Minor footballers ready for Mayo meeting

Tue, 23rd July 2019

Dublin's minor footballers hope to relaunch their All-Ireland ambitions this Saturday when they face Connacht champions, Mayo, in their All-Ireland MFC quarter-final in Pearse Park, Longford (3.0).

The game is the first game in a triple-header being followed by the All-Ireland U20FC semi-final between Dublin and Galway (5.0) and then the All-Ireland MFC quarter-final between Galway and Kildare (7.0).

The Dubs were beaten by Kildare, 2-21 to 1-19, last time out in the Leinster MFC final which went to extra-time in Páirc Tailteann, Navan.

However, Dublin's hopes have been hit on the double by the injuries suffered that day to Ben Millist and Senan Forker who have both been ruled out of Saturday's encounter.

Full-back Millist and centre-back/midfielder Senan Forker have been two of Dublin's best performers to date.

Dublin enjoyed victories over Meath (4-10 to 2-10, Parnell Park), Wexford (3-12 to 1-10, Bellefield, Enniscorthy), and Offaly (2-13 to 0-13, O'Connor Park, Tullamore) to top Group 2 in the Leinster MFC to advance to the quarter-final.

They overcame Wicklow (0-20 to 1-9, Joule Park, Aughrim) in their provincial quarter-final before defeating Westmeath (0-18 to 1-11, Cusack Park, Mullingar) in their semi-final before losing to the Lilywhites in the provincial decider.

In the Connacht championship all five counties played off in a round-robin group at the end of which Galway, with three wins from four games (lost to Roscommon), finished on top and progressed to their provincial final.

Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon all finished on four league points after winning two and losing two of their games so it went down to scoring difference with Mayo (+27) and Sligo (+16) advancing to a semi-final ahead of Roscommon (+1).

After losing to both Sligo (0-12 to 0-16) and Galway (0-11 to 2-12) in the round-robin section Mayo overturned both in the knockout stages.

Mayo, who are managed by Tomás Morley who played senior football with St Jude's during his time as a teacher in Dublin, defeated Sligo in their Connacht semi-final (5-7 to 1-10) and then Galway (1-18 to 1-17) in their provincial decider.