Regan’s Mayo U-16 girls ready to go again

ONLY guiding Mayo to an All-Ireland title will top Francis Regan’s first year as Mayo U-16 manager. 

After leading them to provincial glory and then onto an All-Ireland ‘A’ final in 2024, the 26-year-old Mayo Gaels footballer has left himself with a very tough act to follow. 

How blessed, then, is Regan to have 16 All-Ireland U-14 ‘Platinum’ winners in a team that features a dozen veterans from the first Mayo team to contest an U-16 All-Ireland final in 48 years. 

A lot has happened since that, All-Ireland final on July 14, when a brilliant Cavan side beat Mayo 3-11 to 2-5. 

As well as becoming a father, Regan has had plenty of time to reflect on a year when everything went to plan right up until that sunny summer day in Ballinasloe. 

“Everything just went out the window in the first ten minutes of that All-Ireland final. It kind of cost us,” Regan told The Mayo News. “I had a lot of time to think from last July to November, when we got going again, about what I’d do different, and we put a big emphasis on S&C and game plans and multiple game plans and scenarios, so things are going good.”

Many of those who starred for Mayo last year are still underage and fighting fit in 2024. These include team captain Amy Doherty, forwards Katie Hughes, Isabelle Basquelle, Siofra McGuinness, Aoibheann McNamara and Emma Stagg (who is currently on the way back from a cruciate ligament injury) and defenders Sophie Tiernan and Isabelle Basquille.

Regan has also added some key players from the Mayo U-14 team who won the 2024 Connacht Silver title, including, Mikayla McLoughlin (Charlestown), Erin Higgins (Ballyhaunis), Sophie Moran (Breaffy), Mikayla McLoughlin (Charlestown) and Katie Corcoran (Hollymount, who is currently injured).

On paper, Mayo have as good, if not an even better chance, of winning a Connacht title and potentially going all the way to the final. 

However, Regan knows that past success is not a guarantee of future silverware.

“A lot can change in two years and the girls know that. Whether they won an All-Ireland two years ago doesn’t mean it’s their given right to win it this year,” he said.

“Football changes very quickly and especially with girls, they can develop very quickly. What you can get away with at U-14 you can’t get away with at U-16 and the same up to Minor. It’s the way it’s gone. At U-14, you can be a really fast, skilful team; U-16 you have to have a bit more strength and tactics; Minor is a completely different ball game again.”

Past success is no guarantee of future success, but it is certainly a good indicator. 

The Mayo U-16 girls panel for 2025 is as follows: Emily Duffy (Aghamore), Isabelle Baquille, Ellie Dunleavy (Balla), Erin Higgins (Ballyhaunis), Chloe Fahy, Emily Moran, Sophie Moran, Anna Horan, Niamh Curran (Breaffy), Anna Hanly, Grace Bailey, Lucy Tiernan (Castlebar Mitchels), Sophie Tiernan, Mikayla McLoughlin, Siofra McGuinness (Charlestown), Katie Corcoran, Sari Vahey, Emma Stagg (Hollymount), Leah McNamara, Aoife Gannon (Islandeady), Ailbhe Ferguson (Kilmoremoy), Riona Kelly (Kilmaine), Meabh Lavin, Saerlaith Dillon (Kilmovee), Sadhbh Mooney (Kiltimagh), Shauna Breslin (Knockmore), Amy Doherty (captain, MacHale Rovers), Claudine Brennan (Swinford), Katie Hughes, Aoibheann McNamara, Lauren Cusack (Westport). 

FIXTURE 

CONNACHT LGFA U-16 CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1

GALWAY V MAYO 

SATURDAY, APRIL 5

DUNMORE AT 4PM