Mayo make trip to Wicklow for opening Under 16 game

The Mayo Under 16 camogie squad started their campaign away to Wicklow in Bray on Sunday week last, making the long journey cross-country to take on the current All-Ireland C champions.

In a game that was played on the Bray Emmets astroturf pitch due to poor local weather, Mayo were very competitive in the early stages.

A point from Westport's Sinead Toland settled the nerves of the Mayo girls, but Wicklow showed why they won last year's competition by recording 1-5 in succession before Ann Toland hit back for Mayo with two converted frees.

That gave the visitors some hope going in at the break on a scoreline of 1-5 to 0-3.

With the aid of the breeze in the second half, Wicklow powered on with further scores from play and from frees.

Mayo had strong defensive displays at this juncture, with Castlebar duo Denise Staunton and Mary Ellen Ruane in top form.

The visitors did record a mini-comeback late on as Sinead Toland goaled low from close range, while her sister Ann recorded her third pointed free of the game.

In the end Wicklow were deserving of their win, but the Mayo girls will have gained a lot of experience from the outing. Many of them were playing their first ever game at this level. The final score was Wicklow 3-8, Mayo 1-4.

Mayo go on to play Louth at home in round two this Sunday (February 22) at the Castlebar Mitchels complex.

The Mayo starting team in Wicklow was: Isobel Allen; Tara Delaney, Denise Staunton, Chloe Finnerty; Saoirse Leneghan, Mary Ellen Ruane, Clara Kennedy; Holly Tuohy, Ann Toland (0-3f); Grace Burke, Sinead Toland (1-1), Kate Moloney; Aibhe Donnellon, Niamh Delaney, Lauren Gallagher. The subs were: Lily Gallagher, Saoirse Hession, Cliona Ni Cionnaith, Kaylan McHugh, Sophie Egan, Molly Tiernan, Emma McGing, Ellen Quinn, Emma Lee, Willow O'Malley.