Mayo sparkle in the sunshine to sweep Wexford aside in O'Hora's homecoming

LGFA - LIDL LADIES NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO

Mayo 5-14

Wexford 0-7

In Swinford Amenity Park

A fine first-half was the catalyst for a moment in history in Swinford Amenity Park, as a first-rate Mayo side picked up a win in the first home game of the Diane O'Hora era.

It took the Green and Red a while to get going, but when Saoirse Delaney fired past Siobhan Cloake for the game's first goal, the feel of the tie turned.

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Delaney's three-pointer was the result of a sublime four-pass move straight from Laura Brennan's re-start, and such moves were the rule rather than the exception on Sunday.

There were many excellent performances as this new-look side, under some new-look rules, starts to find its groove.

Burrishoole's finest, Lucy Wallace, was a forward's worst nightmare as she hustled for every ball, while Ciara Needham was quarterback-like in crafting goal chances.

The midfield duo of Aoife Geraghty and Erin Murray were on form in the engine room, while the words 'Duracell' and 'Bunny' come to mind when describing inside forward Saoirse Delaney.

Wexford threw everything at it, but in truth, their attacks lacked impetus, epitomised by a tame Róisín Hughes effort near the end of the first half.

Mayo rang the changes in the second period, handing debuts to players as well as getting inter-county game-time into some more experienced legs.

It was one of those returning heroes, Sinead Cafferky, who scored the goal of the tie. Her half-volleyed effort on the turn of the fourth quarter would have travelled over Swinford town had there been no net in the goal.

Not one to be outdone, Sinead Walsh stepped up with a booming score from distance seconds later. As it crept just over the crossbar, it created history as the first ever two-pointer scored by a Mayo Ladies side.

As time went on, the chasm grew and grew. Every player on the pitch was ravenous for more, as the side from the sunny south-east was thoroughly outshone.

By the end, the gap stood at 22 points. Mayo picked up some much-needed points, and did their scoring difference no harm, as they aim to make it a short hiatus from the top table.