Mayo team all set for Gaynor Cup kick-off today
THE Mayo team are on their travels this morning for the 2023 Gaynor Cup, taking place on the grounds of University Limerick.
The tournament runs from today (Monday) to Friday, with the Mayo team featuring footballers from clubs all across the county.
Mayo are one of the top seeds at the 26-team competition and are placed in Group 3.
First up they play Wexford at 4 p.m. this afternoon, with two games on Tuesday - 10 a.m. versus Limerick District and Carlow and District at 4 p.m.
Based on group finishes, the sides then go into one of Cup, Bowl, Shield or Trophy knock-out competition, staged from Wednesday to Friday.
Meet the team in our 2023 Gaynor Cup Squad Bios
Sarah Gallagher (Kilmurry Youth Soccer Club)
First choice goalkeeper in the squad, Sarah continues to go from strength to strength. Played for Mayo U13s last year.
Amber Glavey (Manulla)
Good all-round footballer, equally at home in midfield or at full-back. Part of the Mayo U13 squad last year and recent Mayo U17 Cup winner with her club.
Lola Tiernan (Ballinrobe Town)
Tough tackling speedy left-back Lola continues to improve as a footballer. Fantastic attitude and always one of the first to turn up for training. Also played for the Mayo U13s last year. Her club shared the Mayo U17 Premier League title.
Niamh Curran (Castlebar Town)
Tough tackling centre-back who always trains and plays with a smile on her face. Talented girl at several sports, including basketball, and played Mayo U13s last year too. Good leader of players on the pitch.
Amy Doherty (Kilmurry Youth Soccer Club)
The most experienced player in the squad, Amy has been around Mayo teams since 2019. Equally comfortable in midfield or defence, Amy is a real leader. Played with the Mayo U13s last year.
Sive Flanagan (Kiltimagh Knock United)
One of the current Mayo U13s called into the squad, Sive plays primarily at centre-back but has played other positions equally well. Excellent communicator on the pitch.
Niah Barrett (Kilmurry Youth Soccer Club)
Played in last year’s U13s, Niah prefers playing on the flank but can be deployed through the centre too. Our scouts have even seen her play-centre back quite comfortably for her club!
Riona Moynihan (Castlebar Celtic)
A very accomplished technical player, Riona usually plays as an 8 or a 10. Also played in last year’s U13 side, this girl has a big future in the game.
Ciara Kearney (Killala)
Ciara usually takes up the centre-forward mantle but has been played in other positions too. Played last year for the Mayo U13s and is most proficient from a dead ball. Has been heard singing George Ezra songs as she plays!
Emily Coleman (Conn Rangers)
Another of the current Mayo U13 girls, Emily displays a maturity and game intelligence way beyond her age. Wonderful competitor who can always hold her own against much bigger older opponents. Best deployed as a 10.
Sophie O'Donnell (Manulla)
Usually deployed on the left side of midfield, Sophie possesses a wand of a left foot. Another member of last year’s Mayo U13s and a great exponent of set-play deliveries. Scored a goal in the recent Mayo U17 Cup final.
Aoibhinn McGreal (Westport United)
Aoibhinn is continuing the recent trend of good goalkeepers from Westport playing for the Mayo girls’ sides. Another of the current Mayo U13s, Aoibhinn unfortunately picked up a wrist injury recently but hopes to be fit for the tournament.
Clodagh Breslin (Conn Rangers)
Very athletic footballer who covers the ground so effortlessly, Clodagh is happy anywhere across the back four and has also filled in at midfield. Played with the Mayo U13s last year too.
Grace Carroll (Castlebar Celtic)
Very versatile player who has played several roles from right up top to left-back. Has also filled in as a very capable goalkeeper for her club. Played with the Mayo U13s last year.
Maggie Lavelle (Erris United)
Extremely athletic ball playing centre-back, Maggie is in her first year at Mayo level and has made the step-up from club to Mayo level seamlessly.
Grace Mulroy (Manulla)
One of the Mayo U13s, Grace has been in unbelievable form lately. She came on as a sub in the recent Mayo U17 Cup final and grabbed two phenomenal goals.
Caoimhe O'Donnell (Killala)
Another Mayo U13 player, Caoimhe is a wonderfully gifted two footed footballer. A club coach of hers rates her as being the most skilful player ever to come out of Killala - real high praise indeed.
Katie Corcoran (Ballyglass)
Very skilful operator, playing for the first time at this level. Katie has two good feet and knits the play very well from her midfield role and chips in with her fair share of goals.
Rachel Gallagher (Ballinrobe Town)
First year playing at this level, Rachel displays boundless energy, desire, and work-rate. Can operate up the left flank and also centrally. Winner of a national public speaking award recently. Her club shared the Mayo U17 Premier League title recently.
Ava Mitchell (Kiltimagh Knock United)
Another of the Mayo U13s, Ava is a big game player. Scored in the Mayo U12s National Inter-League victory last season and stepped into the breach to keep goal for the Mayo U13s in this year’s final. Outfield would see her play anywhere along the front three. Part of her club side who shared the Mayo U17 Premier League title.
Management
Auxiliary Coaches
Melissa Devaney/Amy Dunleavy/Sinead Mulhern/Cian Flanagan
Both Melissa and Amy are recent players at the Gaynor Cup with Melissa playing at it for an unbelievable four years. They both play with Swinford FC and have been coaching various Mayo sides for a few years now.
Sinead filled this role at the Gaynor Cup last year too and has recently guided the Mayo U16 girls to the top tier Inter-League Competition. Also plays in the Mayo Women’s League with Crossmolina.
Cian has been goalkeeper coach in the past and will oversee the FAI Connect system this year. Plays his football with Party Athletic but rumours abound of an impending transfer imminently!
Goalkeeping Coach
Martin McGreal has done this role for this side as well as the Mayo U13s for the past couple of years. Martin brings a wealth of goalkeeping knowledge and has been brilliant with the young ‘keepers.
Head Coach
Emma Gibbons fills this role with an abundance of enthusiasm allied to a sharp coaching mind. Like lots of people involved in the girls’ set-up, Emma has been around for a good number of years and has done multiple teams in the same season.
Manager
Michael Collins fills this role having stepped up from coach two years ago. Has been around football a long time and likes to quote the great late Bob Paisley: “It’s not about the long ball or the short ball, it’s about the right ball.”
Despite football making great advances over the years Michael often points out that both Glasgow Celtic and Liverpool had full backs scoring in European Cup Finals in the '60s, '70s and '80s. Attacking full-backs didn’t start with Barcelona, he has been known to say laughingly!
Head of Delegation
John Flanagan is well into his second decade in this role. Anyone going to University of Limerick over the years with Gaynor Cup teams would be fulsome in their praise for how things were organised for Mayo teams. This just doesn’t happen by chance and John puts a lot of time and effort into having things ready. He is also one of the best at feeding back to the organisers anything that needs to be improved.
Still involved a lot too at his beloved Castlebar Town.