Mayo senior ladies ready for championship opener
Danielle Caldwell will captain Mayo for the 2025 All-Ireland senior championship. Picture: INPHO/Leah Scholes
The Mayo senior ladies will begin their 2025 TG4 Connacht Senior Championship campaign this Sunday with a highly anticipated clash against newcomers to the senior championship, Leitrim, in Swinford.
Under the leadership of two-time All-Star Danielle Caldwell, this Mayo team are eager to put their Division 1 league relegation behind them and focus on their championship campaign.
Caldwell, a stalwart of Castlebar Mitchels, has been the rock in Mayo's defensive lineup and brings a wealth of experience to the team, and she is keen to get this championship battle started.
"Obviously, we were disappointed to be relegated from Division 1, but this championship - this is what the season is about, and we are really looking forward Leitrim next Sunday," said Caldwell.
"Having a new team at senior level in Connacht adds a bit of spice, and we are well prepared for what lies ahead.
"Leitrim put in a great performance last year to beat Tyrone in the Intermediate final, and we know their calibre, but we are focused on getting our performance right and looking forward to the game."
Speaking at the launch of the Connacht Championship, Connacht LGFA President Brendan Cregg had high praise for the teams competing in this year’s competition, saying: “It’s great to have three senior teams in Connacht. We’ve had Mayo and Galway for a long time and it’s great that Leitrim won the Intermediate All Ireland last year. It just shows how strong football is in Connacht that we now have three senior teams.
“Leitrim’s performance in the All-Ireland final last year against Tyrone was one of the best performances I’ve seen in a long time in Croke Park. They’re a team that can raise themselves for the big occasion and I expect them to have a really good shot at the Connacht Championship.
“Mayo is a fantastic football county. They have a great tradition. The league doesn’t count for an awful lot when it comes to Championship, so I expect Mayo to bounce back now and put up a great performance in the Championship.
“Galway have had a great start (to the year) to win the Division 2 league, and I think the game against Cork in the final will really stand to them. It was a real stern test and it will stand to them in the Championship.”
Despite being relegated to Division 2 for next season, Mayo put in some stellar performances in their Division 1 league campaign and were fiercely competitive with the best in the country. Sinéad Walsh finished up as the lead scorer in Division 1, a wonderful individual feat for the McHale Rovers player.
Mayo also blooded some young talent with some fantastic performances from senior debutants, Bree Hession and Ríona Jordan. There were also some outstanding displays from the more experienced in the setup, with Lucy Wallace, Hannah Reape, Erin Murray and Saoirse Lally all stepping up to the plate.
The upcoming match against Leitrim marks the beginning of Mayo's journey in the 2025 championship, and the team is determined to make a strong statement.
With a blend of seasoned leaders and emerging talents, Mayo is poised for a competitive season ahead. This championship opener at home is just the game needed to showcase the talent and determination of this group.
