Mayo respond to Dublin defeat with big win over Kildare

Mayo put defeat to Dublin last time out firmly behind them with a thumping 2-15 to 0-5 victory over Kildare at James Stephens Park, Ballina, getting their TG4 LGFA Senior Championship campaign brilliantly back on track.

Goals in either half by the Cafferky sisters, Lisa and Sinéad, plus some great points during the course of the hour, chiefly from Maria Cannon, saw Mayo run out 16-point winners on a beautiful afternoon for football.

Mayo, with the likes of Saoirse Lally, Erin Murray, Fionnuala McLaughlin and Annie Gough all to the fore, were coasting at the break with a 1-10 to 0-1 lead, and they could have been further ahead after leaving a few goal chances behind them.

Kildare were improved in the second half and forced Mayo goalkeeper Laura Brennan into a number of saves as they threatened goals on a few occasions.

However, the only goal of the second half came late on at the other end of the field, Sinéad Cafferky taking a pass from fellow sub Aoife Staunton and finishing past the Kildare netminder, Anna Dunlea, from close range.

The result was welcomed by Mayo manager Liam McHale. “We had to be very careful how we approached things,” he said. “We missed a good few goal chances in the first half, which would make you nervous, and then obviously Kildare had a good few goal chances in the second half. We got a bit careless with the lead that we had. They're the things you're trying to guard against.”

Mchale continued: “We had a tough six days. We had a tough month really – we lost to Galway in a game in which we didn't play well, and it was tough to get over that, and then we played Dublin three weeks later, and then we had this game.

“We got through it well, I suppose. We don't know for sure but I guess we're in the quarterfinal. We have three weeks to get everyone right now.”

Mayo now await the result of the round three game between Dublin and Kildare to learn exactly what their fate will be.

Mayo: L. Brennan; S. Lally, N. O’Malley, K. Sullivan; É. Ronayne, C. Durkan (0-1), D. Caldwell; A. Geraghty, E. Murray; F. McLaughlin (0-2), A. Gough (0-3), S. Walsh (0-2); F. McHale, M. Cannon (0-6, 5f), L. Cafferky (1-1).

Subs used: A. Staunton, H. Reape, S. Cafferky (1-0), C. Henry, M. Sheridan.

Kildare: A. Dunlea; F. Troute, A. Clifford, A. Reynolds; L. Gilbert, R. Sargent, L. Murtagh; G. Clifford, C. Sullivan; T. Duggan, N. Dooley (0-2, 1f), L. Doran; E. Dowling, A. Rattigan (0-1), R. Byrne (0-2, 1f).

Subs used: E. O'Toole, N. Farrelly, L. Shaw, H. Tyrrell, Z. Brierty.

Referee: M. Farrelly (Cavan).