Mayo Minor camogie team on the verge All-Ireland final history

Intercounty camogie in Mayo could be set for another golden milestone if the county’s Minor team can get the better of Tryone in the All-Ireland Minor C Final.

The Ulster ladies are the only team that Mayo failed to beat in their championship campaign to date with the sides shooting 3-12 apiece in a cracking draw last month.

On that occasion, Mayo showed great character to come back from a wide half-time deficit to salvage a point.

Speaking to The Mayo News, team manager Brendan Tunney said the margin of victory won’t be particularly wide in the final.

“If the girls play well to the potential they’re capable of I think there’s enough in them there to win,” he said.

“I don’t think it’ll be any huge margin or anything like that but it could be good for a win of two or three points. Having said that, it could go the other way easily too, so it’s just a matter of turning up, being tuned in and getting going from the very outset. That’s the challenge.”

Tunney’s girls come into Sunday’s final on the back of a highly impressive win over Cavan.

Hannah Hautmann from Castlebar Mitchels – who has been Mayo’s leading light all year – shot 0-10 as they cantered to a 2-17 to 1-4 victory in Duggan Park.

Tunney’s own daughter, Méabh, has also been a key player at midfield while Na Brideoga’s Cathy Greally caught the eye with 2-4 against Cavan in the semi-final.

_{The Mayo Minor camogie team pictured before their All-Ireland semi-final win over Cavan (Pic: Mayo Camogie)}

All-Ireland success on Sunday is not guaranteed, but it is not at all alien to this group of Mayo players.

Much of the current Minor crop put Mayo camogie back on the map when they secured an U-16 ‘D’ All-Ireland title in 2022.

Made up mainly of players from Na Brideoga and a decent representation of players from Castlebar Mitchels and Westport, most of this group have soldiered together for a number of years under the same management team.

Tunney, who has guided them alongside, Fergal Delaney, Elaine Tener and Miriam Page, believes that a win in the final would be a big achievement not just for this team, but for Mayo camogie as a whole.

“Mayo wouldn’t be seen as a strong camogie county. It would be a great boost to camogie throughout the county. it would give the younger teams that are coming up behind a great boost,” said the Westport club man. 

“It would give the senior team a boost as they head into the championship because many of these girls are all playing with the senior team. I think overall it would give camogie a great lift in Mayo and all of the teams in Mayo a great lift because an All-Ireland doesn’t come around very often.”

Whatever the outcome of the final, it can be rightly said that Mayo are not only fielding at intercounty level, but competing – often against counties with more clubs and a bigger pick of players.

A win would represent a victory not just for this team, but for the people who have worked day and night to bring Mayo camogie to where it is today.

FIXTURE

Mayo v Tyrone

Electric Ireland Minor C Camogie Championship Final

Sunday, April 28, Drumlane GAA, Cavan, at 2pm