Final shoot-out brings cruel end to heroic Mayo effort
The pain of defeat is etched on the faces of Mayo players at the conclusion of the free-kick shoot-out after an enthralling Connacht LGFA Minor Championship final at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excelence in Bekan last Saturday. Pictures: David Farrell Photography
Mayo suffered a heart-breaking defeat in this enthralling minor final played at a sun-drenched Bekan on Saturday evening. There was no separating these great rivals after a tense extra-time period and a free-kick shoot-out was required to determine a winner, with Galway eventually emerging victorious. Neither of these great sides deserved to lose in such a way and a replay would have been the fairest outcome, however, sport can be cruel at times.
“That is a devastating defeat for the girls and it is a cruel way to lose a game of football,” admitted Mayo manager Brian McLoughlin afterwards. “I felt that we were the better team on the day, however, Galway took their chances in the end.
“The best of luck to Galway, they won it, but what do you say to the Mayo team after that?” pondered McLoughlin. “They put everything into that game. However, that’s football and we knew the rules ahead of the game.” Some supporters were still filing into the stand when the opening score of normal time was notched, as Galway’s Gemma Casserly struck over a point inside the first minute, with her teammate Alisha O’Malley doubling the advantage soon after.
Mayo attacked with great energy and the hosts quickly levelled matters courtesy of singles from Kate Byrne, a free, and the industrious Aoife Meaney.
The aforementioned Alisha O’Malley was a constant threat for the Mayo rearguard and the Galway captain pounced for a three-pointer on seven minutes, much to the delight of the Galway supporters.
Those in attendance were set for a dingdong battle though, and Mayo once again restored parity on eight minutes. The dynamic duo of Byrne and Kayla Doherty combined and the latter’s exquisite finish was beyond the reach of Eadie Ryan and the sides were level at 1-2 apiece.
O’Malley added the first of her six frees on nine minutes, before Galway very nearly fashioned a second goal. A chance was conjured up for Ava Heneghan, with her initial effort being parried by Kayla Hughes, who then displayed ‘cat-like’ reflexes to deny Heneghan once again from the rebound.
Mayo made the most of that reprieve and a brace of white-flagged efforts from Doherty, including one free, shunted the Green and Red into a slender one point lead, before a deserving water-break was called by the referee on 19 minutes.
The Mayo full-back and half-back lines worked tigerishly during the first-half and they brilliantly nullified the Galway attack on numerous occasions, but a free from O’Malley on 30 minutes ensured that the sides were level at 1-4 apiece during the half-time musings.
Similar to the first half, the Maroon and White notched the opening score of the second-half, as Alisha O’Malley once again displayed her precise free-taking abilities on 38 minutes. But when a free from Doherty on 40 minutes was buttressed by a gem of a point by Meaney on 46 minutes – which also signalled the second water-break – Mayo were in front on the scoreboard.
Both sides were full of endeavour but they found scores difficult to acquire in the scorching heat, with the next white-flagged effort not occurring until the 58th minute, when O’Malley levelled matters from the placed ball.
Mayo upped the tempo during the final moments of normal time and the home supporters may have felt that a provincial title was within their side’s grasp after The Neale’s Kate Brennan landed a sky-scraper of a point on 59 minutes.
However, five minutes into injury-time, Galway were awarded a close-range free which was duly converted by O’Malley. Seconds later, the full-time whistle sounded and both sides had to prepare for extra-time at the sun-soaked venue.
Charlestown’s Ava Mai Casey scored a majestic long-range point four minutes in, before her teammate Kate Byrne added a tidy white-flagged effort. And just before the end of the first-half of extra-time, Kate Brennan set-up Aoife Meaney whose point ensured a healthy 1-10 to 1-7 lead for Brian McLoughlin’s troops during the short break.
Galway, however, were not out of this contest, and they netted a fortuitous equalising goal on 71 minutes, when a hit and hope ball fell kindly to their substitute Niamh Ní Fhátharta and the An Spideal forward rustled the back of the net.
Mayo didn’t panic and a fine score from Westport’s Meaney nudged her team back into a slender 1-11 to 2-7 lead. But there was still time for some more late drama in this pulsating contest, with O’Malley’s expertly taken free levelling matters once again.
Both sides did their utmost to fashion a winning score, however, a dreaded 25 metre free-kick shoot-out was required to determine the destination of the silverware. Mayo were first up, with Doherty’s effort agonisingly hitting the post before Alisha O’Malley uncharacteristically saw her effort for Galway sail inches wide. Mayo’s next four frees were guided over by Meaney, Byrne, Lily Hession and Brennan, with Galway replying in kind courtesy of Cara Cormican, Bróna Garvey, Fallon and Ní Fhátharta.
The shoot-out then went to sudden death, with Mayo’s Isobel Phillips most unlucky to see her effort flash narrowly wide, before Salthill/Knocknacarra’s Mia O’Donnell guided over her free to secure a most dramatic victory for Galway.
As cruel as the outcome was on his Mayo team, Brian McLoughlin focused on the positives and expressed huge pride and admiration in their efforts.
“I have to give huge credit to the players. The heat was unbearable, however, they fought tooth and nail till the end. There is a bright future for those Mayo players.
“I would also like to thank all of our backroom team, including the likes of Tom McGing and John McDonnell. Michelle McGing is a legend of football and she brought a huge amount of experience into the set-up and the players learned so much from Michelle throughout the campaign.” Scorers – Kayla Doherty 1-3 (0-2f), Aoife Meaney 0-4, Kate Byrne 0-2 (1f), Kate Brennan and Ava Mai Casey 0-1 each.
Galway: Alisha O’Malley 1-7 (0-6f), Niamh Ní Fhátharta 1-0, Clodagh Fallon 0-1.
Mayo: Kayla Hughes; Emma Higgins, Caoilfhionn Tighe, Anna Roche; Grace McDonnell, Isobel Phillips, Kate Brennan; Larissa Kelly, Rhona Brennan; Lily Hession, Ashleagh Salmon, Cliodhna Dowling; Kate Byrne, Kayla Doherty, Aoife Meaney. Subs: Ava Mai Casey (for Salmon 48), Anna Mai Regan (for Kelly 49), Lucy Molloy (for Brennan 56), Ali Hughes (for Dowling 60+3), Mallaidh Lavelle (for Casey 61).
Galway: Eadie Ryan; Mia O’Donnell, Jessica Ross, Aoibhinn Madden; Amy Ni Chlochártaigh, Zainab Rather, Bróna Garvey; Hannah Mangan, Éadaoin Hynes; Eabha Ledesma, Ava Heneghan, Aoibhinn Redington; Clodagh Fallon, Alisha O’Malley, Gemma Casserly. Subs: Emelia Joyce (for Casserly 36), Cara Cormican (for Ledesma 51), Niamh Ní Fhátharta (for Heneghan 60+2), Alisha King (for Redington 60), India Cunniffe (for Mangan 70+1), Redington (for Hynes 72).
REF: Gus Chapman (Sligo)
