Cruise for champions but Sarsfields survive in senior
Aoife Staunton marked the week she was shortlisted for an LGFA All-Star by scoring 12 points for Westport in Sunday’s championship rout of Charlestown Sarsfields.
Westport booked their spot in the Mayo LGFA senior semi-final after a comprehensive 27-points win over Charlestown Sarsfields in Castlebar last Sunday afternoon.
The defending senior champions top Group A following three wins in the group stages, while Charlestown’s season ends with senior status secured for next year.
It was a statement display from Westport as they proved too strong for Charlestown, with Aoife Staunton impressing. Shortlisted for an LGFA All-Star earlier in the week, Staunton scored a dozen points to help her side ease into the semi-finals.
Westport were off the mark after just 15 seconds when Larissa Kelly opened the scoring after her side won the throw-in. Aoife Staunton followed immediately and then added a free to give Westport a 0-3 to 0-0 lead after two minutes.
Charlestown struggled to get a foothold in the game as Westport piled on the pressure and hunted down every ball. Christina McEvilly pointed a free, with Aoibhinn McNamara and Larissa Kelly also finding the target as Westport moved 0-6 to 0-0 ahead after five minutes.
Aoife Kennedy added two points in a minute before Saoirse Ludden got on the scoresheet following a Westport turnover in their own half. Westport’s work-rate was immense, and they continued to dominate possession.
Charlestown battled hard and worked the ball through the Westport defence, with Chelsea Doherty seeing their first effort drift wide into the strong wind.
Aoife Staunton then added two more points to give Westport an 11-point advantage, with their first wide arriving in the 13th minute. She hit another excellent point from distance despite slipping before adding another after Noirín Moran turned over possession and quickly found her. Westport were now 0-13 to 0-0 ahead.
Charlestown finally threatened the Westport goal when Shona Mahon forced a save from Róisín Scott, who pushed the ball out for a ’45. Julia Gawalkievicz hit the placed ball into the wind, dropping just in front of the Westport goal, but the defence won the ball back and cleared their lines.
Charlestown got on the scoreboard in the 23rd minute when Chelsea Doherty converted a free. However, Westport almost immediately restored their 13-point lead when Aoife Staunton's effort was saved by Gawalkievicz. Saoirse Ludden picked up a loose pass from the Charlestown keeper but, with an empty net in front of her, she blasted over.
Two further points from Aoife Kennedy and Aoife Staunton left Westport 0-16 to 0-1 ahead at half-time.
Westport added another point within 40 seconds of the restart, but Charlestown responded with two scores from Ava Mai Casey and Chelsea Doherty to reduce the deficit to 0-17 to 0-3.
Aoife Staunton struck two more points before captain Jeanette O’Malley scored Westport’s first goal to make it 1-19 to 0-3.
Westport were working the ball up the field when they shouted for a Charlestown breach. As play continued, they worked the ball into the Charlestown penalty area and were eventually brought down.
Garryowen McMahon blew the whistle with the Westport side looking for a penalty. However, it was brought to the referee’s attention that there had been a breach from Charlestown and a free was given instead, which substitute Lisa Scahill struck and it dipped its way into the back of the Charlestown net, to leave Westport with a 2-19 to 0-3 lead.
Charlestown responded as they worked the ball up the field before corner-back Caoimhe Halligan took a shot off the outside of her right boot whilst being tackled to raise the white flag. This was quickly followed up by another Chelsea Doherty point to leave 20 between the sides, 2-19 to 0-5.
Substitute Laura Moran then hit Westport’s third goal after another swift move, with Scahill adding a point for a 3-20 to 0-5 lead.
Chelsea Doherty replied with another point for Charlestown, but Aoife Staunton, Laura Moran and Larissa Kelly all added to Westport’s tally before Nicole McLoughlin hit the final score of the game for the chasers.
Westport march on the semi-finals in formidable form.
Scorers – Westport: Aoife Staunton 0-12 (5f), Laura Moran and Lisa Scahill 1-1 each, Jeanette O’Malley 1-0, Larissa Kelly 0-3, Christina MacEvilly, Saoirse Ludden and Aoife Kennedy 0-2 each, Aoibhinn McNamara and Noirín Moran 0-1 each.
Charlestown: Chelsea Doherty 0-4 (1f), Ava Mai M Casey, Caoimhe Halligan and Nicole McLoughlin 0-1 each.
Westport: Roisin Scott; Sherin El Massry, Nicola O’Malley, Emma Conway; Rachel Browne, Jeanette O’Malley, Sarah Mulroy; Noirín Moran, Aoife Geraghty; Larissa Kelly, Aoife Staunton, Aoibhinn McNamara; Christina MacEvilly, Saoirse Ludden, Aoife Kennedy. Subs: Laura Moran and Lisa Scahill (for MacEvilly and Ludden ht), Sorcha McCarney (for N Moran 37), Saoirse Kelly (for Mulroy 45), Saoirse Byrne and Maria McDonnell (for Kennedy and McNamara 49).
Charlestown: Julia Gawalkievicz; Abby Conway, Heather Johnson, Caoimhe Halligan; Clodagh Murphy, Mary Peig Horkan, Emily Cassidy; Katie Gavin, Mia Durkin; Cailín Durkan, Síofra McGuinness, Kellee Crean; Chelsea Doherty, Ava Mai Casey, Shona Mahon. Subs: Nicole McLoughlin (for Mahon ht), Nora McGovern (for Conway 37), Mykala McLoughlin (for AM Casey 49), Leasha McHale (for Cassidy 51), Jessica Casey (for Durkan 53), Kiera Durkin (for Murphy 54), Erica O’Connor and Leah O’Grady (for Doherty and Crean 55).
REF: Garryowen McMahon (Davitts)
