After a bright start that saw them hit 1-4 in the first ten minutes, while the home side only registered a single point, Donegal lost out to Mayo on a 4-8 to 2-8 score-line in sunny Ballina. The home side registered a goal within minutes of Donegal’s first score to keep in touch at a time when the Tir Conaill lads looked like they might run riot but three converted frees approaching half-time left just two between them at the break Donegal 1-7, Mayo 1-5.
It all went wrong for Donegal in the second half. Within a minute of the resumption Mayo had taken a lead they would not relinquish and added another goal to leave it 1-7 to 3-6 five minutes into the half. A black card for Peadar Mogan and two red cards left the result in little doubt by the end of the third quarter. Nevertheless, the Donegal boys did not see this and kept plugging away until the very end with manager Gary McDaid commenting afterwards that he was proud of the way his young side kept going when the odds were stacked against them.
Next up, the u-20s will be the curtain-raiser to the Connacht Senior championship match between Roscommon and Leitrim, when the face Roscommon in Dr Hyde Park on May 12th. Our picture shows Conor O’Donnell striking for Donegal’s first goal.
