Senior hopes hinge on league final repeat
MacHale Rovers captain Eilis Keane and Claremorris captain Eilis Higgins.
It will be no surprise should these two do battle in the senior championship in the coming years, but only one of them will be there for 2026 as Claremorris and MacHale Rovers kick-off the Mayo ladies football finals this Saturday.
Both clubs ironically enjoyed county success on the same day almost two years ago. As Claremorris won the junior A title, MacHale Rovers won the intermediate title but while MacHale Rovers journey would stop in Connacht, Claremorris would go on a magical run to the All-Ireland final. It ultimately ended in heartbreak, but the experiences gained from the journey will be a huge help for a club aiming to play senior championship for the first time next year.
“It was an amazing year,” said Claremorris captain Eilis Higgins. “That whole year built us together stronger, much more of a bond. I know last year didn't go our way, but here we are again two years later and looking to have a good year again and finish off strong.” As well as the experience of Laura Kelly, Rebecca Kean and Marina Cawley, a fresh injection from an underage side that won titles at all age levels, as well as an All-Ireland schools title with Mount St Michael, is forming a formidable backbone that includes Ashleigh Sammon, Amy Cummins Isobel Phillips, Bree Hession and Siomha McNulty, the latter two making their senior inter-county debut this year.
“They've worked hard over the last few years, the underage in Claremorris is developing very good,” said manager Johnny Cummins. “They have been successful in a lot of groups. They’re grasping the occasions, they've played in a lot of finals right up the ranks, had some great battles with Westport in different years.
It won’t be the first time these two teams have collided this year. They played each in the Division 2 Final, with MacHale Rovers narrowly winning and Higgins is expecting another close game.
“Very strong side. We've played them again in the league final and lost by a point, ultimately we didn't have enough on the day. Looking forward to playing them, really strong, unreal players but looking forward to challenge of it and seeing have we done enough since the league final, so time will tell,” said Higgins.
One club aiming to go to senior for the first time, while MacHale Rovers – an amalgamation of Lahardane, Crossmolina and Ardagh - look for a swift return after relegation last year.
“We've seen what it takes to play senior. We weren't really ready for it last year,” admitted Rovers captain Eilis Keane. “We kind of got a bit of shock but we're kind of excited. We want to get back up there, we know what it takes now to play at that level.” While their county trio of Annie Gough, Kayla Doherty and All-Star nominee Sinead Walsh get a lot of the headlines, you don’t make it to senior already without a strong starting 15 and the squad to back to up.
“(The county girls) are bringing the standard that they're bringing in the county trainings and games to us at the club and it's great to get that. They're excellent. But we have a strong squad and bench also. We’ve had great numbers this year.” At full-back, Laoise Coyne can be as effective as the back as going forward, as evidenced by her goal against Aghamore in the semi-final, while Emily Murray and Caoimhe Walsh will hope to ease the scoring burden on Doherty and Sinead Walsh.
The aforementioned league final saw Rovers pip Claremorris in what was a rip-roaring affair. Many will hope for a similar battle and Keane cannot wait for this Saturday.
“Claremorris are an excellent side. We played them in league final and we just about got them in with a point, but we know they've definitely came on from there as well as. We're dying to get going at them, but I know it'll definitely be a tough game.”
