O'Malley comeback from injury helps Westport do the job on Castlebar

MAYO LGFA SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP A

Westport 1-14

Castlebar Mitchels 0-7

In Westport

Coming back after a lengthy ACL injury and surgery is always a long and winding road. For Westport's Rebecca O'Malley, who came on early in the second half of today's championship opener, countless gym sessions finally paid off. 

Almost exactly a year ago, the Westport defender injured herself in a championship match against Carnacon. O'Malley was all smiles after today's win over Castlebar Mitchels.

"It's great to be back involved with the girls," O'Malley told The Mayo News: "It's been a long enough road, but knowing you're coming back to this group of girls, it was worth it. I just don't want to see the Leisure Centre again for another while," she laughed.

The win in their group opener against Castlebar Mitchels, who just came up from intermediate, was never in doubt. But it was a tough game to be thrown back into championship again. 

On a wet Sunday morning, in very challenging conditions, a big crowd of supporters from both teams witnessed many spills but few thrills.

The Mitchels team made life hard on the county champions, Westport recorded 14 wides across the 60 minutes.  

"Castlebar was a tough opposition," O'Malley acknowledged: "We knew they were always going to be physical, so we had to try and match that today, especially in the conditions."

Westport looked the more dangerous team from the start, and after 23 minutes the team managed by Pop Geraghty were already leading 1-6 to no score.

Laura Moran scored the only goal of the match, with a strike that some might say was meant to go over the bar, but instead dipped into the net behind Mitchels goalkeeper Ava Murray.

Westport midfielder Noirín Moran was player of the match. She was a warrior and always threw herself into the heat of the action. Moran plucked kick-outs from the air, intercepted passes and disrupted opposition ball. 

Aoife Staunton showed her finishing qualities as the wing-forward added six points to the Westport tally. And Fionnuala McLaughlin tormented opposition defenders with her sharp elusive runs.

Unfortunately for Westport, Saoirse Ludden had to be stretchered off and Aoife Kennedy had to leave the pitch prematurely with her arm slung in her sleeve.

Ludden had just returned this season from Australia has proven to be an important addition to the team's forwards.

A full match report will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News.