Historic first step into national competition for MWL
Anna McDonnell (left) and Hana Ueno have been a formidable defensive duo for Kiltimagh/Knock United and will hope to transfer that form to county level.
The Mayo Women's League will make history this Saturday, May 4, when they field their first ever team in the FAI Angela Hearst National Inter-League Cup.
Their first outing involves a trip to Dublin to face reigning champions, Eastern Women's Football League. Kick-off is at 2.30pm on Saturday at Irishtown Stadium in Dublin 4.
This is a huge opportunity for Mayo to perform on the national stage, and a massive progression in the female game in the county where strong foundations have been built over many years through the underage Gaynor Cup and inter-league competitions.
Mayo's second game will be at home to Donegal later in the month, with hopes high that the team can kick on and progress to the next stage of the competition.
It is fitting that Mayo have a senior representative league side as it’s the next logical step given how competitive Mayo girls sides have been at national level for the past decade or so, said team liaison officer/coordinator, Michael Collins.
“As recently as last Saturday week, the Mayo under-15 girls reached the Cup inter-league final while the under-12s had a Bowl semi-final away to Donegal at the weekend.
“Players and coaches of past Gaynor Cup squads have memories of attending the Angela Hearst Cup final in the Bowl at UL in the past but witnessing a Mayo team there would be even more memorable!”
The league management committee are very grateful for the support they have received to date for this venture, including sponsorship from the Western Hotel in Claremorris and also the support received from Viv at Mayo Footgolf.
Featuring a good mix of experience and youth, with many players well used to big day matches at county, provincial and national level with their local clubs, and some League of Ireland experience, Mayo are set up to have a positive run in their debut season.
The Mayo Women's League has put together a backroom team with a great track record in nurturing talent at club and county level with manager Ollie King (Manulla), assistant manager Michael Devaney (Swinford), coach Marie Bones (Kiltimagh/Knock United), goalkeeper coach Martin McGreal (Westport United), kit-man Brian Farrell (Ballinrobe Town), physio Regina McIntyre, coordinator Michael Collins (Kiltimagh/Knock United), all supported by league secretary and the driving force behind the initiative, Joe King.
In a competitive group, Eastern Women's Football League got their tournament run off to a flying start when they defeated Donegal Women's Soccer League 4-0 in the opening round of the three-team grouping. A hat-trick from Megan Coomber and a Sarah Ryan goal was the difference between the sides.
Like Mayo, this is the Donegal League's first venture into the competition and while the Easterners dominated for large periods, Donegal battled and defended well, especially in the first-half, and they weren't without chances to get scores.
