Mayo Minors set to take on All-Ireland and Connacht champions Galway

THE Connacht U-16 ‘A’ final between Galway and Mayo was a game for the ages.

This weekend’s renewal of ladies football’s greatest rivalry promises a clash of similar epic proportions when the counties’ Minors go to battle in Bekan this Saturday. 

With Burrishoole’s Brian McLoughlin now at the helm, the Mayo Minors have won their last four championship games by a gargantuan combined total of 57 points.

However, just two points separated the sides when Mayo scored a victory in Milltown last month.

As reigning All-Ireland ‘A’ champions, Galway are a force to be reckoned with.

The Tribeswomen still carry several veterans from the team that beat Mayo in Mayo twice in 2023.

Mayo’s survivors from last season include team captain Meabh Callinan (Sam’s sister) from Kilmoremoy, Suzanne Touhy (Bob’s sister) from Castlebar Mitchels and Bree Hession, Síomha McNulty (both Claremorris) and goalkeeper Charlie Reilly Benson (Moy Davitts).

Many of the current Mayo Minor panel have already made their mark at adult and schools level.

Christina McEvilly, Saoirse Byrne, Larissa Kelly (all Westport), Ava Palasz, and Alannah McDonnell (both senior county title winners with Burrishoole) were all part of Sacred Heart teams that contested All-Ireland ‘A’ finals.

Kate Brennan from The Neale – who also plays soccer for Mayo – went one step further by leading Ballinrobe Community School to an All-Ireland U-16 Junior ‘C’ title earlier this year.

Likewise, seven of the freakishly young Claremorris team that reached the All-Ireland junior final are part of this year’s Mayo Minor panel.

MacHale Rovers forward Kayla Doherty – arguably Mayo’s best player so far this year – is no stranger to adult football, having shot 3-3 in last year’s Intermediate county final.

Doherty and her colleagues will need to be on top form to get a win over their old adversaries this weekend, according to Brian McLoughlin.

“We were kind of shocked when they lost to Sligo in the first round,” the Mayo Minor boss told The Mayo News.

“That’s football for you, you can have an off day and teams will punish you and Galway showed the game was in the balance right up until the end and I can’t see anything much being in it the next day.”

_{Suzanne Touhy in action for Mayo against Roscommon in the opening round of the Connacht LGFA Minor Championship}

Less than a year into the job, the Burrishoole clubman and his backroom team have left no stone unturned since assembling their 38-player squad in the back end of 2023.

Multiple All-Ireland winning Carnacon footballer Michelle McGing is involved as a selector alongside Moy Davitts club woman Hannah Davidson.

Michelle’s brother Tom, a former selector with the Carnacon seniors, is looking after strength and conditioning while Westport LGFA Chairman James Mulroy oversees logistics.

While Galway are a formidable foe, McLoughlin and his team won’t be up until the small hours analysing their opponents.

“We’ve ignored everybody else. We just concentrate on our own game,” he said.

“We’ve prepared for every single game differently and that’s one good thing about the backroom team I have. The minute the first game was over we were already preparing for the next game, and we didn’t look beyond that.

“But it’s about us, and that’s all we need to worry about, that we’re well prepared and that we perform on the day. That’s up to us to have the players in tip-top condition, because we will need to be to beat Galway.”

FIXTURE

CONNACHT LGFA MINOR FINAL

MAYO V GALWAY

SATURDAY MAY 18

CONNACHT GAA CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE AT 4PM