Passage got their Seandún Junior A Football Championship campaign off to a winning start, as they defeated last year’s beaten finalists Mayfield

Passage 2-14 (2-2-10)

Mayfield 1-13 (1-1-11)

Passage got their AOS Security Seandún Junior A Football Championship campaign off to a winning start, as they defeated last year’s beaten finalists Mayfield in their opener, before a sizeable attendance at Ballinlough on Friday night

Passage held the early initiative with a pair of two-pointers, but Mayfield took the lead for the first time in the contest, on the stroke of half-time. Mayfield restricted Passage to a single score in the third quarter, but Passage’s two goals, entering the final quarter, were to prove decisive.

Aided by a slight breeze in the opening half, Killian Murphy gave Passage the lead as he landed a two-pointer. 

This was cancelled out, as Mayfield responded with points from Paul Condon and Calvin O’Donovan.

Killian Murphy restored Passage’s lead with his second two-pointer, but Mayfield drew level with two points, including a free by Condon.

Dylan Barrett and Shane Burke each scored points for Passage, to give their side a lead of 0-6 to 0-4.

Eddie Scanlan put the sides back on level terms with a two-pointer from play, but Passage moved in front by the minimum, courtesy of a pointed free by Killian Murphy.

Paul Condon converted his second free for Mayfield, to level matters. Dan Lucey put Mayfield in the driving seat for the first time in the contest with a point from play.

This left Mayfield leading 0-8 to 0-7 at the interval.

Passage made the better start to the second half, but wayward shooting was proving to be costly. 

Mayfield net-minder Eoin Cusack was also pulling off some spectacular saves in this period.

Mayfield also had their moments, but Passage goalkeeper Callum Finnegan pulled off a point-blank save.

Mayfield began to have Passage pinned back and their first score came in the 37th minute, when Shane O’Donovan scored his first point.

Mayfield stretched the margin to five points a minute later when Ronan O’Keeffe set up Condon for the game’s opening goal.

Entering the final quarter, Passage had Mayfield on the back foot, and they got their first score of the second half, as Killian Murphy tagged on a point from play.

Passage regained the lead as Noah White came off the bench and promptly scored two goals in two minutes. 

This left Passage leading by 2-8 to 1-9.

Mayfield’s kick-outs were going astray in the final quarter, and this was to be their undoing as they were outscored by 0-6 to 0-4. Killian Murphy, Scott Coughlan and White each got two points for Passage.

Mayfield replied with two points by Shane O’Donovan. Ronan O’Keeffe also chipped in with one. Eoin O’Sullivan added a further point, three minutes into time added on.

Scorers for Passage: N White 2-2; K Murphy 0-8 (2 2pt, 0-1f); S Coughlan 0-2; D Barrett, S Burke 0-1 each.

Mayfield: P Condon 1-4 (0-2f); E Scanlan 0-2 (1 2pt); S O’Donovan 0-3; C O’Donovan, D Lucey, R O’Keeffe, E O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Passage: C Finnegan; N O’Connor, T Harrington, E Murphy; F Williams, D McCarthy, D Barrett; S Harrington, T O’Neill; S Burke, J Kind, K Murphy; L Harrington, S Coughlan, K Burke.

Sub: N White for L Harrington (45).

Mayfield: E Cusack; C Moynihan, E O’Sullivan, C O’Mahony; D Clogan, MJ Coffey, A Walsh; S O’Donovan, D Malone; C O’Donovan, E Scanlan, R O’Keffe; D Lucey, N Kelly, P Condon.

Subs: J Courtney for Malone (39), T Horgan for Condon (45, inj), J Gibson for Scanlan (50, inj).

Referee: Cormac Dineen (Douglas).