Mayo girls remain unbeaten

The Mayo under-16 girls hosted Galway at Umbro Park, Castlebar on Saturday afternoon in their latest SFAI Inter-League clash. Hoping to build on their recent strong showing against Clare, the Mayo management of manager Emma Gibbons and coach Kian Flanagan had a fully fit squad available.

Mayo took the lead on eight minutes when good build-up play by Ellie Dunleavy and Katie Hughes created the opening for Aoibhinn McNamara to fire home. Five minutes later they doubled their lead when Zainab Naeem was fouled in the penalty box. Zainab dusted herself down to score the penalty emphatically. With 29 minutes on the clock Riona Moynihan dispatched Mayo’s second penalty to leave the hosts leading 3-0 at half-time.

The Galway goalkeeper pulled off two excellent saves early in the second period to prevent further damage. Halfway through the half Galway won a penalty which they scored. Both teams went close after that but there were no more goals leaving Mayo the 3-1 victors. Another three points and a second day of three goals leaves this talented squad in a good position in the round robin series with the other Galway side their next opponents at the end of November.

The Mayo under-14 girls hosted Sligo/Leitrim at Westport United’s new astroturf on Sunday afternoon in their second-round robin SFAI Interleague tie.

Mayo went behind to an early goal but fought back bravely to restore parity by half-time. Mayo’s general play improved in the second half but neither side could add any further goals giving us a final score of 1-1. On the day, Mayo’s strongest unit was probably their defensive back four of Rheanna Hoban, Lilly Hurst, Francesca Coruana and Lola Hanley. Well done to Andrea Kilbane who made her Mayo debut and performed very admirably.

The Mayo squad and their management team of John Gerard Butler and Kelsey Munroe will probably feel that they left this one behind them although the draw preserves Mayo’s unbeaten start to the campaign.