Stagg's Mayo U14s are Team of the Year

You had to go back to 1994 for the last time Mayo had claimed the All-Ireland Under-14 Ladies Football Championship but history was made last June as a special group of players ended a 29-year wait for national glory when the county was crowned champions once again.

Having won four consecutive Connacht titles, Mayo were expected to have a team capable of challenging for honours in the province and further beyond, with the 33-player squad picked by Sinead Stagg and her backroom team containing so of the county’s brightest talents, including Westport duo Aoibhinn McNamara and Katie Hughes, Kilmoremoy’s Kate O’Donnell, Charlestown’s Siofra McGuinness as well as Sinead’s own daughter, Emma.

They played rivals Galway in the Connacht final in Bekan last April and put in an impressive showing, with Emma Stagg the star of the show for the Green and Red when scoring 2-3. McNamara, Hughes and Emily Moran also hit the target and yet two late goals by Galway saw Mayo pipped in the closing stages.

Mayo, however, dusted themselves down at the All-Ireland quarter-final stage, when the opportunity for immediate revenge presented itself. They met the Tribeswomen yet again but it was Mayo who emerged victorious this time. Mikayla McLoughin’s first-half goal coupled with a brilliant shift from all involved on the day, booked the team a spot in the semi-final where they demonstrated just how good they could be – Emma Stagg led by example and struck 2-3 yet again to help oust the Lilywhites and send Mayo into their first ‘A’ – now known as Platinum – final since 2014.

Cork awaited the Green and Red in the decider, with a large crowd from Mayo making the trip to Nenagh. And how they were rewarded, as their side turned in a magnificent first-half performance to defeat the Leesiders by 2-9 to 0-7 and set the bonfires ablaze from Ballindine to Belmullet. Their captain Emma Stagg led by example with 2-4 on the day, marking a year to remember for all involved.