Four Mayo teams in Inter-League action last month

The Mayo Schoolboys/Girls and Youths AFL had four of its female sides in Inter-League action on the weekend of February 21/22 last.

The Mayo under-12s were in Mungret, Limerick facing Limerick Green in a Shield Quarter-Final. Results have been mixed for this young side as they find their way in their first year at this level, but this was to prove to be one of their best performances of the season.

The Mayo girls started well and took a deserved lead with a brilliant header by Hannah Kelly from a corner from Aoise Maguire. Further goals by Naomi Hanrahan and Hannah Gardiner made it 3-0 to Mayo before half-time. Brianna Glynn was most unlucky not to add a further goal when she hit the post with a brilliant effort.

A fantastic long-range strike by Lauren Forde, an Emily Ryan effort from close range and a calm finish from Lucy Durkan matched the first half goal tally with Mayo running out facile 6-0 winners. Mayo were very impressive at the other end of the pitch too with stellar displays by Amelia Canavan, Abbie O’Toole, Charlotte O’Neill and Aoibhinn O’Hora. Both goalkeepers used, Anna Cawley and Alannah Dixon, were instrumental in garnering the clean sheet. Ruby Brady was impressive throughout and the impact of Maely Hegarty, Saoirse Gill and Lilly McCarthy was instrumental in an overall impressive display by an improving Mayo side. They now have an Inter-League Semi-Final away to NERL in Navan later this month.

Both the Mayo under-13s and under-14s were in Clara, Co Offaly facing the local Midlands League. The older side were up first in a Shield Semi-Final facing Midlands Red. Playing into a strong wind in the first half Mayo were forced on the back foot from the off but a shuddering Lexi Murphy tackle near the corner flag certainly lay down a marker from early doors. The centre back partnership of Ayda Bristow and Maebh McGeough were very impressive throughout the game but especially in that opening half when the home side certainly had the majority of the ball. Anna Joyce also caught the eye in an excellent showing. 

Sights of either goal were at a premium although Mayo should have won it in the second half when they were awarded a penalty, but the home goalkeeper pulled off a good save down to her left. Scoreless after the regulation 70 minutes necessitated two ten-minute periods of extra-time. Mayo upped the ante in the first period building a 2-0 lead with two superb goals from Karla Gibbons and Ellen Masterson. Mayo showed great composure and game management to see the game through to the final whistle and that scoreline. This squad and its management team of Michael McGeough, David Bristow, Helen McGeough and Clare O’Malley now have an Inter-League Final in University of Limerick later this month.

The Mayo under-13s faced into the strong wind in the opening half facing Midlands Blue. Deirdre Gilmore in the Mayo girl pulled off a smart save in the opening minute. A couple of minutes later Mayo carved out their first chance when good approach play by Grace Gibbons and Laoise Heneghan set up the chance for Eadoin Mulroy which was just off target.

Laoise went even closer a few minutes later before Midlands had their first chances of note in the 10th and 12th minutes. Laoise had a shot saved with 19 minutes on the clock and five minutes later saw a Lauren Hanrahan free-kick whistle wide of the post. Eadoin had gone close again after good work by Anna Jennings before Eadoin converted Caoimhe Corcoran’s cross to give Mayo the lead on 26 minutes. As the whistle blew for half-time Mayo had seen good showings by Caitlin Cummins, Alice Burrows, captain on the day Ali Clarke, Lucy Cunnigham and Katelyn Moore.

Mayo built on their first half showing by extending their lead on 36 minutes when Lucy Duffy found the net from a most acute angle down the left. Laoise was just wide with a free kick, but the home side were right back in it on 42 minutes courtesy of a penalty. Eight minutes later the game was tied up when the home side scored from a corner and their purple patch saw them go two goals ahead during the next seven minutes leaving Mayo with a mountain to climb.

Undaunted, Mayo came on strong again and a Lucy Duffy free kick with two minutes of normal time remaining left the bare deficit between the teams. Two well delivered Duffy corners deep into stoppage time were scrambled clear and the full-time result was 4-3 to Midlands Blue.

Amy Joyce, Ruth Donnelly, Abbie Dockeray, Aine Hughes, Lucy Murphy and Anna Holmes all served Mayo well in the second half as management utilised everyone in the 19-girl matchday squad. This side has had trouble putting a full match of good football together. They have excelled in certain periods of games and dropped their guard in other periods and been punished for it. All they can do is to continue to train hard and hope to iron those issues out of their game. They now face a home Trophy quarter-final against Clare later this month.

Finally, the Mayo under-15s were in Belfast facing South Belfast where the day just didn’t go as planned and they shipped a heavy defeat. These things happen and as a famous son of Belfast sang, there will be “days like this!”