Owen Shiel, London, and Eoghan Collins, Mayo, in Allianz Hurling League action. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
Allianz Hurling League Division Three Final
Mayo 0-14 London 1-8
By Michael Commins at Manguard Park, Hawkfield
Mayo captured the Allianz Hurling League Division Three title with a gutsy second half display that saw them come from behind to defeat London at Manguard Park, Hawkfield.
London entered the match as favourites and seemed to justify those expectations in the early stages. Paul Kennedy and Enda Egan were especially to the fore with Conor Byrne, Owen Shiel, Padraig Muldoon and David Devine also putting in strong displays. While London created several scoring chances and the Mayo goal-line led a charmed existence, a series of squandered chances was to cost them dearly.
While Conor O’Carroll managed to get the ball over the Mayo line following a close in skirmish, it was three superb points by Paul Kennedy that gave the visitors most solace in the first half.
Mayo, playing against a strong wind, managed to stay in touch with brilliant points from Liam Lavin, Jason Coyne and Seán Kenny. They were fortunate to trail by just four points, 1-5 to 0-4 at the interval and can thank Oisín Greally, David Kenny, Conal Hession and Kieran McDermott for some splendid defensive play.
Mayo came surging back on the restart and showed true grit and real courage in reeling in London. Three majestic points from play by Shane Boland and others from Cormac Phillips and Eoin Delaney saw them storm ahead and they confined London to just three points in this half, all coming from the impressive David Devine.
London almost snatched a dramatic equaliser when a fine strike by Jack Morrissey grazed the outside of the Mayo post in the closing seconds. Mayo and London will both play in Division Two, next season but the cup is heading west to Mayo tonight.
Scorers for Mayo: Shane Boland 0-7 (0-4 frees), Liam Lavin 0-3, Jason Coyne, Eoin Delaney, Cormac Phillips, Sean Kenny 0-1 each.
Scorers for London: David Devine 0-4 (0-2 frees), Paul Kennedy 0-3, Conor O’Carroll 1-0, Sean Glynn 0-1 free.
Mayo: Bobby Douglas; Conor Murray, Oisín Greally, Conal Hession; Eoghan Collins, Kieran McDermott, David Kenny; Daniel Huane, Seán Kenny; Liam Lavin, Joseph Burke, Jason Coyne; Shane Boland, Cormac Phillips, Eoin Delaney.
Subs: Ryan Duffy for Coyne, Michael Farrell for Burke, Ryan Kilbane for Huane.
London: Mark Kilgannon; Padraig Muldoon, Conor Byrne, Stephen Whelan; Tom Millerick, Enda Egan, Adam Cunney; Niall Geoghegan, Paul Kennedy ; Owen Shiel, Conor O’Carroll (1-0), Seán Glynn (0-1); David Devine (0-4, 2f), Conor McCormack, Dylan Dawson.
Subs: Niall Fitzgerald for Cunney (inj), Jack Morrissey for Dawson, Tom Hanafin for Geoghegan, Donal Reale for McCormack, Donnacha Leahy for Shiel.
Referee: Peter Owens (Down).
