Westport hope to ‘Pop’ victory cork

Westport have certainly had Knockmore’s number in recent meetings and this Sunday, they plan to do what their closest rivals have not done just yet: retain the Mayo LGFA Senior Championship trophy.

It is one win apiece in county finals since their first meeting in 2023. Knockmore won that one before Westport narrowly got the better of them last year. Since then, Westport won two league titles: the Memorial League back in June and the Senior League in August, getting the better of Knockmore once again in the latter. The confidence gained has been clear for all to see.

“Last year was a special one, winning a first ever senior county title against a savage Knockmore team,” manager Pop Geraghty told the Western People this week. “We really enjoyed that, it gives the girls great confidence in their ability and, yeah, it's been a really enjoyable year this year.

“We've managed to enter three competitions already and come out on top of all three of those,” he continued. “It's great when you win the Memorial League and a first ever Senior Division One league so again, that's really great for the group and we’re just really excited now to face an established Knockmore team.” 

The rivalry between Knockmore and Westport is clear but there is also “huge respect” says Pop Geraghty who is expecting another close battle.

“They were the ones who dethroned Carnacon and really set the standard over the last number of years, showed what's possible for club teams in Mayo. You can see the way they're out for success here, you can see the scores they're putting up in the championship. Their inside forward-line is banging in goals and points left, right and centre. It's going be a great game, a great spectacle for the ladies' game here in MacHale Park.” 

Outside of the injured Ava Lambert, it’s a clean bill of health for Westport ahead of the final. They may not have the numbers in their panel like Knockmore but their quality is clear. From inter-county stars like Saoirse Lally, Nicola O’Malley, Sherin El Massry and Aoife Geraghty to the experience of former Mayo panellist Noirin Moran, their strength is undoubted.

“It's something we're really proud of actually, the quality of the players, from the girls who come on from the bench to the girls who are there on the pitch,” said captain Janette O’Malley. “That really stands to us.

“We brought up a few girls up this year, Ellie Hyland and Rachel Browne have come up from the junior team, which is brilliant. Saoirse Ludden and Lisa Scahill are home from Australia, massive additions to the squad.

“Lauren Cusack, she captained the under 16s to a county final. She's the goalie and was actually player of the match [last week], she's our sub-goalie. She's only 15 years old but incredible. Having these people coming through just pushes the girls on so we're really happy with the panel as a whole at the moment.” 

The skipper became the first from Westport to climb the steps of the MacHale Park stand to lift the biggest trophy in Mayo ladies club football, and Janette is in no doubt that the county finals should always be in the county grounds going forward.

“When you have that feeling, when you've had that euphoria, when you've won, you know you're always going to be chasing it. It's so fresh in our memories.

“It was incredible to just look out. The support from Westport was incredible, especially in particular to see all the underage there. I think it's really important that they're seeing women's football here in MacHale Park, so to look out and see the young girls looking up at us lifting the trophy, it gives them something to aspire to.

“You're looking out at your friends, family, who've supported us so much all down the years, it was just incredible.

“Bekan is a brilliant facility but when you're younger, when you're looking at these sorts of games, you always envision them being played in the county grounds and the men's have always been played here. I think the women's always should have been. I'm delighted that that stance has been taken and that they've done the same again this year because I think it's proper order that when you get to county final you play in the county grounds.” 

Doubts could have crept in for this Westport group. They lost to Burrishoole in the 2022 semi-final before being beaten by Knockmore a year later, but the belief of Janette, her teammates and management never wavered.

“I think we always did have that belief. It was instilled in us by the management within the group ourselves as well. We knew the potential that was there, the quality of the players that we had. I think it was just to get the monkey off the back and get over the line, so we were delighted.” 

Westport’s run to the final has been a little more tricky than Knockmore’s. While they got through their group with relative comfort, Burrishoole asked some tough questions in the semi-final, and the ten-point winning margin did not tell the full story of what a closely contested matchup it was.

“We were delighted actually to get that good challenge. I'm hoping that will stand to us. It was a competitive game.

“I can't speak to Knockmore’s side of it, but I know from my perspective, I always want to be playing competitive games. The more competitive the games are, the better. It's those games that test you and push you on.” 

Should Westport go on to retain the title, the group would love nothing more than another crack at the reigning Connacht and All-Ireland champions Kilkerrin/Clonberne. Losing by a point in the provincial final last year in Swinford, no one pushed the Galway juggernaut last year like Westport did. But all focus right now is on the task at hand.

“Our sights are very much set on the county final. Beyond that, we'll regroup and go from there but we're not looking beyond that now. We would be very silly to do that, so we'll be focusing very much on the county final.”