Sligo’s U17 hurlers regained the Michael Feery trophy that they last won in 2018 when a late Robert O’Kelly Lynch point was enough to edge out Mayo in a thrilling finale at Markievicz Park on Saturday afternoon.
It was no less that the Yeats county men deserved having led for most of the game but it was all in the mix when Mayo brought things level with ten minutes to go.
Sligo started brightly with full forward Donnacha O’Brien opening the scoring but they were set back on their heels shortly afterwards when Mayo were awarded a penalty which they converted successfully to go 1-0 to 0-1 ahead.
The home side were undeterred however and hit back with 1-3 unanswered by the 20th minute - two Ciaran Keenan pointed frees, a point for Patrick Walsh and a Donnacha O’Brien goal. Keenan added a third free and Adam Rolston added two from play to send Sligo into the break four points up 1-7 to 1-3.
Mayo made a strong start to the second half with a goal that made it a one point game but points by Walsh and Keenan kept Sligo ahead.
Scores though were hard to come by and Mayo pulled it back to level pegging 1-9 to 2-6 with ten minutes to do.
The sides added one each before Robert O’Kelly Lynch added the winning score with minutes to go to finish 1-11 to 2-7 and lift Corn Michael Feery as Champions.
Sligo: Thomas Hargadon, Eoghan Durkan, Conor White, Corey O'Dowd, Diarmaid Dunleavy, Neil Kelly, Michael Costigan, Michael Carroll, Conor Lang, Patrick Walsh (0-2), Robert O'Kelly Lynch (0-1), Jack Feeney, Adam Rolston (0-3), Ciarán Keenan (0-4f), Donnchadh O'Brien (1-1)
Subs used:Thomas Sheridan, Oisín Henessy, Joseph Mc Caughey, Matthew Percy .
Panel players: Cathal Hughes, Oisín Whelan, Marc Gray, Shane O'Loughlin, Cormac Vereker, Jack Mc Daniel, Rory Connellan, Harry Cawley, Shane Mc Donagh, Daniel Tiernan, Adam Kearns, Tadhg Doggett, Thomas Kinane.
Mayo: Stephen Reilly, Conor Ketterick, Rory Deane, Tom Lambert, Sean Keadin, Ryan Finn, Jack Glavey, Sean Mc Ghee, Matthew Connor, Colin Duffy, Colm Enright (0-4f), Conor Donaldson, Cathal Guilfoyle (0-2), Aidan Cunningham (2-1), Sean Lynskey.
Subs used: Anthony Rowland, Lee Hennigan
Panel players: Dylan Groarke, Eoin Healy, Oisín Mulroy, Eoin Conway, Tomas O'Reilly, Evan Furlong, Rian Haran, Sean Duffy, Damien Early, Charlie Kelly, Michael Foody.