Treble-winning Manulla were a dominant force in Mayo women's soccer
Manulla completed a clean sweep of the ladies game in Mayo.
You can’t ask much more than to win every competition before you, and that’s exactly what the Manulla women did in 2023 when winning Mayo’s domestic treble of the Premier League, Mayo FA Cup and Rumley Cup – and can now add the Mayo Sports Stars Soccer Award to their list of achievements.
The team will receive the award at tomorrow night's Western People Sports Award at the Breaffy House Resort.
Coming into the season as defending league champions, Manulla were facing stiff competition from Swinford and age-old rivals Castlebar Town. They dropped only two points in the first phase of the league against Town, in a game that was played only five days after Manulla were beaten by Salthill Devon 4-3 in the Connacht Women’s Cup final. That Manulla found a way to get a result away from home against Town after such a heartbreaking result was evident of the character and resolve the players have developed under the stewardship of Ollie King and Tommy Rumley.
In the second phase of the season, Manulla were in a group with the teams who finished in the top half of the league and they came through it with a 100% record, defeating Kiltimagh/Knock United, Swinford, Castlebar Town and Conn Rangers to retain the league title.
September became the month where Manulla would make their mark on history. After experiencing defeat in the Rumley Cup final a year previous against Castlebar Town, they would gain their revenge in beating Town in the semi-finals before flexing their muscles in overcoming Kiltimagh/Knock United to win the final on a day that saw both Tracey Hall and Niamh Flannery score hat-tricks. With it they brought home the trophy that is close to Manulla hearts given it is named after their legendary assistant manager Tommy Rumley, who has served Manulla and the ladies game in Mayo and beyond with distinction.
One week later, Manulla were faced by Town once more, this time in the Mayo Women’s Cup final where a second successive hat-trick by Tracey Hall, and three goals by Jess Nolan too, propelled them to a 6-3 win, the Mayo Women’s Cup and the domestic treble, while Tracey secured her place in the history books with her own unique achievement.
Manulla were recognised for their achievements as Stacey Freyne, captain Aoife Freyne, Tracey Hall and Jess Nolan all made the Mayo Women’s League Team of the Year, while Aoife, Tracey and Niamh Flannery all picked up Player of the Month awards throughout the season.
