HOLDERS Mayo began their bid for a fourth Connacht under-21 football title in a row by defeating fancied Galway by a point in the quarter-final at Charlestown last Saturday.

A superb goal from Mickey Sweeney after 22 minutes helped Mayo lead 1-4 to 0-4 at the interval. Jason Doherty’s vital goal after 43 minutes secured a 2-6 to 0-11 win.

In the National Football League, Antrim are top of Division Four on scoring difference following a 12-point win over Carlow at Dr Cullen Park. The visitors’ full forward Mark Dougan scored 3-1 from play, while right full forward Conor John McGourty hit 1-4. Antrim led 3-7 to 0-8 at the interval. Carlow midfielder John Murphy scored his side’s goal.

In Ennis, corner forward David Tubridy scored 2-6 as Clare hammered Kilkenny. And at Ruislip on Saturday, London gained their first league points with a 0-9 to 0-8 win over Waterford.

Mayo 2-6(M Sweeney 1-0, J Doherty 1-0, D Vaughan, K McLoughlin, T Parsons, A O'Shea, F Burke, C Freeman 0-1 each), Galway 0-11(M Martin 0-3, S Kavanagh 0-2, F Walsh 0-2, P Conroy, M O'Brien, C Healy, J Ryan, E Concannon 0-1 each).

Antrim 4-14(M Dougan 3-1, CJ McGourty 1-4, two frees, T McCann 0-2, J Crozier, M McCann, A Gallagher, J Loughrey, K McQuillan, M Pollard, D Edwards 0-1 each), Carlow 1-11(J Murphy 1-1, 1-0 pen, D Hayden 0-2, two frees, M Carpenter 0-2, B Murphy 0-2, E McCormack 0-2, one 45, D Phelan 0-1, R Walker 0-1).

Clare 5-21(D Tubridy 2-6, two frees, one 45, E Coughlan 0-5, T Ryan 1-1, C O'Connor 1-1, S Moloney 0-4, G Brennan 1-0, G Quinlan 0-3, E Lyons 0-1), Kilkenny 0-4(M Sanders 0-3, three frees, M Malley).

London 0-9(C Eastwood 0-3, one free, P Duffy 0-3, two frees, C Donnellan 0-2, two frees, E Gallagher 0-1), Waterford 0-8(B Wall 0-2, two frees, S Fleming 0-2, M OGorman, G Power, S O'Hare 0-1, M Aherne 0-1).