Fresh challenge awaits champions from Moyside

For Moy Davitts and Sandra Hall, ending a 13-year wait for a county title brought both relief and joy to the club.

They defeated Aghamore 2-7 to 1-6 in an exciting encounter at MacHale Park last Sunday week, as they returned to senior football – and booked their passage to this season’s Connacht LGFA intermediate championship.

Next Sunday they’ll enjoy home advantage against Tuam Cortoon in the provincial semi-final, after the Galway champions dispatched Kiltubrid of Leitrim last Saturday by 0-15 to 2-04.

According to Moy Davitts captain Sandra Hall, the full-time whistle on the day of the county final brought a range of emotions, both for her and her teammates.

“It was such a relief to get over the line. We worked very hard this year, and we had that belief in ourselves, something felt different in the last couple of weeks, and I think we all believed we could do it.

“To come through a tight semi-final and a final makes it all the more special. A two-point win in a semi-final and a four-point win in a final made it all the more exciting.” 

From the saves of Emma Galligan, who was named player of the match, to the two goals from Kasey Ruane, it was a team effort right across the pitch that helped to secure victory over Aghamore. After coming up short in finals and semi-finals in recent years, Moy Davitts were not going to let this opportunity pass.

“We had this great grit that we felt like this is our chance, we didn’t want to let it go. It would feel like a long slog again when we were so close.

“We had great performances throughout the pitch and Emma definitely kept us in the game with some great saves in the first and second-halves.

“Two goals from Kasey Ruane at one end, Emma saving more than two goals down the other end, that was the winning of the game in the end. Goals win games as they say.” 

The age range of the Moy Davitts team is from 15 to 40, from players who have seen it all to young women who are only beginning their journey.

For Sandra Hall, the young players who stepped up and took responsibility in vital moments made all the difference in the final.

“There is a 25-year age gap between the youngest and oldest on the team. I think over the last couple of weeks, the younger players became so much more confident and comfortable in the group. They were just so willing to take the ball on. In the earlier games, they would probably be passing it off quicker.

“Everybody just had this great sense of togetherness. The management team really instilled belief in us in the last couple of weeks. They were so confident that we could do it and they made us believe that we could, and it definitely worked.

“We have 15-year-old Rhea Gostick, who came on with about 15 minutes to go and she must have got on the ball within 10 seconds. She wanted that ball, and we wanted her to have it too because we had confidence in her. It didn’t really matter who was on the ball, because we trusted each other equally with it.” 

In what is bonus territory for the county intermediate champions, Sandra Hall is excited by the challenge to come next Sunday – and maybe even beyond.

“I don’t think any club at the start of the year, their aim is about Connacht. I think everybody’s aim is the county final.

“At the same time, why not us? Why couldn’t we go further now? It is great the journey continues and there is another game.

“There is more unknown. The likes of me being around a long time, you get to know the teams in Mayo very well. You could name most players on the teams, [but] we are going into opposition now that we know nothing about. In one way, that's no harm; you would nearly be thinking too much about who you are marking.

“You just have to go in now and play to our own strengths.” 

The Connacht LGFA Intermediate Championship semi-final between Moy Davitts and Tuam Cortoon will take place in Sraith Garbh, Foxford next Sunday, October 25 at 1pm.