Stubborn Mayo recover from early setback to make their point
The Mayo squad pictured before their 1-1 draw with Galway United in the LOI Academy WU17 League.
Mayo U17 women got their first point on the board for the 2025 season after an excellent defensive display in Milebush on Saturday afternoon. Despite Galway United dominating the majority of the game, the hosts played some impressive football to share the spoils. After a 5-1 defeat to Finn Harps the weekend before, it was vital for Mayo to secure a better result in round two.
It was, however, a tough start to the game for the home side. The visitors had the majority of possession, applying heavy pressure to the Mayo defence in the opening minutes. Sophie Hogan was getting on a lot of ball on the right wing while Holly O’Leary was using her pace to get in behind the Mayo defenders. Despite Mayo’s best efforts, Galway found the back of the net with less than five minutes on the clock. After some impressive play down the right wing, Ailbhe MacNeill sent a brilliant cross into the penalty area where Ana Conway was first to the ball and she fired into the bottom corner, to give Galway a 1-0 lead.
The Tribeswomen continued to dominate the game and Mayo were struggling to string a passage of play together, as Ailbhe MacNeill, Ana Conway, and Emma Dillon controlled the middle of the park. A bright spark for Mayo in the opening period, however, was Emily Coleman. The former Conn Rangers striker was pressing high and looked dangerous whenever she got on the ball. In the 35th minute, her hard work paid off. Coleman showcased some outstanding individual skill to get the ball past three Galway defenders before she fired over the keeper and into the back of the net. This goal was a real settler for Mayo, who were suddenly playing much livelier football towards the end of the first period. The teams could not be separated at the interval, the scoreline reading 1-1.
The hosts picked up the second-half where they left off. Both teams were now playing high-intensity football. Goalkeeper Aisling Farragher was brilliant for Mayo clearing her lines whenever Galway tried to play a long ball. Centre-backs Grace Cunningham and Sive Flanagan also put in outstanding performances while Cara Culkin got a strong foothold in the middle of the pitch in the second period. Galway United did have the ball in the back of the net in the 64th minute but it was ruled out due to an offside.
The visitors had several corners in the second period but Mayo dealt with them all brilliantly. Mayo’s best chance of the second period came in the 83rd minute from an excellent free-kick taken by Ava Mitchell which was saved by the Galway keeper Cara Killian. Galway had a couple of last-minute chances but once again Killian’s counterpart, Aisling Farragher, stood firm. I t is an important point on the board for Mayo as they move up to fifth place in the table, with a trip to Longford Town this weekend.
Mayo FC: Aisling Farragher, Lauren Neary, Ava Mitchell, Cara Culkin, Emily Coleman, Eilidh Muir, Grace Cunningham, Sive Flanagan, Leah Kilcullen, Zuzanna Patyk, Aoibhinn Burke. Subs: Ursula Shaughnessy (for Burke 24), Amber Glavey (for Patyk 34), Patyk (for Muir 56), Burke (for Shaughnessy 56), Shaughnessy (for Patyk 77), Muir (for Cunningham 81).
Galway United: Cara Killian, Laura Adair, Aisling Murphy, Emily Stephens, Sophie Hogan, Amelia Lynch Spellman, Kate Barrett, Ana Conway, Ailbhe MacNeill, Emma Dillon, Holly O’Leary. Subs: Eva Daly (for Barrett 18), Amira Bouhel McNamara (for O’Leary 44), Niamh Faherty (for Murphy ht), O’Leary (for Lynch Spellman ht), Aisling Kennedy (for Hogan ht), Hogan (for MacNeill 74).
REF: Eric Eaton
