Football’s next generation of superstars take centre stage for the Croke Park curtain raiser as Mayo and Kildare go head-to-head for the Eirgrid U20 All-Ireland Football Championship.
Mayo were memorably champions at U21 two years ago but for the Lilywhites, it’s been 53 long years since their last win at the grade.
Throw-in is at 1.15pm.
TEAM NEWS: Michael Solon’s Mayo line out as named.
1. Patrick O’Malley (Westport)
2. Johnny Maughan (Castlebar Mitchels)
3. Brian O’Malley (Westport)
4. John Cunnane (Ballyhaunis)
5. Paul Lambert (Westport)
6. Cathal Horan (Kilmovee Shamrocks)
7. Oisin McLaughlin (Westport)
8. Evan O’Brien (Ballinrobe)
9. Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina Deel Rovers)
10. Nathan Moran (Hollymount/Carramore)
11. Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet, capt)
12. Tommy Conroy (The Neale)
13. Conor Diskin (Claremorris)
14. Ross Egan (Aghamore)
15. Colm Moran (Westport)
TEAM NEWS: One late change for Kildare — Jack Bambrick of Ardclough is in for Ruadhan Ó Giolláin at wing-back.
1. Aaron O’Neill (Carbury)
2. Mark Dempsey (Moorefield)
3. Mark Barrett (Ballymore Eustace)
4. DJ Earley (Monasterevan)
5. Darragh Ryan (Sarsfields)
6. Jason Gibbons (Kilcock)
19. Jack Bambrick (Ardclough)
8. Aaron Masterson (Moorefield, capt)
9. David Marnell (Sarsfields)
10. Stephen Comerford (Round Towers)
11. Padraig Nash (Monasterevan)
12. Tony Archbold (Celbridge)
13. Jimmy Hyland (Ballyteague)
14. Brian McLoughlin (Clane)
15. Paddy Woodgate (Raheens)
1 min — Kildare 0-1 Mayo 0-0: Kildare skipper Aaron Masterson curls over the opening score of the game inside 40 seconds.
5 mins — Mayo 0-2 Kildare 0-1: Ross Egan keeps his composure and slots a free from just outside the 20m line.
7 mins — GOAL FOR KILDARE! Kildare 1-2 Mayo 0-2 Brian McLoughlin shows great hands to pluck the ball from the air in a crowd of Mayo players, and then a cool head to slot it past Patrick O’Malley. First blood for the Lilywhites.
Brian McLoughlin with an early goal for Kildare. pic.twitter.com/JR9CXzjxzc
— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 5, 2018
8 mins — Kildare 1-3 Mayo 0-2: Jimmy Hyland quickly tacks on another for the Lilywhites, drawing his man out the right and slotting the point.
9 mins — Kildare 1-4 Mayo 0-2: And another in quick succession from Hyland who gets a run on Johnny Maughan, the Mayo corner-back, and kicks this one from the left.
10 mins — Mayo sub: Early change for Mayo and that’s Maughan’s last action — it looks like he may have strained something in pursuit of Hyland. Joe Dawson is on in his place.
11 mins — Kildare 1-4 Mayo 0-3: Well-taken score from Colm Moran; that’s his second of the day.
BLACK CARD! Conor Diskin bobbles the ball but does well to hold onto possession, but as he bursts through towards the Kildare goal, he’s dragged down by DJ Earley. It looks a clear-cut black card and he’s shown to the line.
13 mins — Kildare 1-4 Mayo 0-4: Ross Egan knocks over the free to make it a three-point game.
14 mins — Kildare 1-5 Mayo 0-4: Woodgate hits back immediately for Kildare. They’re working scoring chances without much difficulty when they get inside Mayo territory.
15 mins — Kildare 1-6 Mayo 0-5: Oisin McLaughlin kicks a fine, fine score for Mayo but Kildare’s response is swift, and this time it’s Tony Archbold doing the damage.
17 mins — Kildare 1-7 Mayo 0-5: Brian McLoughlin tacks on another to stretch Kildare’s advnatage to double scores.
18 mins — Kildare 1-9 Mayo 0-5: Kildare are scoring at will now. Masterson and Nash add two more in quick succession to stretch the gap to seven.
20 mins — Kildare 1-10 Mayo 0-6: Ross Egan converts a free — he really can’t afford to miss many at the moment — but Kildare respond quickly through Paddy Woodgate.
22 mins — GOAL FOR MAYO! Kildare 1-10 Mayo 1-7: That’s precisely the lift that Mayo needed — and it’s beautifully taken by Ryan O’Donoghue! He sells Mark Barrett with the dummy handpass, taking the full back out of the equation and then blasts past Aaron O’Neill in goal.
