twice in quick succession they breached the 3v3 rule, handing tap-over frees to the home team both times.

Fionn Ó Cinnseala did the needful both times from the placed balls and he also bagged our final score, this one, from play to seal the win.

Next up for the Minors is a Round 3 meeting with Roscommon this night week at Dr Hyde Park. The young Rossies beat Galway this evening in the other Round 2 game so next week’s clash with them should provide a stern test for Tom Reilly’s charges.

Mayo: Thomas Williams; Conor Coghill, Cian May, Cahair Tighe; Declan Duffy, Barry Langan, Dara Flanagan; Adam Kelly (0-1), Ben Holmes (0-2); Ryan O’Donnell (0-1), Fionn Ó Cinnseala (0-8, three frees, one 2pt), Conor Hession (0-1); Fionn Conlon, Patrick Garvey, Oran Murphy (0-2). Subs: Ben Joyce for Kelly (blood), Fiacra Ó Cinnseala for Conlon, Tony Carey for Garvey, Conor Jordan for O’Donnell.

Our Final Whistle pod from this evening’s game in Ballina is up on Patreon now.