Model display as Mayo demolish Wexford visitors
Mayo’s Maria Reilly scores a goal in the closing minutes of last Sunday's Lidl LGFA NFL Division 2 tie with Wexford at Swinford Amenity Park. Pictures: David Farrell Photography
A comprehensive 22 points win was Mayo’s answer to their opening round draw, as Diane O’Hora’s side kickstarted their league campaign with an impressive demolition of Wexford on Sunday.
The Green and Red gave an exhibition in front of their supporters in Swinford, leading by nine points at half-time and only building on that further in the second-half.
Things had been tit for tat in the opening minutes, as both sides wasted no time in finding their range. Erin Murray pointed for Mayo with a minute played and Ciara Roban replied for Wexford soon after. Aoife Geraghty provided a curling finish to round off a slick Mayo team move but her opposite number, Bebhinn McDonald, quickly replied, tapping over a point from close range following a solo and go free.
Sinead Walsh converted a free after fifteen minutes to edge the hosts ahead for a third time before Mayo struck for their first of five goals on the day. Erin Murray played through Saoirse Delaney and after already denied by a fine save from Wexford goalkeeper Siobhan Cloake, the Aghamore forward made no mistake in finding the bottom left corner of the net this time around.
Mayo were four points clear and while 10 minutes passed before the scoreboard changed again, it was worth the wait as Aoife Staunton found Mayo’s second goal with 26 minutes played. Ciara Needham flew through the Model County defence before playing through the Westport forward who rattled the ball into the back of the net. Wexford were dealt a further blow when Grace Donovan was sent for ten minutes on the sideline following her high challenge on Mayo captain Ella Brennan.
As stoppage time arrived, Mayo extended their lead to nine points with Needham and Staunton adding further singles to leave Mayo 2-5 to 0-2 ahead at the half-time break, despite playing against the wind.
Wexford got the second-half scoring underway with Ciara Banville pointing after 38 minutes. Walsh and the freshly introduced Maria Reilly both responded for Mayo with points from play before Aoife Cullen opened her account for the visitors. But before Cullen would kick hers and Wexford’s next score, Mayo were out of sight.
O’Hora’s girls rightly turned on the style, hitting an unanswered 1-3, raising every flag possible in the process. Tara Needham split the posts from play, Sinead Cafferky rattled the ball into the roof of the Wexford net on the half volley with a sweet strike, while Sinead Walsh fired over Mayo’s first two pointer under the new rules. This left Mayo fifteen points to the good.
Wexford interrupted Mayo’s scoring run with Cullen swinging over a couple of frees and Banville added her second to complete the visitors tally for the day, reducing the deficit to twelve points. However, Mayo weren’t finished yet.
The manager must have been pleased as 2-3 of her side’s final 2-4 came from players sprung from the bench. Sinead Cafferkey and Erin Murray both added points from play before the latter turned playmaker for Mayo’s fourth goal. Murray sent a high delivery into the Wexford square and Maria Reilly was first to the dropping ball, punching it into the back of the net.
Bree Hession found Mayo’s thirteenth point from a tight angle while Suzanne Tuohy rounded off Mayo’s points for the afternoon. Reilly completed the 5-14 tally with her second goal, rounding the goalie following creative play from Cafferky, leaving Mayo the victors by an impressive 22 points margin.
Scorers – Mayo: Maria Reilly 2-0-1, Aoife Staunton and Sinead Cafferkey 1-0-1 each, Sinead Walsh 0-1-2 (1f), Saoirse Delaney 1-0, Erin Murray 0-0-2, Aoife Geragthy, Ciara Needham, Tara Needham, Bree Hession and Suzanne Tuohy 0-0-1 each.
Wexford: Aoife Cullen 0-0-3 (2f), Ciara Banville 0-0-2, Bebhinn McDonald and Ciara Roban 0-0-1 each.
Mayo: Laura Brenna; Eilis Ronayne, Danielle Caldwell, Lucy Wallace; Ella Brennan, Ciara Needham, Lynda Hanley; Aoife Geraghty, Erin Murray; Aoife Kennedy, Aoife Staunton, Tara Needham; Hannah Reape, Sinead Walsh, Saoirse Delaney. Subs: Kayla Doherty (for Delaney), Maria Reilly (for Staunton), Sinead Cafferky (for Reape), Sherrin El Massry (for Caldwell), Bree Hession (for Walsh), Ava McDonnell (for Ronayne), Finola Collins (for C Needham), Clodagh Murphy (for T Needham), Laura Moran (for Brennan).
Wexford: Siobhan Cloake; Katie English, Aoife Tormey, Kellyanne Dempsey; Julia Dempsey, Aisling Halligan, Niamh Cullen; Bebhinn McDonaldh, Orlagh Kehoe; Ciara Banville, Ciara Roban, Sherene Hamilton; Roisin Hughes, Grace Donovan, Orlaith Byrne. Subs: Ameilia Furlong (for Hamilton), Aoife Cullen (for Roban), Ailis Neville (for Donovan), Aoife Fortune (for Byrne).
