Mayo U16s chase revenge on road to All-Ireland glory

Mayo are no strangers to All-Ireland heartache.

That feeling of being so close to ultimate glory, nearing the peak of the mountain top, only for it all to go so agonisingly wrong.

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For Francis Regan’s Mayo U-16s last season, that was ultimately their fate. In 2024, when the final whistle went, it was Cavan who were toasting the sweet taste of victory, while the Green and Red left the trophy behind in Ballinasloe.

Now, one year on, Mayo are on the road to redemption. Katie Hughes, Aoibhinn McNamara, and Isabelle Basquelle were some of those who had to witness the Ulster champions claim the cup that July day.

Now, they’re back and they don’t care who stands in their path. That said, a shot at downing the side that vanquished them one year ago would have been preferable.

“They're itching to get back at Cavan, especially,” their báinisteoir, Regan, said. “When we got through, all they wanted to know was it Cavan they were playing, they were itching to get that bit of revenge.”

His side were put to the pin of their collars in the Connacht final, when Roscommon showed grit and determination in spades to be neck-and-neck coming down the home stretch.

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It was goosebump stuff when Katie Hughes produced a majestic score to secure their status as provincial champions on a glorious day in Bekan. The experience of winning such a breathless tie will surely stand to Regan’s girls, with an All-Ireland semi-final against Kildare on the menu on Thursday evening.

“The girls never fail to put our hearts sideways,” he regaled.

“It was just crazy stuff. It took us a long while to get to grips with that game, but if you actually look back at the stats, we were probably the dominant team for most of that. We had 22 wides, and a lot of them came in the first half with a lot of goal chances.

“It doesn’t matter how you win a Connacht Final, they’re always sweet.”

However sweet it was, it will be long-forgotten when the bus pulls into Longford for the meeting with Kildare in the last-four battle. This Kildare team are no joke, evidenced by their trouncing of Dublin in the Leinster decider, and the likes of Sinéad Shine and Issey Kelly will provide a stiff test.

“We know their capabilities, we know their talents,” Regan said. “They have a half-forward line that's probably the best I've ever seen at this age.

“It won't be an easy test, but mountains are there to be climbed.”

On a personal note, redemption is certainly something that Regan will be craving. It may be some 348 days since last year's final, but that fire still burns in the Mayo Gaels clubman.

“Last year was a roller-coaster altogether. Getting to an All-Ireland final in my first year as a manager was a huge occasion and one I was immensely proud of.

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“There's been some dark days since then, and I've been waiting for this chance to get back to another All-Ireland final to put things right.”