Bold decision to meet conditions head on pays off for Green and Red

Friends, family and supporters who made the long trip south to Rathkeale last Thursday were basking in the unbridled joy of this talented group reaching the All-Ireland final, ending a 28-year wait at this age grade for Mayo.

There may not have been a prouder man than manager Francis Regan, who lauded an ‘unbelievable’ display.

“They gave us absolutely everything,” he told the Western People. “Everything we've asked them for all year, they gave us. It’s been 28 years since we were last in one so it's absolutely huge. Some of the management team weren't even around the last time Mayo were in an under-16 All-Ireland final so it's huge. I'm delighted for them.” 

Choosing to play against the wind in the first-half, Mayo’s game plan worked to perfection. They made their own luck with the first goal as Lauren McHale was quickest to react to Emma Stagg’s free dropping short, while across the field heavy hits were taken by the likes Amy Doherty, Siofra McGuinness and captain Emma Higgins in keeping Kerry at bay.

“We wanted to win the toss and go against [the wind] in the first-half because we were fit here, we were well defensively set up. That's what we wanted to do, keep the goals down in the first-half and I couldn't ask for better. To pick off a goal, I know we got a bit of luck, but to get that goal was huge and then to be in the lead going in the half time with that wind was massive.” 

Francis Regan admitted that, on another day, he would probably have taken the injured Emma Higgins off but the Mayo captain and centre-back stood firm and led by example.

“She's such a warrior, such a leader. It was hard to justify taking her off, and she didn't even want to come off herself. You see in the second-half, she's a leader. That's why she's captain material.

“To be taking them hits, Amy, Siofra, they all took massive hits there in the first-half, and look, they're still in the pitch at the end.” 

There was a huge moment in the second-half when Muireann Teahan’s free dropped in front of goal, similar to Stagg’s in the first, but Mayo snuffed out the chance. Regan was wary of a Kerry response but Mayo withstood the assault.

“Kerry are a good team, we've watched plenty of videos on them and we knew that they're good and well able to get goals. So that's why we tried to, especially in the second-half when we knew they were going to come at us, to make sure we had our house in order and keep them out. That was the important thing and luckily, thank God, it paid off.” 

Mayo will now face Cavan in the decider in under a fortnight. The two teams met in a challenge match a number of weeks ago, with the Breffni ladies coming out on top, and Regan is expecting a tough challenge.

“They're a good side. They're reigning All-Ireland champions from last year, so we know what they're about. We've seen them up close and played them in Cavan, lost by a couple of points, but there won't be much in it, there never is. Look, 28 years, we've nothing to lose now but go for it. We’re delighted to be in it.”