Mayo county titles for Burrishoole, Charlestown and Ballyhaunis in 2022

Aiden Henry

Three new winners emerged of the three major Mayo ladies club championships in 2022, with Burrishoole claiming the senior title, Charlestown taking the intermediate and Ballyhaunis capturing the junior.

In the senior championship, Burrishoole won their first ever senior county title after they defeated reigning champions Knockmore in the county final. It was a historic occasion for the west Mayo side, and no one could deny they were worthy champions.

From the start of the year they had shown a lot of promise. As the year progressed, they settled into a fine all round team. Indeed, with the improvement they showed right through the championship, it was little wonder they went into the county final with plenty of confidence.

In the final, which was played in the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan in wintry conditions, Burrishoole got stuck in against Knockmore right from the off. As the game progressed it became more evident that the outsiders were in with a great chance of winning their first senior title.

When push came to shove in the closing moments, the Newport side dug deep into their reserves to carve out a marvellous victory. Such was their overall display, few if any could say the better team hadn't won on the day.

In the intermediate decider it was Charlestown and Louisburgh who went head-to-head. Again, this was another hard-fought decider. It was Louisburgh who held the upper hand in the early stages and built up a good lead. However, once Charlestown settled into their stride they began to take control and clawed their way back into contention.

In the second half it was real end-to-end stuff, with little separating the two sides. However, when the game was there to be won for either side it was Charlestown who came up trumps. They showed they wanted the title that bit more and produced the goods to get over the finishing line in front. Again, few could argue with the eventual winners on the day.

In the junior championship, Ballyhaunis and neighbours Aghamore qualified for the final. Judging how these two teams had performed on the way there, this decider was expected to be a tight affair. However, this did not materialise as Ballyhaunis produced their best performance of the year to prevail with a bit in hand and claim the title.

PROVINCIAL

In the Connacht club championships, it was Charlestown who kept the Mayo flag flying as they brushed away all opponents to claim the provincial title.

After a great victory over Boyle from Roscommon in the semi-final, Charlestown faced Leitrim opponents Kiltubrid in the Connaught final. This was always going to be a big ask for Charlestown as they were up against a Leitrim side who narrowly lost out in their senior club championship. Indeed, judging by the way they dismissed the Galway champions in the Connacht semi-final, where they scored six goals, it was always going to be a big challenge for Charlestown.

However, the east Mayo side rose to the occasion and produced another magnificent performance before beating the pre-match favourites.

It was then on to the All-Ireland series for Charlestown. In the semi-final they were pitted against the Leinster champions, Longford Slashers. With the winners of the Longford senior club championship allowed to take part in the provincial intermediate club championship, this was always going to be a massive test for the Mayo side, especially as Longford Slashers had won the Longford senior championship four years running.

Played in Longford Slashers' own grounds meant it was much harder again for Charlestown. The game turned out to be a rip-roaring contest, with the final result very much in doubt right up to the final whistle. However, it was the home side who prevailed narrowly in the end – but not before they were given a massive test by Charlestown.

To rub salt into the Charlestown wounds, Longford Slashers went on to win the All-Ireland final in Croke Park two weeks later by nine points.

Meanwhile, both Mayo senior and junior champions, Burrishoole and Ballyhaunis respectively, lost out to Galway opposition in their respective Connacht club championships.

After beating Manorhamilton in the semi-final, Burrishoole faced reigning All-Ireland champions Kilkerrin/Clonberne in the Connacht final in Charlestown. Against all the odds, Burrishoole really put it up to the Galway champions and made them pull out all the stops before losing out. It was a gritty display from the Mayo side against a side that later went on to retain their All-Ireland crown with ease.

In the Connacht junior club championship, Ballyhaunis faced Salthill/Knocknacarra in the semi-final. Played in Pearse Stadium, Salthill, Ballyhaunis put up a magnificent performance and caused the home side endless problems. But in the end the home side got over the line. Ballyhaunis' magnificent effort was further illustrated by the fact that Salthill/Knocknacarra went on to not alone win the Connacht title, but the All-Ireland crown as well.

All in all, the three Mayo champions more than did their county proud.