Heartbreaking defeat for Mayo LGFA under-16 team

Mayo suffered a heartbreaking 2-7 to 2-5 defeat against Galway in the Connacht LGFA Under-16 (A) Championship Final, which took place at Bekan.

Mayo played the better football during the first half, with the raiding runs of Emily Gavin posing plenty of problems for the Galway midfield and half-back line.

The green and red opened the scoring after two minutes, courtesy of Ríona Kelly, but Galway levelled matters after seven minutes when Torai O’Flynn guided over a free.

Mayo then thought they had scored a three-pointer after 14 minutes when Mikayala McLoughlin palmed home the ball from close-range, but the goal was disallowed by the referee.

However, on 22 minutes, John Gerard Butler’s Mayo side did manage to grab a goal when McLoughlin rustled the back of the net after seeing her initial strike parried by the Galway custodian, and the green and red now led 1-4 to 0-1.

The heavy downpour of rain during the first half hampered the playing conditions for both teams, nevertheless Mayo led at the break on a score-line of 1-4 to 0-3.

Galway, aided by the strong wind during the second half, made a dream start to the new half and netted a goal after 32 minutes, when Ellie Harty O’Brien’s attempt at a point dropped short and ended up in the back of the Mayo net.

Galway substitute Siún Cullinan also played a starring role for the maroon and white and her free on 33 minutes restored parity, before her team-mate Kym McNulty guided home a spot-kick on 35 minutes to shunt the visitors into a 2-4 to 1-4 lead.

Mayo didn’t panic though and the green and red levelled matters on 45 minutes, when Kilmaine’s Robyn Butler saw her speculative free-kick rustle the back of the net.

The game was delicately poised, however, two late frees from Galway’s Cullinan and Katie Brogan helped secure a dramatic victory for the maroon and white.