Mixed fortunes for Mayo girls in national Inter-League finals

Under 12s come home with silverware while the Under 13s narrowly miss out

Mayo had two girls teams in action over the weekend in SFAI Inter-League finals, both having to make the 290-mile round trip to Cahir, Co. Tipperary.

First up on Saturday evening were the Under 13s, who faced TSS&DL (Tipperary South) in the Shield final.

Mayo had a let-off as early as the opening minute and it was apparent from early on that the Tipp centre-forward and wide left attacking players were going to be handfuls. Sarah Gallagher in the Mayo goal pulled off two good saves early on, while Mayo had a scare in the 16th minute when Tipp hit the post.

The Mayo girls got their first sight of goal on 21 minutes when Niah Barrett made the ‘keeper work. Tipp had the next chance, with a free kick clearing the bar. Mayo were certainly beginning to find their feet now and they went really close on 23 minutes. A brilliant Sophie O'Donnell corner saw Aoibhin McNamara go really close at the back post.

The pacy Tipp centre-forward ran half the length of the pitch before dragging her shot just wide of the far post.

For the remaining five minutes of the first half Mayo enjoyed their best period. Centre-forward Grace Carroll worked a little space for herself on the edge of the box but saw her effort go just wide. An excellent dribble up the right wing by Riona Moyihan saw her beat two defenders and cross brilliantly, where Carroll’s first-time effort brought a super save from the ‘keeper.

To have reached half-time scoreless was helped in no small part by a good helping of luck but the Mayo defence of Clodagh Breslin, Niamh Curran, captain Amy Doherty and Alison McDonald stood up brilliantly to the challenge.

The second half opened with the Tipp centre-forward again going close before McNamara tested the ‘keeper.

Mayo took the lead on 33 minutes when McNamara waltzed past the full-back down the Mayo left before delivering a sublime ball right along the six-yard box. It evaded Amber Glavey at centre-forward but Barrett did what all good wide players should do by arriving at the back post and connecting first time to score across the ‘keeper. It was a beautifully crafted and executed goal.

The next 15 minutes saw Mayo really dominate the game and create a number of chances. McNamara had a shot saved, Moyihan had an effort fizz just over, Glavey had a shot saved, Chloe Fahy went close, Moyihan was denied by the ‘keeper following another superb O'Donnell corner and Mayo had a goal chalked off for offside. That elusive second goal did not arrive though.

Out of nothing, in the 48th minute, Tipp tied the game up. Back came Mayo and a foul on Siofra McGuinness saw Moyihan again bring the best out of the opposition ‘keeper.

That second goal that we spoke about arrived eight minutes from time but it was Tipp who got it, and Gallagher was immediately called upon to prevent further damage.

Good combination play by Rachel Clarke and Ella McLoughlin created an opening for Moyihan but it was just off-target. With Mayo committed to getting the equaliser, Tipp sealed a 3-1 victory with a late, late counter-attack, although it looked a blatant offside in the build-up. Important to note the squad players present but not on the pitch on the day – Michalina Cichopell, Zainab Naeem, Lola Tiernan, Hayley Moran and the injured Edel Keane. Unavoidably absent on the day but crucial in the girls getting as far as they did were Ciara Kearney and Maeve Folan. The girls’ singing performance on the bus on their way back to Mayo late on Saturday night proved that they had soon got the result out of their system!

SETTLED

Next up to fly the flag for Mayo were the Under 12s, who faced Wexford in the Bowl final at 1 p.m. on Sunday. This nine-a-side format was played on the astro in the less-than-summery weather conditions.

Mayo settled into the game really quickly and well, and got their passing game going all over the pitch – none more so than the impressive Leah Kilcullen. Wexford were the bigger, more physical side and they used that to their advantage when taking the lead after 15 minutes.

This did not daunt the young Mayo side and they continued to probe and create chances. The equaliser came from ace forward Ava Mitchell with a typical piece of opportunism to leave the game tied up at 1-1 at the interval.

In the seconnd half spectators were treated to a high-quality game of end-to-end football as both sides tested each other. Mayo took the lead when captain Emily Coleman bravely got on the end of a well delivered Caoimhe O'Donnell corner to head firmly past the Wexford ‘keeper.

Both sides created more chances but there were no more goals, although Mayo were thankful to ‘keeper Aoibhin McGreal in the dying moments when she executed a top-class save with her feet to keep Mayo’s lead intact.

This 2-1 victory is a highly tangible reward for the excellent work done with the girls by their management team led by the genial John Hennelly along with his coaches Edel Mullin Walsh and Aisling Reilly.

The achievement is all the more noteworthy given that it is their first year doing a Mayo side, and Mayo head coach John Flanagan remarked that they had set a really high standard for themselves but that the Mayo girls deserve nothing else.

Given that Galway won the Inter-League Cup at this level and were in the same group as Mayo, it augers well for football in the west going forward with these age groups.

The only negative from a Mayo girls’ perspective was the decision to stage both finals on two different days, putting totally unnecessary extra expense on the league and not being able to have both age groups travel together to foster togetherness and unity, as Mayo management teams have always done down through the years. You honestly would not think there was an energy crisis happening!