Wonderful goal for Mayo from Ryan O'Donoghue. pic.twitter.com/OD8XwVWdaY
— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 5, 2018
25 mins — Kildare 1-11 Mayo 1-7: Jimmy Hyland gets a yard on Cathal Horan and that’s enough space for him to get out in front, turn and shoot.
27 mins — Kildare 1-12 Mayo 1-8: Hyland repeats the trick almost identically, before Evan O’Brien keeps Mayo within four.
27 mins –Kildare 1-13 Mayo 1-8: Hyland again! Super stuff from the young man from Ballyteague.
30 mins — Kildare 1-13 Mayo 1-9: Kildare full-back Mark Barrett is whistled for a half-pull, half-trip. Egan knocks over the free.
30+1 mins – We’re playing two minutes of additional time at the end of the first half.
HALF TIME: Kildare 1-13 Mayo 1-9
31 mins — Kildare 1-13 Mayo 1-10: Conor Diskin opens the scoring in this second half for Mayo and gets them back to within three.
33 mins — Kildare 1-13 Mayo 1-11: Good work from Jordan Flynn and Ryan O’Donoghue, and Colm Moran finishes off with a point.
34 mins – Free from 30 metres out and a chance for Ross Egan to cut the gap to one. He’s out by the sideline on the Cusack Stand side and it drops short into Aaron O’Neill’s hands.
36 mins — Kildare 1-14 Mayo 1-11: Jimmy Hyland kicks his sixth point of the day. He’s been lethal every time he’s got an opportunity.
41 mins — Kildare 1-15 Mayo 1-11: Not quite as frantic and frenetic as the first half. Jimmy Hyland kicks a free to put Kildare four up, but Mayo are still live contenders here.
43 mins – Paddy Woodgate gets his shot off but can’t hit the target. Kildare are controlling midfield and that’ll give them a chance to turn the screw.
44 mins — Kildare 1-16 Mayo 1-11: Masterson wins the Mayo kickout with another great take. They swarm forward and again, Hyland is the last man with the ball in hand to take the point.
46 mins — Kildare 1-17 Mayo 1-11: Another Mayo kickout won by Kildare. They hit the post but as they recycle, win a free, and Hyland converts.
46 mins – Mayo keeper Patrick O’Malley has started to go short with his kickouts. It’s the only way as Mayo need to find away around Aaron Masterson in the Kildare midfield.
47 mins — BLACK CARD! Brian McLoughlin is sent to the line. That’s a blow for Kildare as he’s been very influential in their attack today.
Ten minutes to play here now and Kildare are looking like a team in command at the moment.
52 mins — Kildare 1-17 Mayo 1-12: Another Mayo wide — but fortunately it’s called back for an earlier advantage and Ross Egan points it to bring them a point closer.
55 mins – Jordan Flynn fashions a chance to cut Kildare’s lead to four but it’s wide. Mayo can’t afford to miss these chances.
56 mins — SAVE! Huge for Kildare — Aaron O’Neill might just have won an All-Ireland for them! Conor Diskin sets up Ross Egan, and Egan really should score, but O’Neill gets down to save and turn it behind for a 45. Magic.
57 mins — Kildare 1-17 Mayo 1-13: Paddy O’Malley kicks the 45. Kildare can’t afford to give Mayo any glimpse of hope here at the death.
57 mins — Kildare 1-17 Mayo 1-14: Egan tacks on another score for Mayo. Three points in it…
60 mins — Kildare 1-18 Mayo 1-14: Jimmy Hyland points and that roar you hear is from the Lilywhite fans. They’re four additional minutes away from being crowned All-Ireland champions.
Here is that vital save from Aaron O’Neill a few moments ago:
A terrific save from Kildare goalkeeper Aaron O'Neill. pic.twitter.com/NNsS8zvDzt
— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 5, 2018
60+4 mins — Kildare 1-18 Mayo 1-15: Time’s up… Mayo get a point but they need a goal…
OOOOOH! Mayo free from the edge of the box. Kildare are putting everyone on the line…
FULL TIME: Kildare 1-18 Mayo 1-16
Kildare are the Eirgrid U20 All-Ireland champions!
Mayo knew they needed the last score and Ryan O’Donoghue – I think – drilled it towards goal but it was tipped over for a point and that’s it! Kildare win!
Getting Jermaine Defoe and swapping him for Jozy Altidore is probably one of the best transfer deals ever.
Dozy Altidore
Altisnore
Dozy Antiscore
Take it from me, Defoe will not score against Spurs. Mainly due to the fact I have put money it!!
It will be great to see Defo back at WHL ..but wish it was for us …He would be great back up for Harry Kane ..While Soldado trys to find his boots.