Mayo player on team-mates secret superstition ahead of All-Ireland final

Like many of her Mayo sisters, Síofra McGuinness has victory firmly in her crosshairs in tomorrow evening's All-Ireland Under-16 final against Kerry.

During Mayo’s training session in the Connacht Centre of Excellence last Wednesday evening, laughter and excitement filled the air.

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These are the days footballers live for after all. It’s rare they get to look ahead to strutting their stuff at the highest level, and it’s obvious that every player in the Green and Red squad would die with their boots on to leave Nenagh with the cup.

According to the live-wire forward, being able to walk this path alongside some of her best friends makes the journey all the more enjoyable.

“We're all the best of friends,” she said. “It's so nice coming out here to meet up with each other, and we're doing what we love at the same time.”

McDonagh Park in Nenagh was the venue when these girls secured the All-Ireland U-14 title in 2023, and the captain on that day, McGuinness, will be hoping for more of the same.

When asked if any of her teammates had any peculiar pre-match traditions over the years, the flame-haired Charlestown Sarsfields attacker was quick to reach for an example.

“Mikayla McLaughlin does love to have a white Magnum the night before a match,” she mused. “I don't know how, but it definitely works for her.”

“Why not? She's not gone wrong so far.”

Here’s hoping the Magnum trick can work again this week.