Second-half surge helps Westport beat MacHale Rovers in Mayo LGFA league opener

MAYO LGFA ADULT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

Westport 1-18

MacHale Rovers 2-7

In Westport

IT was a rocky start for the senior county champions. Westport needed a convincing second half to repel a strong challenge from last season's Division Two champions MacHale Rovers.

The match was mostly a tussle of two sharpshooters. Kayla Doherty kicked 1-4 for MacHale Rovers in the first half, while Aoife Staunton was responsible for seven out of Westport's eight points.

At half-time, the women in navy and blue found themselves down by three points as MacHale Rovers capitalised on two turnovers.

Mayo county star forward Sinéad Walsh turned the ball over twice in midfield. The first time she eventually palmed the ball into the net herself, and the second time Doherty finished strongly to raise her team's second green flag.

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Westport missed a few early chances, the biggest one was a shot at goal from Staunton, which was brilliantly saved on the line by Charlie Reilly-Benson.

Half-time score: Westport 0-8 MacHale Rovers 2-5.

There seemed to be a need for a few more words than usual in the Westport dressing room, as the team emerged late. The MacHale Rovers players had been waiting for a while when they took to the pitch.

Manager Pop Geraghty made two substitutions. Noirín Moran and Sarah Mulroy came on for Katie Chambers and Saoirse Byrne.

The experienced Moran brought power and resolve on the pitch. It was a sign of things to come as the home side played as if it was the county final. 

For 20 minutes they smothered MacHale Rovers at their kick-outs, and their movement off the ball was much better. 

It helped, that a long ball slipped through a couple of defenders and ended up in Christina MacEvilly's hands who buried it in the net.

Westport sniffed blood and relentlessly went about their business, scoring eight further points - unanswered.

Whatever hopes MacHale Rovers might have had to run the county champions close, withered away. They only managed to score two frees from Doherty in the second half.

Late on with a few minutes to go, Westport brought on Lauren Maloney and Grainne Muldoon for their first senior match appearance.

After the full 60 minutes, Aoife Staunton had racked up an impressive tally of 0-12.

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