Mayo Minor girls beaten by Galway despite awe-inspiring comeback

Connacht LGFA Minor A Final 

Mayo 2-12 Galway 3-11

In Bekan 

AN awe-inspiring comeback, one up there with the greatest ever conjured by any Mayo team, was not enough to stop Galway claiming victory in this Connacht final.

A brilliant winning goal from Rebecca Noone in the dying seconds sunk like a dagger into the hearts of a Mayo team that overturned a fourteen-point deficit to lead by two points with five minutes to go.

For a long time, Galway were undoubtedly the better team.

Inspired by an awesome display from midfielder Katie Slattery – who finished with 1-4 – Galway were all over Mayo from the start. 

The Tribeswomen put Mayo under relentless pressure and simply did not allow Mayo to play.

Mayo didn’t open their account until Suzanne Touhy pointed in the 14th minute. By that time, Galway had already hit 1-4, with Alisha O’Malley smashing the ball into the roof of the Mayo net seven minutes in.

Larissa Kelly’s skyscraper was Mayo’s only other point as Galway smothered almost every attack.

Katie Slattery, her midfield partner Isabelle Murray, Éabha Smith, Leanne Seoighe and Rebecca Noone were the standout players as Galway marched to a 1-10 to 0-2 half-time lead.

Mayo had the wind, but little hope, at the start of the second half when the brilliant Slattery smashed the ball home after 26 seconds.

Not even the most optimistic of onlookers predicted what came next.

In 25 minutes, Brian McLoughlin’s charges summoned a comeback for the ages, shooting 2-10 without reply, starting with a goal from Christina McEvilly.

The addition of Muireann Nolan and Ava Palasz – who shot 1-4 between them – made a huge difference as Mayo’s middle eight and forwards began firing on all cylinders.

The crowd was in full voice by the time Doherty levelled the game with her first point in the 50th minute.

When the MacHale Rovers forward and Bree Hession kicked Mayo two points ahead, they were ecstatic.

There was still a job to be done though, which they quickly found out when All-Ireland medallist Siún McGovern kicked a free to make it a one-point game.

Then, in a play that bore the hallmark of true champions, Galway worked the ball to Emelia Joyce, who fed it to Rebecca Noone, who stuck it in the top corner as the clock ticked into injury time.

Galway were up, but there was still time.

Mayo threw everything and anything at the Galwegians in search of a goal which sadly eluded them.

Galway lifted the cup and as a valiant Mayo team were left heartbroken.

There will be a full report plus reaction carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.