All-Ireland champs are Schools award winner at Mayo Sports Stars

Amazing scenes of jubilation lit up a cold and dark Wednesday night in Foxford in January 2023 as the town welcomed home the first team from St Joseph’s Secondary School to ever win the FAI Schools Senior Girls ‘B’ Cup.

A victory cavalcade complete with Garda escort was a fitting end to an incredible day that saw the Mayo students come from behind to beat Ulster champions Coláiste Oiriall 2-1 after extra-time.

The kick-off time for this final had been delayed at very late notice due to a blown tyre on the bus carrying the Monaghan team to the game, but that wasn’t the only pothole Coláiste Oiriall hit as a superb double from captain Mila Sotoparra spurred St Joseph’s to victory.

They did it the hard way, going behind in the dying moments of the first-half and having to wait until 10-minutes before full-time to find an equaliser. And even when the team, managed by Mr Ryan Merchant and Ms Una Mayock, hit the front with five minutes of extra-time left to play, that was only after the woodwork had denied Coláiste Oiriall from regaining the lead instead.

It was the seventh cup game of the year for St Joseph’s – and how they came to win Connacht, let alone reach the All-Ireland final, is a story in itself. After thumping a visiting Grange team 12-0 in the first round, they were brought crashing back down to earth when losing 3-0 to their Mayo rivals Balla in the next game of the round-robin stage.

“Balla were very aggressive that day and bullied us really,” admitted manager Ryan Merchant. “From that game onwards we improved every single game and got more aggressive ourselves.”

The story is very similar to how this year’s Team of the Year, the Mayo U14 ladies footballers, avenged a defeat to Galway in the Connacht final by beating the Tribeswomen whom they met later in the All-Ireland series, before winning the championship outright. Because St Joseph’s moved on too (and became all the better) from the disappointment of their early reversal against Balla, who they beat when meeting again, this time in the Connacht final.

Vice-captain Grace Naughton scored the only goal of the game and together with Mila Sotoparra, was also on the scoresheet in a 2-0 victory over Cork side Midleton in the semi-final. Factor in victories against St Brendan’s of Belmullet and Glenamaddy Community School during their Connacht campaign as well, and no one could doubt how hard the Moyside girls had worked to become national champions.

A very limited number of tickets (€65pp) remain available for Friday night’s Western People Mayo Sports Stars Awards banquet at Breaffy House Resort, which includes a drinks reception, three-course meal, wine, the awards ceremony and entertainment. Contact Stuart Tynan at 086-1682149 or the Western People’s Ballina office at 096-60999 during office hours.