Goal-den touch returns Knockmore to summit of Mayo ladies football

Knockmore returned to the summit of Mayo ladies football with a clinical display over Burrishoole this afternoon to regain the Jimmy Corbett Perpetual Cup on a scoreline of 3-12 to 0-10.

Central to that success was former Mayo forward Shauna Howley, who tagged on 2-4 and bordered on unplayable throughout the contest.

Corner forwards Lara Sweeney and Amy O’Connor also impressed as 2022 winners Burrishoole, who stunned reigning champions Westport in the semi-finals, did not have the answers on this occasion against the rampant Saffron and Blue.

Howley raised her first green flag for Knockmore inside the opening minute, but Burrishoole were back to within one on 12 minutes thanks to Hannah Sheehy, Ava Kelly and Maria Cannon.

Knockmore, however, found the net a second time before the end of the first quarter. Referee Pat Conlon awarded the north Mayo ladies a penalty when Howley was brought down, and Sweeney fired home.

Burrishoole continued to pressure Knockmore, and Cannon, Hannah Sheehy and Niamh O’Malley again brought the gap to one. But Knockmore reeled off the final four points of the half through Howley, Amy O’Connor and a brace from Sweeney to leave it 2-6 to 0-7 at the break.

Knockmore picked up in the second half where they left off in the first as Howley and Sweeney stretched their lead to seven, with Cannon scoring the only point for Burrishoole in the third quarter.

The title was wrapped up on 49 minutes when Sarah Mulvihill picked out Howley, who unleashed a rocket past Grainne McManamon. Burrishoole would score only one more point from hereon in as Emily Reape, O’Connor and Howley rounded off a ruthless display for Knockmore as they won their first Mayo senior title since 2023, and their third of this decade.

*See Tuesday's Western People for full coverage