Mayo U14 girls book Inter-League semi-final spot

The Mayo Schoolboys/Girls and Youths AFL had three of its girls’ sides in action at a busy Solar 21 Park, Milebush last Saturday. Two of the ties were Inter-League Shield quarter-finals while one was the final group game.

First up was the Mayo U14s facing Kerry in a quarter-final tie. On twenty minutes a clever ball over the top from Emily Coleman released Ava Mitchell who finished emphatically to the back of the net.

Mayo’s failure to add a second goal looked costly when Kerry equalised with only two minutes left, but Mayo picked themselves up again and got the decisive goal a minute from time. A brilliantly delivered left footed Caoimhe O Donnell sailed through several bodies straight into the net.

This was a good all-round performance by John Hennelly’s young side, and they now have a home Shield semi-final against Cavan-Monaghan or Louth.

The Mayo U16s also played in a Shield quarter-final with Carlow providing the opposition. Both these sides met in the U15 decider last year with Carlow edging it with the only goal of the game and this match was to follow a similar pattern. The visitors took the lead on five minutes following a corner and doubled that lead four minutes later as the Mayo girls struggled to get up to the pace of the game.

Slowly the tide began to turn though, and Ursula Shaughnessy brought a good save from the ‘keeper on 22 minutes. Several excellent Ciara Kearney corner kick deliveries went very close but, ultimately, not close enough.

Mayo halved the deficit on 29 minutes when Ava Murray won possession and played Shaughnessy in and she fired over the ‘keeper into the roof of the net. Aine Monaghan went desperately close to equalising on the stroke of half-time following another Kearney corner.

The second half continued in the same vein with Mayo camped in the Carlow half forcing corner after corner. Aoife Collins saw a volley just clear the crossbar after one such set piece while Grace Carroll was denied by a last-ditch tackle. Carlow had a golden chance to extend their lead on 45 minutes, but the effort went wide.

In truth that was the only chance they had in the second half as Mayo continue to knock on the door, but that second goal proved elusive. Both Shaughnessy and Kearney were just off-target after both did well to get shots off. Two Kearney free kicks were somehow scrambled away and the Carlow ‘keeper made an excellent save from Shaughnessy to seal the 2-1 victory for the Leinster girls.

Mayo made a poor start in this game which ultimately cost them. Having said that, on another day they would have won this game never mind draw it such was the large number of good chances they created but that’s football. Mayo manager Michael Collins paid tribute to this fantastic bunch of players some of whom have been with him since 2019.

“They have been the standard setters for girls’ football in Mayo with the number of National Titles that they have garnered and the loyalty they have displayed to the Schoolboys League,” said Michael, who also thanked his management team of Henry Monaghan and Elaine Kelly, Head Coach John Flanagan, and Tom Mullin and all at the Schoolboys League.

Both quarter-finals were refereed by Pearse Concannon.

The final game in Solar 21 Park was the Inter League group match between Mayo U12s and their Galway counterparts. Both sides went into this game unbeaten, and it was Galway who started the brighter and they took a deserved early lead.

Mayo rallied well, quickly realising the quality of their opponents but it was Galway who continued to be quicker to the ball and more effective in attack. They ran out worthy 3-0 winners, but Michael McGeogh and his Mayo management team will take great learnings from this as they prepare their young charges for an Inter League Bowl knock-out campaign.

Michael Moran was the referee in charge of this game.