Mayo Women's League celebrates at awards night
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Mayo Women’s League Premier Division Team of the Year award recipients. Photos: John CorlessImage 2 of 13
Michael Collins of Kiltimagh Knock United, Michael Jennings Services to Football award winner, pictured receiving his award from Michael Jennings’ daughter Danielle.Image 3 of 13
Mayo Women’s League Division 1 Team of the Year award recipients.Image 4 of 13
Under 19 Team of the Year.Image 5 of 13
Under 17 Premier Division Team of the Year.Image 6 of 13
Golden Boot award winners 2024. From left: Tracey Hall, Manulla (joint winner of the Women’s Premier Division with Cliodhna Flynn, Conn Rangers, who is absent from the photo), Alva Munnelly, Killala FC (Women’s Division 1), Riona Moynihan, Castlebar Celtic (top scorer in both the Under 17 Premier and Under 19 League), and Ursula Shaughnessy, Ballinrobe Town (Under 17 Division 1).Image 7 of 13
Under 17 Division 1 Team of the Year.Image 8 of 13
Under 17 Division 2 Team of the Year award recipients.Image 9 of 13
Women’s Player of the Month award recipients, sponsored by McHale Agri, Forest & Garden. Premier Division, at back, from left: Tracey Hall (Manulla), Melissa Devaney (Swinford), Fiona Doherty (S&F) and Hannah Prendergast (Manulla). Division One, at front, from left: Alva Munnelly (Killala), Louise Maloney (Kilmore), Rachel Browne (Westport), Emma Munnelly (accepting on behalf of Alison Long, Killala), Kayla Salami (Ballina Town). Absent was Laura Burke (Claremorris). Photo: John CorlessImage 10 of 13
Under 19 Player of the Month award recipients, sponsored by McHale Agri, Forest & Garden. From left: Riona Moynihan, Grace Carroll and Sarah Jane Kilcawley, all Castlebar Celtic.Image 11 of 13
Under 17 Player of the Month award recipients, sponsored by McHale Agri, Forest & Garden. Division 1, at back, from left: Katie Flynn (Ballyvary Blue Bombers), Cliona Dowling (Castlebar Town) and Ursula Shaughnessy (Ballinrobe Town). At front, from left: Katie Corcoran (Ballyglass, Division One), and Premier Division winners Aoife Meaney (Westport), Riona Moynihan (Castlebar Celtic), Ciara Kearney (Killala) and Kate Byrne (Kiltimagh Knock United).Image 12 of 13
Sean McDonnell of the Mayo Women's League makes a special presentation to Wesley Kilcawley of Castlebar Celtic on behalf of the league to mark the club's centenary year, which it celebrated in 2024.Image 13 of 13
Mayo Women's League Committee members Sean McDonnell, registrar, Diana Hopkins, treasurer, Dee Kelly, PRO, and Joe King, secretary, at the league's annual awards night in the Western Hotel, Claremorris.The Mayo Women's Football League celebrated another year of growth in the county at its annual awards night held in the Western Hotel, Claremorris, on Friday.
In a short six years, women's senior team numbers have grown from three to 13 last year, and that's rising to 15 in 2025 with Fahy Rovers and Glenhest Rovers entering the league. The Under 17 and Under 19 girls leagues both look like they will have additional numbers of teams this year, increasing from 14 and seven teams respectively.
Masters football for women over 30 is a new venture in 2025 and the inaugural masters league will commence next month, with five teams participating.
The 2024 season also saw the re-emergence of a women's county team who competed well in the national Angela Hearst Cup - a first ever outing for the county in the competition.
Of course, all of this doesn't happen without dedicated teams of coaches and managers across clubs in the county and one person who is the epitomy of that was recognised on the night with the announcement of the Michael Jennings Services to Football Award.
Winner Michael Collins has been the cornerstone of the development of girls and women's football at Kiltimagh Knock United, said Mayo Women's League secretary Joe King. Also, as a coach and manager at Mayo underage level, in addition to the FAI's emerging talent programme, he has achieved the highest honours with Gaynor Cup and Shield success.
Michael, he said, has always worked to a programme of very high standards, culminating in success on the national stage. Many of his former players, from club and county, are today playing at the highest standards in the Mayo league and at national league level.
Michael's talents as a sports writer were also noted, with his excellent reporting on Mayo underage football in the local press.
Michael Jennings' daughter Danielle was on hand to make the presentation, with her mother Cathy also attending the awards.
Joe thanked the committee, clubs and all who support the league, especially Paul Hanley of the Western Hotel, Claremorris, who sponsored the Angela Hearst team, and Tom McHale of McHale Agri, sponsors of the Player of the Month awards.