Short turnaround “totally unfair” on players argues Reape
Knockmore manager Cormac Reape issuing instructions from the sideline last Sunday. Picture: David Farrell Photography
In a repeat of the Division 1 league final, Knockmore and Westport will battle it out to see who be crowned this season’s new senior champions as the ladies' finals – intermediate and junior as well – take centre stage at the Connacht Centre of Excellence next Saturday.
It was only back on September 10 that these two played out one of the games of the year at the same venue, as the Saffron and Blue found that bit more to win the league final after extra-time. Just over a month later, the biggest prize of all in Mayo ladies football is at stake.
There has been no respite for both sides as all rounds in the group stage and the semi-final were played on consecutive weekends since the league final and Knockmore manager Cormac Reape admits it may come down to who recovers best following what is effectively a five-day turnaround.
“I think for the neutral, it’s going to be a brilliant game. There won’t be much in it either way. The biggest disappointment is you might not see the best of both teams on Saturday “It’s not ideal. The two of us are five weeks on the bounce now because of the league final. I’m sure both sides are carrying little knocks and can’t get in full training sessions this week.
“We played such a tough game (last Sunday) and can’t get even a proper session in before Saturday because you’re minding some players. We can’t do a whole pile. It’s totally unfair on the girls to be honest. There’ll be probably a lot of video work for both teams. There won’t be huge on-the-pitch improvements or anything. It’ll be little things that’ll be the difference.”
Reflecting on last Sunday’s semi-final win over Kilmovee Shamrocks, Reape said: “We were probably a bit disappointed with our second-half. It was the second time this year we’ve had a seven, eight-point lead slip and made it hard work for ourselves.
“When you have the quality of the Cafferkys and the supporting cast they have, they’re going to get a purple patch at some stage. A lot of it is damage limitation and just trying not to concede as much as you can. The positive side is that we kicked on afterwards and kicked four unanswered points.”
It’s a third straight final for Knockmore as they look to regain the title they won in 2021, having lost the decider last year to Burrishoole. That loss has lit a fire under this group, according to the manager.
“For a couple of years, they got to a couple of finals and then it went barren for four to five years. A lot of it comes from the players. It’s a player-led group and they don’t let standards slip. The club and management put so much in place but it’s down to them, this consistency.
“We spoke about it as a group last Sunday evening. To get to three finals in-a-row is not something to be sniffed at.
“The management have looked back on the Burrishoole game a few times this year. We’re so disappointed we didn’t perform that day. I’ve never seen some of the players as motivated as they are. It’s definitely a big motivation for them this year to get back.”
A great rivalry has developed between the two finalists in recent years. Knockmore beat Westport in the semi-final in 2021 while Westport claimed a win in the group stage last year. In their latest tussle, Knockmore won the league final last month and Reape is expecting a major battle once more.
“We’re under no illusions about what we’re about to face. This has been coming for Westport. To be honest, I thought they would’ve been in a final before this. I know in 2021, it was a very close semi-final in Knockmore. They pipped us in the group stage last year and gave us something to think about. The league final this year could have gone either way.”
If there is another team ready to make the breakthrough, it is Westport. What has been slowly building through schools’ triumphs in recent years at county and provincial level with Sacred Heart, now sees many of those teams now forming the spine of a strong unit, with the likes of Noirin Moran and Catherine Barrett providing the experience.
After winning the Mayo intermediate title in 2018, Westport reached a senior semi-final in 2021 which ended in a ten-point defeat to Knockmore before going agonisingly close in last year’s semi-final against neighbours Burrishoole.
They got a degree of revenge by taking out last year’s champions in the group stage and followed that up with a statement 22-point win over Carnacon on Sunday last, to reach their first-ever senior final. Westport and Mayo star Aoife Geraghty has been on Westport sides that have been on the receiving end of those types of defeats so to inflict that on they who had been the dominant force of the ladies' games for two decades was a ‘brilliant’ feeling.
“Absolutely delighted to be in a final,” said Aoife shortly after the final whistle in Westport last Sunday. “We were really delighted to get the home semi-final by topping the group but we knew Carnacon would be tough and they always are. We hadn’t beaten them in championship so are just over the moon to get over the line and into our first final.
“We’ve been in semi-finals the past couple of years now. I remember when I first started out and Carnacon doing the exact same thing to us so to get one over them today was brilliant.”
Aoife added: “We’re a very young side. We all played through school ranks and underage. We were lucky enough to win a good few underage titles together so this is a big step up for this group.” Like the Knockmore manager, the 21-year-old student is expecting a tough test and knows the early days of this week will be critical for recovery.
“There’s no time for changing much. We know we’re up against Knockmore. We went to extra-time the last time we played them and we felt we didn’t play to our potential. We’re just looking forward to having another crack at them.
“We know it’s not going to be easy against Knockmore. They’re a very good side, a very good team. They work very hard and have a great management as well pushing them on. We’re going to try hard, we’re going to try our best and hopefully we’ll be champions next week.”
