Medtronic failed in their quest for four-in-a-row Connacht titles when they were defeated by Mayo Teachers 2-12 to 2-10 in the final played in the Connacht Centre Of Excellence during the week.
An understrength Medtronic side were outplayed for large portions of the match, but with a bit more accuracy they may have forced extra time with their late rally.
Two first-half goals from Dylan Canney had Medtronic in control early, but the Teachers hit back with two goals to finish the half on top.
Medtronic started brightly with Joe Canny and Cian Mimnagh combining to set up Dylan Canney for the opening score, and when Joe Canney was fouled, Mimnagh increased their lead on six minutes.
The impressive Michael Moyles opened the Teachers' account a minute later before they struck for the opening goal when Pat Joe Gaughan's side footed a cross into the back of the net. More scores from Alan Plunkett and Michael Moyles increased their advantage to four after 13 minutes.
However Medtronic replied immediately with two Dylan Canney goals within a minute - the first after a quick move with Cian Mimnagh passing the ball across the goalmouth for Dylan to palm home. Then from the kick-out Mimnagh and Joe Canney combined for Dylan Canney to palm home his second goal. The Canneys combined again for Joe to fire over, leaving Medtronic three clear.
Still the Teachers came back, scoring 1-5 without reply, and although Conor Walsh and Dermot Costello reduced the arrears to two, Pat Joe Gaughan scored a second Teachers' second goal. Two more scores from Gaughan, Alan Plunkett and Dermot Ginty had the Mayo men in control at the interval, 2-8 2-03.
John Reilly quickly stretched the Teachers lead as Medtronic battled hard to get back into the contest. Enda Mullarkey and Barry Donovan combined to set up Oisin Mannion for a point on 36 minutes. Two minutes later a fine individual score from Enda Mullarkey reduced the arrears further, and Cian Mimnagh pointed free before a Sean Gaughan point kept the Teachers four points clear.
Damien Higgins, after good work from Enda Mullarkey and Damien Joyce, brought the gap back to three with nine minutes remaining, but then Medtronic squandered a number of chances to get back into the match.
When Kevin Shannon pointed with four minutes remaining, the Teachers looked out of sight, but from a brilliant intercept, Dylan Canny's goal-bound effort just went over. Points from Dylan Canney and Michael McNamara left the minimum between the sides in injury time, but Alan Plunkett fired over the insurance score.
Medtronic: K Kilroy, D McHugh, K Doohar, C Dolan, A McHugh, E Mullarkey (0-1 ), G Cafferty, D Higgin (0-1 ), B Donovan, O Mannion (0-1 ), J Canney (0-1 ), K Murphy, D Canney (2-3 ), C Mimnagh (0-2, 2f ), S Donnellan. Subs: D Joyce, M McNamara (0-1 ), T Wrynne.
Referee: G. O Conamha (Roscommon ).
