Green and Red go the extra mile to overcome rivals
The Mayo squad pictured before their win against Galway in the Connacht U16 'A' football championship final.
Connacht LGFA U16 ‘A’ Championship – Final
Mayo 2-18
Galway 3-10
(AET; 2-11 to 3-8 after normal time)
At CoE Bekan
They were pushed to the brink but Mayo retained the Connacht U16 ‘A’ title in thrilling fashion on Sunday.
Emma’s Stagg nerveless late free in the final seconds sent this game to extra-time where Mayo’s superior fitness told, with Francis Regan’s side hitting six points without reply in the opening period to put away a Galway side that just ran out of gas.
Mayo’s bright start, where they scored the opening three points, was undone in the eighth minute through Laoise McDonagh’s first major. There was an instant response from the Green and Red, however, as Kate Byrne found the net seconds later.
The goal gave Mayo a boost as they would hit the next five scores, Stagg, Byrne and Lily Hession among the scorers. Galway would hit their own purple patch before the break, scoring 1-4, with Niamh Ní Fhátharta’s green flag leaving only a point between them, 1-8 to 2-4.
Six minutes into the second-half, Mayo won a penalty after Byrne was fouled and Stagg tucked it away. Coming into the final quarter, however, Galway led 3-7 to 2-8, as Laoise McDonagh scored a second goal.
A point from Eadaoin Hynes on 48 minutes left three between them but Mayo would dig deep to force this game to extra-time though Kate Byrne, a free, Aoibhinn McNamara and Stagg’s pressure kick.
Galway were rocked and Stagg, a free, a sensational score from Aoife Meaney, Kate Byrne and Siofra McGuinness all pointed to secure the title.
Scorers – Mayo: Emma Stagg 1-7 (1-0 pen, 0-4f); Kate Byrne 1-4, Aoife Meaney and Lily Hession 0-2 each, Siofra McGuinness, Aoibhinn McNamara and Lauren McHale (f) 0-1 each.
Galway: Laoise McDonagh 2-2, Gemma Casserly 0-6 (4f), Niamh Ní Fhátharta 1-0, Eadaoin Hynes and Ava Mullins 0-1 each.
Mayo: Kayla Hughes; Cliodhna Dowling, Isabelle Basquille, Cliona Cullen; Amy Doherty, Emma Higgins, Sophie Tiernan; Aoife Meaney, Sarah Dempsey; Lily Hession, Katie Hughes, Siofra McGuinness; Kate Byrne, Emma Stagg, Lauren McHale. Subs: Aoibhinn McNamara (for McHale), Doireann Guilfoyle (for Basquille), Ailbhe Ferguson (for Hession), Chloe Fahey (for Byrne), Grace Bailey (for Meaney).
Galway: Annabelle Kenny; India Cunniffe, Jasmine Treacy, Méabh Mahon; Molly McGrath, Isabel Killilea, Cara Cormican; Eadaoin Hynes, Mia O’Donnell; Clodagh Fallon, Gemma Casserly, Ava Mullins; Laura Adair, Laoise McDonagh, Niamh Ní Fhátharta. Subs: Grace McGrath (for Fallon), Katie Faragher for Ní Fhátharta), Sophie Heraty (for McGrath), Siobhan Conneely (for Cormican), Brianna Sheehy (for Adair).
REF: Gus Chapman (Sligo)
