Sammon in flying form as Claremorris crush the Saints

Mayo LGFA Junior Championship Final 

Claremorris 2-16 

St Brigid’s 0-04  

It felt as though you were watching a star being born with the joyful performance of 16-year-old Ashleagh Sammon who scored 1-7 from play in a resounding county junior final triumph for Claremorris at the Connacht Centre of Excellence on Saturday.

From the opening whistle, Sammon and her Claremorris team-mates displayed a level of dominance that was truly unexpected given their prior encounter with St Brigid’s during the championship’s group stages. St Brigid’s had won by five points that day but Saturday seems to have been a defining moment for Claremorris.

What set them apart was their remarkable youthfulness, with eight starting players having recently secured the county minor ‘A’ title. Their energy was on full display as Claremorris executed a brand of football that was a sight to behold. It was free-flowing, exuberant, and stylish, showcasing their skills in a way that would captivate fans at any level.

The star of the show was Ashleagh Sammon, whose performance was nothing short of sensational. It wasn’t just the quantity of her scoring but the quality, with each point displaying remarkable accuracy and composure. Beyond her scoring prowess, Sammon exhibited a keen playmaking ability too, creating numerous opportunities for her team-mates with her graceful and classy style.

The excellence of Claremorris extended beyond Sammon though, with a the team demonstrating a strong defence; Ellie Maguire, Síle Hughes, and Sarah Shaughnessy formed an impregnable full-back line while the Cummins twins, Aisling and Amy, in tandem with Síomha McNulty, made up a relentless half-back line that exhibited tenacity and positivity throughout.

St Brigid’s, who had been prolific scorers in the championship, were held to a mere four points, a testament to Claremorris’s disciplined defensive performance — one that saw them concede not a single free within scorable range.

While Sammon dazzled in the forward line, she was complemented by her capable team-mates, in particular Rebecca Kean and team captain Laura Kelly who delivered a classy 1-6 between them, contributing significantly to Claremorris’ impressive tally.

The Blues left nothing to chance and took control early in the match, sprinting to a 1-6 to 0-1 lead within the first quarter. Playing with the wind at their backs, they were clinical in their attacks. Three points from Kean, including two frees, two from Kelly and a point by Sammon preceded a beautifully executed play between Kean and Alana Fitzpatrick which resulted in a goal for the former, further solidifying Claremorris’ lead.

As the first-half progressed, that dominance continued to expand, with Sammon adding two more points to her tally before landing a goal on the stroke of half-time. In contrast, St Brigid’s could only manage a single point from their captain, Louise Fogarty, during the opening 30 minutes, leaving the scoreboard reading 2-8 to 0-1 at the interval.

There remained a sense of hope among St Brigid’s supporters that playing with the wind might now turn the tide in their favour. Ava McDonnell did halt a near half-hour scoring drought with a well-struck point from open play, however, the game’s pivotal moment arrived a minute later when McDonnell earned a penalty.

Stepping up to take the kick herself, Ava McDonnell faced a formidable adversary in goalkeeper Claire Keane who made a brilliant save, extinguishing any possibility of a St Brigid’s resurgence. From that moment on, Claremorris only grew stronger, keeping St Brigid’s at more than arm’s length.

The third quarter saw points exchanged by both sides, with Kean and Síomha McNulty hitting the target for Claremorris while Sammon also continued to impress with four exceptional points, extending the South Mayo side’s lead to a seemingly insurmountable 15 points.

To their credit, St Brigid’s never threw in the towel and fought valiantly until the final whistle. Substitute Anna McDonnell scored two points from open play, but the day undoubtedly belonged to Claremorris.

Marina Cawley made her mark on the scoresheet for Claremorris and Bree Hession, known for her five-goal performance in this year’s minor final, also found herself on the scoresheet, a fitting reward for her relentless work-rate.

It feels like more trophies are for the taking in the future.

Scorers — Claremorris: Ashleagh Sammon 1-7, Rebecca Kean 1-3 (2f) Laura Kelly 0-3, Bree Hession, Síomha McNulty and Marina Cawley 0-1 each.

St Brigid’s: Anna McDonnell 0-2, Louise Fogarty and Ava McDonnell 0-1 each.

Claremorris: Claire Keane; Sarah Shaughnessy, Ellie Maguire, Aisling Cummins; Amy Cummins, Síomha McNulty, Síle Hughes; Alana Fitzpatrick, Kayleigh O’Brien; Marina Cawley, Rebecca Kean, Bree Hession; Ashleagh Sammon, Nina Wallace, Laura Kelly. Subs: Sienna Kelly (for O’Brien 39), Eilis Higgins (for Shaughnessy 41), Deirbhile Horkan (for Wallace 51), Leah Hunt (for Sammon 59).

St Brigid’s: Ciara Murphy; Saoirse Gallagher, Aoibhin Bilbow, Michelle Moyles; Aishling Moyles, Melanie Moyles, Leona Ruane; Aishling Bilbow, Yvonne Gilroy; Michelle O’Meara, Ava McDonnell, Leah Maheady; Louise Fogarty, Erin Naylor, Keeva McDonnell. Subs: Karen Laylor (for M Moyles 19), Anna McDonnell (for Naylor ht), Ceola Gallagher (for Ruane 41), Anna Heffernan (for McDonnell 57).

REF: Gerry Carmody