Mayo ladies secure All-Ireland quarter-final spot
Maria Reilly of Mayo is tackled by Eva Gallagher of Donegal during the LGFA TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 3 match between Donegal and Mayo at Glenfin GAA Club in Donegal. Picture: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Mayo held off a late rally from Donegal to advance to the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Championship Quarter-Final, defeating the Ulster side 1-15 to 2-6 this afternoon in Glenfin.
The visitors led 0-8 to 1-1 at half-time but will feel they could have led by more at the break, hitting five wides with the wind behind them. Three points by Aoife Staunton, two apiece by Maria Reilly and Sinead Cafferky and a Lisa Cafferky free put Mayo in command but Abbie McGranaghan's major for Donegal on 24 minutes gave the home side hope.
Mayo outscored Donegal 0-4 to 0-1 in the third quarter, with Tara Needham and Sinead Cafferky sending over superb efforts, to extend the lead to seven. Donegal would hit back with four points without replay and made it a one-point game thanks to a second goal on 54 minutes by Susanne White after Mayo goalkeeper Laura Brennan was caught on the ball.
But Mayo would respond to the setback brilliantly as player of the match Lisa Cafferky fired back with 1-1, the goal coming from a loose kickout by Donegal goalkeeper Clare Friel, before Lynda Hanley made sure of the win with a point with two minutes remaining.
