Classy Cavan see off Mayo

By Stuart Tynan

Mayo’s Division 4 camogie league campaign has come to an end after they were beaten in the semi-finals by an experienced Cavan outfit at Markievicz Park, Sligo on a scoreline of 3-12 to 0-7.

Mayo got off to the worst possible start inside the opening two minutes when Niamh Reilly fired into the net. Points from Lisa Scahill and Meabh Delaney got Mayo off the mark, cancelling out two singles from Cavan.

However, they missed a golden opportunity just before the first water-break to draw level. Lisa Scahill put through Erin Murray, but sent her effort wide with the goal at her mercy.

Murray and Ciara Delaney made it two-point game after the restart. But Cavan regained control when Orla Smith got sent through for Cavan’s second goal of the day to put them 2-4 to 0-5 ahead at half-time.

The second goal really took the wind out of Mayo’s sails, as they failed to register a score in the third quarter, with Shanice Fitzsimmons and Sinead McKenna extending Cavan’s lead further.

Two frees from Meabh Delaney stopped the rot for Mayo after the second-half water break, but it would be the final scores of the afternoon for the Green and Red as Cavan struck 1-5 without reply to run out convincing winners in the end, with Orla Smith firing in her second goal – and Cavan’s third – in injury time to cap off an excellent performance for her side.

Mayo: E. Minish, R. Cassidy, A. Mulkeen, G. Delaney, S. Golden, M. Charlton, E. Kelly, M. Delaney (0-4, 0-3f, 0-1 45’), A. Charlton, O. Hession, E. Murray (0-1), H. O’Malley, A. Lilly, L. Scahill (0-1), C. Delaney (0-1).

Subs: R. Lyons, M. Mooney, H. Tener.

Cavan: L. Bambrick, C. Clarke, A. Coyle, L. Ellis, R. Crowe McKeever, E. Galligan, A. O’Reilly, T. Reilly, J. Maguire (0-1), S. Fitzsimmons (0-3), C. Keenaghan (0-1f), S. McKenna (0-4, 0-2f, 0-1 45’), O. Smith (1-2), E. Fitzpatrick, N. Reilly.

Subs: H. Boylan, A. Finnegan, C. Fitzpatrick, L. O’Rourke, S. Clarke., K. McQuillan.

Ref: A. Hogg (Clare).

*Full report and reaction in this Tuesday’s print edition.