Mayo U-14s cruise to Connacht final victory

Connacht LGFA U-14 Championship Silver Final

Mayo 5-16 Sligo 0-4

In Bekan

THE glorious spring sunshine provided a fitting backdrop to a barnstorming Connacht final win for the Mayo U-14 girls this afternoon (Saturday).

A slow start did not stop Sinéad Stagg’s girls from outgunning a battling Sligo side in a game that was all but over at half-time.

Sligo had a number of impressive performers and put Mayo to the pins of their collars in an even and competitive opening quarter.

However, once Mayo got going from the 21st minute onwards, there would be no stopping them.

Their manager, Sinéad Stagg, described their win as ‘convincing’ afterwards.

That was quite the understatement.

At times, Mayo played some superb football that justified all 5-16 of their tally.

Were it not for the woodwork, a bit of bad luck, and the bravery of Sligo goalie Ivana McMahon, Mayo would certainly have had more goals.

The chances came thick and fast from an early stage, but the local girls were still only 0-4 0-2 up after twenty minutes.

Then Emily Coleman unleashed a beguiling shot from her right hand side that crept into the bottom corner of the Sligo net.

Then off they went.

_{Mayo's Emily Coleman is tackled during the Connacht LGFA U-14 Silver final (Pic: Pauline Flatley)}

Mayo strung 1-6 together as Coleman, Shauna Breslin, Mikayla McLoughlin and Riona Kelly took the game to their guests.

Sligo’s dam burst late into injury time in the first half when McLoughlin went on a great run towards goal before unselfishly dishing it to Coleman to bury in the roof of the net.

That left the half-time score at 2-10 to 0-2 in Mayo’s favour.

However, Stagg’s lassies had plenty more left in the tank and weren’t long unloading it after the restart.

The subs made a considerable impact, particularly Emma Sheridan with her two points and Niamh Hegarty and Aoife Morrin, who both raised green flags.

Coleman’s third goal in the 39th minute was a thing of utter beauty.

Playmaker Shauna Breslin played a lovely ball into Mikayla McLoughlin, who fed Ella Connell, who was well entitled to take a shot at goal.

Instead, Connell gave it off to Coleman to finish Mayo’s finest move of the day.

Sligo came under unrelenting pressure as Coleman and Connell both saw shots saved within minutes of Coleman’s hat-trick.

The game hit a minor lull as key players retired to the bench, but the girls that came on were keen to prove a point.

This they duly did when Aoife Morrin goaled after Niamh Hegarty’s shot hit the post, with Hegarty later turning executioner after pouncing on a rebound after Rhea Gostick hit the goal frame.

“The girls are well deserving of their Connacht title today. I’m delighted for them,” Sinéad Stagg told The Mayo News.

“Six of them, it’s their second Connacht title, so that’s nice for them and the rest. As I said there’s 30 of them that are getting their first Connacht medal. It’s lovely for them representing Mayo in their first Connacht final at U-14 level. We look forward to the All-Ireland blitz on May 4. We’ll be up against the likes of Dublin and Meath and Cork. That’ll be a good test.”

MAYO: Isabelle Duffy (Charlestown); Lucy McDermott (Davitts), Aoife Gannon (Islandeady), Dena Bradley (Davitts); Emily Higgins (Charlestown), Leah McNamara (Islandeady), Erin Higgins (Ballyhaunis); Riona Kelly (0-2, 1f) (Kilmaine), Saoirse Donohoe (Parke); Sophie Moran (Breaffy), Shauna Breslin (0-5, 4f) (Knockmore), Kazu Sangare (Westport); Ella Connell (0-1) (MacHale Rovers), Emily Coleman (3-1) (Knockmore), Mikayla McLoughlin (0-3) (Charlestown)

Subs: Rachel McGrath (Kilmaine), Doireann Moffatt (Kilmoremoy), Lily Hurst (Breaffy), Carragh Keane (Burrishoole), Emma Sheridan (0-2) (MacHale Rovers), Anna Burton (0-1) (Carnacon), Niamh Walsh (Belmullet), Emily Gavin (Swinford), Kayleigh Casey (0-1) (Charlestown), Niamh Hegarty (MacHale Rovers) (1-0), Eve Ruane (Kilmoremoy), Claire Hegarty (MacHale Rovers), Aoife Morrin (1-0) (The Neale), Rhea Gostick (Moy Davitts)

SLIGO: Ivana McMahon; Lauren Hayes, Riona Dooner, Katelin, Donovan; Chloe McDonagh, Ellie Langan, Bailey Gallagher; Katie Hession, Aoibhín Doherty (0-3, 1f); Andrea Corcoran, Ava Gallagher, Eimear Coyle; Kellie Gallagher, Hope O’Brien, Ciara O’Brien (0-1)

Subs: Líle Kelly, Chloe McDonagh, Clodagh Galvin, Lauren Hayes, Sinéad Kelly, Holly Deehan