Westport begin title defence with impressive win over near neighbours

Mayo LGFA SFC Group A – Round 1 

Westport 1-14 

Castlebar Mitchels 0-7

Paul O’Malley at St Patrick’s Park, Westport

Westport’s commanding first-half lead left Castlebar Mitchels without a pathway back into their opening round champion versus champion clash on a downtrodden Sunday morning in Westport.

The visitors, intermediate title winners in 2024, managed just a point in the first-half and despite a much better showing in the second, the damage had been done by the Covey’s tally of 1-8 by the time Rory Courell sounded the half-time whistle.

Aoife Kennedy got 2024 senior champions Westport up and running after four minutes with a well-built score, but they had to wait until the 12th minute to find a second. Castlebar were defending really well and Westport moved it around for three minutes before Aoife Staunton broke through the screen to land a point.

Noirin Moran added a third and this time Katie Chambers cut through the screen with a clever switch of play.

On the 19-minute mark, Laura Moran found the best way to break down Mitchels defensive blockade. She launched an over the shoulder shot towards the goal that landed in the back of the net. Quick points followed for Aoife Staunton, Fionnuala McLoughlin and Rachel Browne to extend the Westport lead. McLoughlin’s in particular was a brilliant effort, leaving two Castlebar players trailing in her wake before she planted the ball between the posts.

After 26 minutes, Niamh Hughes finally got Castlebar Mitchels on the scoresheet with a free. Aoife Geraghty scored a brace of points to give Westport a ten-point lead at half-time and they nearly had a second goal, but McLoughlin’s soccer style effort drifted wide.

The rain had been relentless and Castlebar came out for the second-half having changed jerseys and their mindsets too, looking much sharper from the off. Driven by Kathryn Sullivan from midfield, they marched forward and scored two quickfire points through Suzanne Tuohy and Niamh Hughes. However, the momentum did not stay with Mitchels, and the next two scores went the way of Westport. Laura Moran fired over a free and Aoife Staunton popped over from play. Mitchels had gone 13 minutes without a score when Sarah Conlon’s deflected shot fell into the path of Tuohy. She was in front of the goal but under great pressure and had to settle for a point.

Aoife Staunton hit back for Westport before Grainne Flynn’s brace kept the scoreboard ticking over for Mitchels. Staunton extended her tally for the day to 0-6 with two frees.

Niamh Hughes scored a free in, remarkably, the 72nd minute as the game approached the end of a lengthy period of injury time. Midway through the second-half, Westport’s Saoirse Ludden had to be stretchered off and Aoife Kennedy also suffered what looked like a bad injury. Both are wished well in their recovery.

Scorers – Westport: Aoife Staunton 0-6 (2f), Laura Moran 1-1f, Aoife Geraghty and Fionnuala McLoughlin 0-2 each, Aoife Kennedy, Rachel Browne and Noirin Moran 0-1 each.

Castlebar Mitchels: Niamh Hughes 0-3 (2f), Grainne Flynn (1f) and Suzanne Tuohy 0-2 each.

Westport: Roisin Scott; Kate Scahill, Janette O’Malley, Ellie Hyland; Rachel Browne, Sorcha McCarney, Sarah Mulroy; Noirin Moran, Aoife Geraghty; Fionnuala McLoughlin, Aoife Staunton, Aoife Kennedy; Katie Chambers, Saoirse Ludden, Laura Moran. Subs: Rebecca O’Malley (for Hyland 35), Christina McEvilly (for Moran 41), Saoirse Byrne (for Ludden 49), Saoirse Lally (for Kennedy 60+5).

Castlebar Mitchels: Ava Murray; Rebecca Lawless, Tanya Flynn, Megan Pattinson; Laura Bourke, Danielle Caldwell, Emma Gallagher; Suzanne Tuohy, Kathryn Sullivan; Sarah Conlon, Lucy Molloy, Sinéad O’Boyle; Niamh Hughes, Maia Ludden, Gráinne Flynn. Subs: Karagh Neary (for O’Boyle 36), Grace Filan (for Bourke 38), Helen Murrihy (for M Ludden 47).

REF: Rory Courell (Islandeady)