Ladies rue one that got away

The one that got away


Final
Galway 4-10
Mayo   1-17

Austin Garvin
Castlebar

GALWAY snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a dramatic win over Mayo in the TG4 Connacht Ladies Football Championship at McHale Park on Sunday last.
During a rip-roaring encounter, Mayo relinquished a ten-point lead, allowing Galway to take the title at the death.
It all looked so easy for Mayo early on as they controlled the play and scored almost every time they attacked. This was particularly evident in the first half when they were the essence of economy, having built up a 1-8 to 0-3 lead five minutes before the break, only to be caught by a breakaway goal from Galway’s star performer Edel Concannon.
Up to that point Mayo had made better use of their chances and at the same time suppressed strong Galway pressure. During that opening period, the Tribeswomen enjoyed a lot of the possession, but they were denied repeatedly by a vigilant Mayo defence, in which the full-back line was particularly good.
During that first half Cora Staunton was truly outstanding in attack, and she was ably assisted by Aileen Gilroy, who scored a great individual goal after 25 minutes. Mayo used corner forward Yvonne Byrne judiciously in an outfield role, and it looked as if they would replicate their league victory over the Galway ladies with ease.
When Mayo opened the second half with three points without reply from Cora Staunton, it looked like they were coasting to victory. Rather than buckle, however, Galway showed true fighting qualities as they took the game to the home side. After Eilis Gannon had pulled a point back, the visitors won a penalty after Aoibheann Daly was fouled during a great bout of play. But Emma Curley failed to take advantage as her rocket of a shot hit the crossbar.
Mayo hit back with three great points from Cora Staunton to go ahead by 1-14 to 1-5. Then disaster struck as the green and red lost both Claire Egan and Aileen Gilroy to yellow cards in quick succession. It took a while for the numerical disadvantage to show as Staunton hit another point to leave Mayo ten points to the good.
During the ensuing play Galway took full advantage of Mayo’s loss to score 2-3 without reply. Geraldine Concannon and Eilis Gannon struck with goals. Edel Concannon added two pointed frees, with Sinéad Burke hitting another.
While Galway prospered, Mayo crumbled. The away side were now the dominant force with Mayo seemingly unable to halt their onward march. Not even the return of Claire Egan and Aileen Gilroy could halt their gallop as they controlled the game. During some heavy pressure, Galway hit the post and crossbar, but they were not to be denied. Edel Concannon pointed a free, and substitute Gillian O’Connor rattled the net after a Mayo player lost possession going forward.
To Mayo’s credit, they came back strongly with a pointed free from Cora Staunton as her attempt for goal skimmed the crossbar. But incessant Mayo pressure before the final whistle failed to yield any further scores as Galway won a game that had looked beyond them.
The victors deserved their win for sheer persistence alone. Other sides would have given up the ghost when ten points adrift. This was certainly a salutary lesson for the Mayo ladies, but if they learn from the experience, they can use it to their advantage later in the summer.

Galway
J Connolly; M Coyne, S Conneally, A Seoighe; B Hannon, A Daly, S Burke (0-1); E Curley, A Clarke; D Brennan, C Hehir, G Conneally (1-0); E Gannon (1-1), L Joyce, E Concannon (1-8, 0-6f).
Subs used: G O’Connor (1-0) for D Brennan; E Flaherty for A Seoighe; R Leonard for C Hehir.

Mayo
A Tarpey; M Corbett, N Tierney, L Ryder; S Tierney, C Egan, C Connolly; M Carter, C McManamon; F McHale, C Staunton (0-14,9fs), D Doherty; S Rowe (0-1), A Gilroy (1-2), Y Byrne.
Subs used: A Roddy for L Ryder; A Bell for S Tierney; N Kelly for D Doherty; C Hegarty for Y Byrne.

Referee: J Niland (Sligo)