Mayo U16s look to defend Connacht crown

The Mayo LGFA U16s face rivals Roscommon this Saturday in highly anticipated rematch this (Saturday) afternoon at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan, with Mayoe looking to retain their Connacht title when they meet the Rossies in the Connemara Blue Connacht U16 ‘A’ Final.

The championship decider sets up a compelling rematch between two evenly matched sides, after Mayo narrowly defeated Roscommon by just two scores in their group stage encounter at Swinford Amenity Park earlier in the campaign – Mayo's most challenging test to date.

The defending champions will compete without last year's final hero Emma Stagg from Hollymount, who continues her recovery from an ACL injury sustained during club action last autumn. It was Stagg's crucial free-kick that forced extra time against Galway in last year's final, before Mayo kicked on to secure victory in the additional period.

Despite this significant absence, Mayo have demonstrated remarkable depth throughout the championship. Their journey to the final has showcased a complete team performance, combining a formidable defensive unit with clinical forwards and exceptional athleticism across the field. Their campaign began with an impressive victory over Galway, followed by commanding performances against Leitrim and Sligo.

Manager Francis Regan expressed confidence in his squad ahead of Saturday's showdown.

"Preparations have been great. The girls are flying it, they're all really looking forward to the game." Highlighting what makes this team special, Regan added: "Their never-say-die attitude, their teamwork, and their incredible work rate stand out. They really go out and play for each other. I have so much faith in this panel."

Roscommon enter the final in excellent form, unbeaten against all opposition except for that narrow defeat to Mayo. Regan acknowledges the challenge ahead.

"They're a really good side, strong forward line, solid defensively, and a well-balanced team. We know we'll have to be at our best." For Mayo, the stakes couldn't be higher. "It's what we've been training for since November, to get back to the Connacht final," said Regan. "Any day there's a trophy on the line; it means a lot to the county. This is knock out football. We don’t want our season to end on Saturday."

The manager concluded with a passionate appeal to supporters: "Please get out and support the girls, shout like you're the 16th player on the pitch. The girls feed off that energy."

Saturday's final promises to deliver championship football at its finest as these talented young teams battle for Connacht glory. Throw-in for the final is at 4pm on Pitch 1, and tickets are available on the Mayo LGFA social media channels.