Mayo end Gaynor Cup group stages with a win

MAYO were back out in their final Gaynor Cup group match at noon today at UL where they secured another win.

NECSL provided the opposition as the number of matches, tiredness and more knocks/injuries start to mount, but such is the vagaries of tournament football.

Like yesterday, a strong, strong breeze was present with Mayo captain Roise Burke winning the toss and playing with it in the first half.

Aoibhin McGarry was first to test the NECSL 'keeper on nine minutes and Mayo had a let-off on 16 minutes when a quick attack up the Mayo left saw the final effort just miss the far post by inches.

A well-delivered Amy Murphy free-kick saw Alana Kelly head just over while another Murphy corner appeared to cross the line but was not given. Murphy was then wide with a rasping effort before a clever one-two with Burke was again just millimetres wide.

The bustling opposition CF was quite a handful but the Mayo defensive line of Kayleigh Coggins, Aoife Collins, Kate Byrne and Cara Culkin were outstanding.

Into the second half and Mayo had a let-off in the opening minute when a defensive clearance rebounded back off an opposition player but cleared the crossbar. Cliodhna Dowling worked the 'keeper twice in quick succession before Ursula Shaughnessy fired over.

Aoife Meaney made a superb catch under pressure from two players before Mayo made the breakthrough halfway through the half.

Shaughnessy went on a powerful marauding run, which took three players to stop her on the edge of the box. The loose ball ran to Murphy who found the back of the net with her accurate shot. Nice goal for a supremely gifted talented footballer.

Mayo went close to adding to their total through Shaughnessy and Mary Moran and had to withstand an onslaught from the opposition late on, with a crucial block by Collins and a superbly timed block tackle by Kate Byrne being the stand out moments.

A 1-0 victory for Mayo leaves them on nine points after their four group games. The final round of fixtures takes place this evening (Thursday), with the Mayo girls idle in the five team group.

A second place finish looks the likeliest outcome with the draw for the knock-out stages taking place at 9 p.m. tonight.

Best on the day for Mayo were Aoife Collins, Kate Byrne, Cliodhna Dowling, Amy Murphy and Sarah-Jane Kilcawley.