Same old story

New era but same old story as ladies retain their crown

Final
Mayo    3-15
Sligo    0-9

Liam Henry
Castlebar

UNDERDOGS Sligo arrived in McHale Park on Sunday riding the crest of a wave, having disposed of a fancied Galway side at the same venue two weeks previously.
But there was to be no repeat heroics, as a green and red tsunami swept past them, drowning out their brave but limited challenge long before the end.
For 20 minutes, the 2006 All-Ireland Junior victors frightened last year’s Connacht champions. But once Michael Ryder’s new look Mayo took control after Cora Staunton’s superbly executed 22nd minute penalty, there was no way back for the Yeats women. Mayo gradually wore them down, drained the steam from the system and enjoyed a second half of pure dominance.
Cora Staunton marked her long-awaited return to inter-county action after eight months on the sidelines with a flawless display of point-taking from frees and play, amassing a personal tally of 2-9. She was ably assisted by her attacking accomplish Lisa Cafferky, who had already plundered 1-5 by half-time – and this despite featuring only sporadically during the opening period!
With four championship debutants in the starting 15, Mayo began brightly and had a couple of points on the board after a mere 90 seconds, both courtesy of Cora Staunton. But they were unable to shake off the shackles of a resolute Sligo in the opening third. Noelle Gormley was providing the scoring power at the opposite end with three (all frees) inside the opening quarter. And but for some woeful waste in front of goal, Sligo could have been in front by the 20-minute mark. Seven first half wides severely dented their prospects of another scalp, and as the game progressed, their reliance upon Gormley from placed balls became all the more pronounced.
Mayo, on the other hand, were much more economical, and when chances arose, they invariably took them. Katrina Connolly produced an excellent save to deny Marcella Heffernan a goal after 16 minutes, but the score that launched Mayo’s successful defence of their crown arrived six minutes later. Connolly had again saved brilliantly, this time from Caroline McGing, but Dublin referee Keith Tighe spotted an infringement in the ensuing tangle for possession and awarded a Mayo penalty. It seemed harsh to say the least, but that didn’t faze cool Cora Staunton, who rifled the leather to the top left hand corner with William Tell-like precision.
It proved the turning point of the contest. Sligo were clearly rattled and Mayo were cute and clever enough to exploit the situation. Two Cora Staunton points followed in three minutes, and when Lisa Cafferky netted Mayo’s second major on 30 minutes, it was almost game, set and match, with the reigning champions now ten points ahead.
Two frees by Noelle Gormley kept Sligo in touch, but having battled gamely throughout the half, to find themselves eight points in arrears at the interval was a cruel and buckling blow. If they were to have any realistic hopes of causing an upset, it was essential that Sligo restarted in scoring mode, but that didn’t happen.
Mayo were relentless after the break and adopting an immense tempo, ran the opposition ragged, recalling them to the punishment chamber time and time again. Their clinical finishing was a joy to behold and the points flowed in a steady stream. Marcella Heffernan, Cora Staunton, Lisa Cafferky (two in succession) and Staunton again all bisected the posts in the opening 15 minutes before Staunton took full advantage of Sligo generosity to plunder a third goal after 46 minutes.
Mayo were in cruise control, and Michael Ryder availed of the opportunity to blood a number of substitutes in the final quarter hour with the game all but over as a contest. Sligo managed three points before the end, but scoring their first from play in additional time, it was too little, all too late.

MAYO
Y Byrne; N Tierney, H Lohan, N Hurst; N Beegan, C  McGing, D McDonagh; C Egan (0-1), M Carter; F McHale, M Heffernan (0-1), C Connolly; A Herbert, C Staunton (2-9, 1-0 pen, 5f), L Cafferky (1-4).
Subs used: M Gallagher for Tierney (49 mins); A McLean for Connolly (53 mins); A Nolan for McDonagh (55 mins); K Sullivan for Herbert (55 mins); J Hallinan for Beegan (58 mins).

SLIGO
K Connolly; M Keane, G O’Gara, F Maye; T O’Hara, A Doohan, R Goodwin; B Byrne, L Smith; S O’Sullivan, N Gormley (0-8, 8f), S O’Reilly; L Brett, T Marren, L Harte.
Subs used: C Doyle for Smith (30 mins); E Codd (0-1) for O’Gara (47 mins); M O’Donnell for O’Reilly (57 mins); S McTiernan for Doohan (58 mins).

Referee: K Tighe (Dublin)