Mayo girls Inter-League teams enjoy unbeaten weekend

The Mayo Schoolboys/Girls and Youths AFL had three of its girls’ squads in SFAI Inter League action last Saturday. 

Both the under-13s and under-14s hosted Sligo-Leitrim at Umbro Park, Castlebar. First up kicking off was the Mayo under-13s. Mayo goalkeeper Deirdre Gilmore pulled off an excellent save in the second minute. Good interplay between Ruth Donnelly and Sadhbh McDonagh created half a chance, but the visiting defence quickly blocked it. Gilmore made another top save on 22 minutes as the visitors played with a pace and tempo befitting of a side who reached the Inter League Cup Final last year at under-12 level.

The Mayo back four of Sadhbh McGauley, Emma O’Toole, Alice Burrows and Aine Hughes were hugely impressive in how they dealt with the Sligo/Leitrim attacks both from an individual duel basis, and, as a collective. Ahead of them Ali Clarke gave a superb display in the opening half despite being sick for the last couple of days and she was ably assisted in midfield by the aforementioned Ruth, captain on the day Caoimhe Corcoran and Laoise Heneghan. The half ended following a blistering run up the right wing by Anna Holmes.

The interval saw Anna Jennings join the starting line-up and the game followed a similar pattern to the first half with neither side blinking and two strong well drilled defences keeping glimpses of goal at a real minimum. Mayo certainly came into it more as the game progressed and more fresh legs in the shape of Roisin Lavelle, Ellen O’Toole, Lauren Hanrahan and Katie Rava gave the side fresh impetus. Fantastic defending from the front by Anna Jennings caused a bit of panic in the visiting defence and ended up with an own goal to put Mayo ahead with 43 minutes on the clock.

Jennings almost put Mayo further ahead but was denied by a super fingertip save by the visiting goalkeeper. With time running out, a defensive mistake allowed the Sligo/Leitrim centre forward a chance which she took emphatically to square matters up.

The final score was a 1-1 draw, which was probably a fair result. Mayo management were delighted with how the squad dealt with a couple of notable absentees and played such a competitive game. Two girls made their Mayo debut in the starting line-up while three more did from the bench.

Next up at the same venue was the under-14s of Mayo and Sligo-Leitrim. Sligo/Leitrim captain Orlaith Guckian showed great composure (not for the last time in this game) by skilfully going past a Mayo defender and rounded the keeper before scoring. The press of Sligo/Leitrim was making it difficult for Mayo to play out from the back and a lack of numbers up front meant that chances were few and far between. A Lexi Murphy free kick almost released Violet O’Malley while a corner kick routine involving the same two players saw O’Malley react quickest at the back post to level the game.

Orlaith Guckian restored the visitors lead with as good a goal as you will see anywhere as from at least 35 yards, her ferociously hit shot flew into the top left corner of the net giving Mayo keeper no chance. In the closing minutes of the half Sligo/Leitrim went close to adding to their lead on three further occasions with Guckian at the centre of all that was good.

Mayo picked up the tempo at the start of the second half and were rewarded in the 41st minute when Lexi Murphy scored a classy goal to bring the game back to parity. As the heavens opened, both sides are to be lauded on how they continued to get the ball down and pass it on the deck. With seven minutes of normal time remaining, Sligo/Leitrim got what turned out to be the winning goal when they won the ball back high up the pitch and that girl Guckian finished it off clinically to seal the 3-2 victory for Sligo-Leitrim. This was Mayo’s second game having played Roscommon away in a 2-2 draw last month.

Kicking off last was the Melissa Devaney/Amy Dunleavy managed Mayo under-16s who were in Eamon Deacy Park facing old rivals Galway. Mayo started well scoring in the first ten minutes, a Beth Murrihy header from a Caoimhe Kitching corner. Into the second half and Leja Kosmokova doubled Mayo’s lead with the assist coming from Mayo captain Katie Flynn. Galway hit back shortly afterwards to halve the deficit.

A long Anna Meaney throw-in was flicked on by impact sub Lily O’Brien across the box for an Emma Sheridan finish to make it 3-1 to Mayo.

The final goal was a repeat of the first with Beth Murrihy getting her second headed goal from the game courtesy of another Caoimhe Kitching corner meaning a most impressive 4-1 victory to Mayo.

This side already has had a facile away victory over the Midlands league where a clean sheet was secured and goals were scored by Leja Kosmakova, Sophia Cardillo, Beth Murrihy, Maya Benson and Ella Loughrey.

Long serving Mayo Schoolboys/Girls official Tom Mullin was on hand at Umbro Park overseeing operations and ensuring that the all-important pizza deliveries were made!

Another long serving official, head coach John Flanagan, has retained most of last year’s coaches while adding new ones at under-12 and under-15 level. Mayo are one of only a handful of leagues that have teams at under-12, under-13, under-14, under-15 and under-16 at girls’ leve,l underscoring the number of girls playing the game across all their clubs and also the fantastic reputation and years of experience that the coaches of the Mayo Schoolgirls have in spades.