Mixed results for Mayo girls in Inter-League 

Mayo Schoolboys/Girls had three of its girls squads in action last weekend. Both the under 12s and under 13s had Inter-League group matches in Galway on Saturday while the under 14s had a home Shield quarter-final against Cork on Sunday.

First out playing Galway 2 at Eamon Deacy Park on Saturday was the under-12s. They made a very bright opening forcing three corners in the opening two minutes. A fantastic move up the left flank on seven minutes involving Eadoin Mulroy, Sadhbh McDonagh and Anna Holmes saw Anna go very close. She went even closer two minutes later with a rasping shot that was just too high. In their first attack of note, the home side went ahead in the 10th minute. Holmes was close again from a corner in the 14th minute and she forced the home ‘keeper into a superb save in the 17th minute. Anna Holmes turned provider a minute later for Sadhbh McDonagh to follow up with a cracking shot to the corner of the net to tie the match up.

Mulroy went close twice in quick succession as Mayo very much took the game to Galway. Birthday girl and captain Caoimhe Corcoran was doing great work at the base of the midfield and Sadhbh McGauley was providing continuous support up the flank from right back. Corcoran and Mulroy both had shots saved and Deirdre Gilmore in the Mayo goal parried away a Galway free-kick as the half ended.

The second half opened with Holmes showing wonderful defending from the front by winning the ball back high up the pitch but her effort was inches wide. The home side were still dangerous on the counter attack but Jamie Browne and Caitlin Cummins got in some timely interventions. Mayo went ahead in the 41st minute with a goal the late great Denis Law would have been proud of. Laoise Heneghan did not hang about waiting as a high ball looped in towards the keeper but she showed great awareness to quickly to hammer home the rebound. Anna Holmes got the goal that her brilliant all-round game deserved when she rounded a defender and the goalkeeper and kept her final effort on target as it rolled just over the line before the retreating ‘keeper could get to it.

Mayo management utilised the remainder of the match day squad with Amy Joyce, Nessa Lenihan, Ruth Donnelly, Katie Rava, Katelyn Moore, Jane Hennelly and Mary Jane Cunnane all getting game time. Mayo now face Roscommon and District in their final group match in February. The game was refereed by John Conway.

In a very spirited display, the Mayo under-13 girls edged the game against their Galway counterparts with the solitary goal. Galway have a serious attacking ethos in this age group and it required Mayo to be disciplined and prepared to move the ball quickly when in possession something they did.

The tie was settled late in the second half after a spell in which Mayo began to dominate. They were awarded a penalty for handball and Lexi Murphy dispatched with aplomb and a few minutes later the final whistle was sounded. Mayo now top their group and look well placed progressing in the knockout stages.

The under-14s girls squad had their game in Umbro Park, Castlebar on Sunday, with CWSSL (Cork) being their opponents.

Mayo soaked up some early Cork pressure before edging ahead on six minutes. Saoirse Reynolds on the edge of the Cork penalty area, played a superb reverse pass which Rheanna Hoban took in her stride before placing the ball in the corner of the net.

Unfortunately, this was to prove as good as it got for Mayo because the visiting side then took almost complete control of the game. Cork’s main problem was that they were lacking a cutting edge to finish off excellent attacks up both flanks regularly shooting wide or playing the ball directly into the hands of competent Mayo goalkeeper Jane Moran.

Just as it seemed Mayo would somehow make it to half-time without conceding, the Cork girls finally got something on the scoreboard to reflect their dominance. Moran made a smart save in first half stoppage time to ensure that the teams turned around at 1-1.

On 38 minutes, Cork scored what would prove to be the winner. Great hold up play followed by an exquisite through ball from Mia Quille found Eva Barry in space and she rifled her shot past Moran in the Mayo goal. On the day Quille was, by a distance, the standout footballer on view with a wonderful game intelligence of always being able to play the correct pass.

Cork had an effort correctly ruled out for offside in the 45th minute and their vast superiority in the midfield area in particular, meant that chances kept coming for them. Moran made the save of the match in the 63rd minute a superb one-handed effort down to her right at the expense of a corner.

With time running out Mayo threw everything at the Cork rearguard with Reynolds working the ‘keeper and Molly Sheridan saw their last chance saved at the expense of a corner which was cleared and the final whistle sounded for a 2-1 Cork victory.

On the day Cork were the much better side and played with a level of technique and teamwork way higher and the scoreline really flattered Mayo. The Mayo girls will have to dust themselves down and get their preparations ready for the Gaynor Cup in June where Mayo have such a great history and tradition. The referee here was Pearse Concannon.