Westport ladies edge past West Mayo rivals Burrishoole to book place in final

Mayo Ladies Senior Championship Semi-Final

Westport 1-8

Burrishoole 0-10

In Westport 

This game was a proper championship game. Two teams who are the biggest of rivals in a semi-final showdown, and it lived up to expectations. 

Despite not scoring in the first half, Burrishoole battled like Trojans to create a comeback, which was nearly enough to see them progress to the county final.

The opening minutes were full of turnovers, as both teams adjusted to the tricky, wet conditions. 

Westport opened the scoring in the seventh minute through Lisa Tully, and tagged on three more from there. Burrishoole struggled to break the home side's 45, as the Westport defensive structure was set up to perfection. 

The Westport goal came with 19 minutes on the clock. A long-range effort from Aoife Staunton crept over the head of Burrishoole goalkeeper, Lauren McLoughlin and into the back of the net. 

The home side led 1-4 to no score at the interval, but Burrishoole would not go away. 

The 2022 county champions kicked three points to begin the second half, while Westport responded with two. Mayo’s Maria Cannon then kicked four frees in succession to reduce the deficit to two points. Matters were made worse for the West Mayo women when Aoife Staunton was shown a yellow card in the 51st minute. 

As the clock approached 60 minutes, Maria Cannon levelled the game and it looked as though Burrishoole might find a winner. 

However, it was Westport who progressed to the final when Laura Moran stood over a free 30 metres out from goal and fired the ball over the bar and Westport into their second senior county final in two years. 

Read a full report with reaction in Tuesday’s edition of The Mayo News