Mayo compete well but lose final Gaynor group game

By Michael Collins

MAYO'S Gaynor Cup team were back out on pitch 1 at UL for a 4 p.m. kick-off today with group leaders Carlow and District (C&D).

Grace Mulroy had a sight of goal as early as the second minute while Amy Doherty displayed her defensive nous a minute later.

Mayo took the lead on seven minutes when a Ciara Kearney corner was kept alive by Doherty finding Sive Flanagan on the right wing. Sive's forward pass saw Kearney back on the ball and her cross to the far post saw Mulroy execute a brilliant first touch before dispatching the ball past the 'keeper. Top quality goal.

C&D got parity on 13 minutes before Kearney was just wide with a good effort from a free-kick. Mulroy then played Kearney in but the 'keeper got there first. On the stroke of half-time good work by Ava Mitchell found Emily Coleman but again the 'keeper saved well.

A big turning point in this game happened in the 35th minute when a corner kick was inexplicably deemed by the ref to C&D. To rub salt into the wounds, the delivery went into the Mayo net via a Mayo head! A goal in arrears quickly became two as the opposition looked to pull away.

Grace Carroll had a good effort well saved and with three minutes remaining C&D added a fourth. The Mayo girls never dropped their heads and Sophie O'Donnell was most unlucky not connecting fully with a Niah Barrett cross from the right with time running out.

Deep into stoppage time a superb Sophie O'Donnell corner was brilliantly headed home at the far post by Riona Moynihan.

A 4-2 loss in a game where Mayo did lots of really good things augers well for the knock-out phase which is due to start tomorrow. The draw for that is on at 9 p.m. tonight (Tuesday).

Four of Mayo's starting line-up in this game are eligible to play Gaynor next year too.