Mayo girls are in a league of their own
Mayo's Brona Joyce jumps for joy.
A fruitful first-half with the wind at their backs provided Mayo with the foundation to enjoy the second-half and secure the Centra Camogie League Division 3B title, despite a valiant fightback by Monaghan, at Edgeworthstown, on Saturday last.
Méabh Tunney grabbed a 10th minute goal and with captain Lisa Scahill hitting five points and a further three from play by Ava Dooley, daughter of joint-manager Peter, the westerners were in pole position leading by 1-10 to 0-1 at the change of ends.
The Farney women, fielding at adult level for the first time since winning a second straight All-Ireland junior ‘B’ championship in 2011, showed that they will have much to offer as the season unfolds with a better showing after the resumption, Scahill did score a brilliant goal for Mayo in the 53rd minute, one of only three scores for the Green and Red after the restart, and though Kiera McLaughlin kicked to the net for Monaghan deep in injury time, there was never a doubt about the destination of the silverware.
Mayo, who themselves sat out in 2025, having made their own return after a lengthy absence in 2021, got off to a good start with a point from Laoise Greally with just 68 seconds elapsed, after Rebecca Hamill had saved a Tunney piledriver. The Connacht crew did not assert themselves immediately however, due in no small part to the excellent defending of Jessica Cullen and Mary McManus.
Remarkably, McManus is one of three survivors from when Monaghan signed off with that Máire Ní Chinnéide Cup two-in-a-row, when she was still Meehan. The others are co-captain Marie Greenan and Michelle Morgan, who was joined on the starting team in this game by her daughters Sioneen and Codi.
A couple of converted frees by Lisa Scahill, and Ava Dooley’s first made it 0-4 to no score but when Méabh Tunney broke through the last line of defence and gave Hamill no chance with a low, hard drive, Mayo were truly on their way. Scahill, Dooley and Tunney split the posts another six times between them before the short whistle.
Monaghan were struggling to feed their attack and their sole point into the wind came in the 19th minute from Marie Greenan, who had scored 5-3 when Monaghan marked their return to this stage with a two-goal victory against Donegal last month.
The second-half was much more keenly contested, though short on scores. Scahill and Tunney pointed for the winners, while Keenan hit five points from frees from Monaghan.
Scahill’s goal came as Tunney drove a free from distance into the danger zone, the skipper gathering smartly, turning and letting fly with a powerful shot.
Monaghan never gave up however, and McLaughlin’s goal was due reward – but it was Mayo’s day Scorers – Mayo: Lisa Scahill 1-6 (0-3f), Méabh Tunney 1-2, Ava Dooley 0-3, Laoise Greally 0-1.
Monaghan: Marie Greenan 0-6 (5f), Keira McLaughlin 1-0.
Mayo: Grainne Robinson; Shauna Peoples, Sharron Lynskey, Grainne Delaney; Caoimhe Delaney, Ella Deely, Éabha Delaney; Niamh Greally, Niamh Kennedy; Méabh Tunney, Lisa Scahill, Roisín Cassidy; Ava Dooley, Brona Joyce, Laoise Greally. Subs: Kate Scahill, Hannah Tener, Ciara Delaney, A Quinn.
Monaghan: R Hamill; L Kindlon, M McManus, S Morgan; C Agnew J Cullen, L Dempsey; R Duffy, R O’Sullivan; A Byrne, E Cullen, C Morgan; M Morgan, M Greenan, N Kelly. Subs: D Quigley, K McLaughlin.
REF: Ciaran Groome (Offaly)
