Two Mayo teams into national underage girls football finals
THE Mayo Schoolboys/Girls had two sides in action at Solar 21 Park at the weekend, both taking part in the SFAI Inter-League Shield semi-finals.
First off kicking off at midday on Saturday was the Edel Mullin managed Under 12 girls who faced Longford.
From the opening whistle the Mayo girls laid siege to the Longford goal and scored in the first minute - a clever finish from Rianna Hoban. Saoirse Reynolds had already gone close before she doubled Mayo’s lead on 16 minutes.
Jane Moran in the Mayo goal pulled off an excellent save shortly after but a handball in the Mayo box saw a penalty awarded to Longford which they scored to leave the half-time score 2-1.
Reynolds raced clear one on one with the ‘keeper to grab her second goal on 40 minutes. Good goalkeeping again by Moran kept her goal intact and Reynolds completed the scoring deep in stoppage time to complete her hat-trick.
Mayo were every bit as dominant as the 4-1 scoreline suggests and Mullin and her coaching team of John Mullin, John Hennelly and Rebecca Holmes will be pleased with their form.
They will face the winners of the Waterford-MGL North in the final in Kilkenny next month.
Under 15 girls
Taking to the same pitch 24 hours later was the Mayo Under 15 girls who faced perennial adversaries Donegal coached by the FAI Coach of the Year Brid McGinty.
A once 23 strong squad here was down to 16 at kick-off time due to a loss of players to the National League and injuries. As one door closes another opens though, and all players that were selected at the outset here have proved their worth when opportunity presents itself. Management team Michael Collins and Emma Gibbons went with a 1-4-4-2 formation to best utilise the players at their disposal.
Mayo were immediately into their stride and had a double chance early on when the visiting ‘keeper denied both Alana Kelly and Sadbh O'Donnell in quick succession. Mayo took the lead on 11 minutes when a fine in-swinging corner from Kelly saw Ursula Shaughnessy hook the ball back into the corner of her net with her left foot. This team had scored two set-piece goals against this opposition at the Gaynor Cup last year that was laughingly referred to as being because of the wind. There was zero wind on Sunday!
The Mayo midfield duo of O'Donnell and Aoife Collins were content to let the opposition knock the ball around where it was of no danger but when the ball was moved near the Mayo defensive third both girls were adept at timing their challenges, winning the ball back and setting both wide players Kelly and Emma Higgins on their way. Mary Ann Ward was proving the perfect foil for Shaughnessy up top and was most unlucky to be called offside on several occasions.
The second half continued in a similar vein with Donegal having plenty of the ball in their own half but Mayo looking the much more threatening side to score again. Excellent support play from left back by the tigerish Cara Culkin saw Higgins deliver an excellent cross to the far post where her opposite wide player Kelly was about to head it before being unceremoniously dragged down by the Donegal goalkeeper. Up stepped Shaughnessy to fire the penalty low and hard into the net for her and Mayo’s second goal.
It got even better for Shaughnessy a minute later when fantastic build-up from the back involving ‘keeper Aoife Meaney, left sided centre back and captain on the day Kate Byrne and right back Mary Moran saw the Mayo forward released one on one with the ‘keeper and her finish was emphatic to complete her hat trick.
Kayleigh Coggins, Cliodhna Dowling, Aoibhin McGarry, Ruby Jennings and Brooke Grimes all replaced tiring legs and each girl slotted right into the position and system effortlessly. The “thou shall not past” centre back Aine Monaghan shipped a heavy knock on her shoulder but was adamant she was going back on the pitch after treatment. Wonderful spirit.
The only save of note that either Mayo ‘keeper had to make was a superb finger tipped by Grimes with time running out.
A 3-0 victory and every girl getting game time in a national Inter League semi-final is as good as you can wish for as this group of players get set to play their third national final in three years.