Mayo girls secure first win of Gaynor Cup tournament
MAYO are sitting in second spot in Group 2 after day one of the Gaynor Cup Under 13 tournament in Limerick.
This evening they secured their first win – in their second game of the day – when defeating South Tipperary 3-2.
Mayo made a couple of changes from the first game, bringing Amber Hardy in to play in goal, with Emma Walsh and Wiki Kaminska bringing fresh legs to the attack.
The game started slowly with the effects of this morning's effort very evident and it was South Tipperary that had the better of the early exchanges with two chances in quick succession, but both were just wide.
In the 14th minute Tipp's dominance paid off when they bundled the ball home from a corner. They were the more physical side and Mayo were finding it tough in the midfield battles and they doubled their lead in the 19th minute when strength won out in a challenge and the striker finished well.
This brought a bit more fight out of Mayo and, on the attack, Kayla Doherty found Beth Roache on the right wing, but her cross was gathered by the Tipp goalkeeper.
On 28 minutes Mayo got a lifeline when another long Aoife Gannon freekick from the halfway line found its way to Emma Walsh, who controlled with her left and smashed the ball away with her right foot.
At half-time Mayo made three changes with Emma Duffy, Joanne Gallagher and Emily Vahey replacing Wiki, Sarah Gough and Emma Walsh.
South Tipp had the first chance of the half, with Hardy making another good stop. The Mayo management then made a further change when Sarah King came on to the right wing for Beth Roache. This seemed to energise Mayo and after a period of sustained Mayo pressure, King won a corner down the right wing. She took the corner and Aoife Gannon, up from the back, was upended in the box - penalty Mayo.
Kayla Doherty stepped up for the second time today but the 'keeper guessed right to save. Luckily for Mayo, Joanne Gallagher was following in and tapped home the rebound.
Mayo could have sat back and taken the point but they went for the win and got a third, again with King involved. On 46 minutes she surged down the wing and her cross evaded the 'keeper, but Kayla Doherty was on hand to nod home what turned out to be the winner.
But it wasn't that simple and a minute later Tipp rattled the Mayo woodwork.
Mayo introduced Katie Heaney for Emily Vahey for the last 10 minutes.
Mayo managed to keep Tipperary at bay for the last few minutes, helped by a brilliant double save from 'keeper Amber Hardy and some brilliant last ditch defending by Gannon and Tuohy.
A tough battle which Mayo just edged quality wise, with the second half subs making a huge difference.
Onwards and upwards for tomorrow's game versus Wexford.