Mayo goaled down by Wee County
The Mayo U16 Camogie side went down to Louth on Sunday in Round 2 of the All-Ireland U16 'C' Championship in a match played on the Gerry MacDonald Memorial Pitch in Castlebar.
Playing into the strong wind in the opening half, Mayo were in defensive mode from the start as both Aoife Murphy and Daisy Millar pointed for the Louth side. Mayo responded with their opening point of the game from Sinead Toland, but Louth's attacking dominance paid off as star forward Aoife Murphy goaled from close range.
The Mayo girls dug deep and were rewarded with another fine point - this time from Kate Moloney - as she converted from out near the sideline. A brace of Louth points before half time sent the Louth girls seven points in front at the break on a 1-6 to 0-2 scoreline.
Now playing with the strengthening breeze in the second half, it was Mayo who started strongest with Ann Toland (free) and Kate Moloney again (play) raising white flags for the home side.
Long periods of scoreless play followed as Mayo just couldn't get the scores to nose in front. Substitute Niamh Delaney, Ann Toland (free) and Moloney again eventually brought Mayo within two points of the opposition with minutes remaining on the clock.
But as Mayo pushed forward looking for the winning goal, Louth took advantage of gaps in the Mayo rearguard, and Aoife Murphy (goal) and Marie Keane (point) took the Wee County girls over the finish line - recording a six point win for the travelling outfit.
In the end, Mayo will be disappointed not to have taken their scoring chances - especially in the second half - but Louth's more efficiency in front of the uprights was what swung the game in their favour, Mayo will now face Tyrone away on Sunday, March 8, and will be looking for their first win of their campaign in that outing.
