Knockmore ladies clinch Division 1 league title after six-goal thriller

Mayo LGFA Senior League Division 1 Cup Final

Westport 2-20 Knockmore 4-18

Oisín McGovern in Bekan

ONE of the greatest games of women’s club football in Mayo’s recent history had to be decided by extra time this afternoon, with Knockmore emerging deserved victors. 

A chain of 1-4 without reply in extra time was ultimately what decided a rollercoaster of a game that was level on ten occasions.

The scores came thick and fast from the start of game played out in blistering heat that failed to dampen the tempo at any stage.

Westport got the first of the game's six goals when Laura Moran’s free crept in under the crossbar.

Shauna Howley, who was superb for long periods of the game, kicked two goals in the first half to perforate Westport’s fine play.

The Covies held a slim 1-7 to 2-5 lead at half-time, after which the game ebbed and flow at breakneck speed.

A 51st minute goal from the excellent Amy O’Connor gave Knockmore a three-point lead and looked to have set them on the home stretch.

Spearheaded by Laura Moran and Aoife Staunton – who had 1-15 between them – Westport eventually levelled but missed some glorious chances to score the winner.

They would rue to regret those misses in extra-time as Knockmore replied to Westport’s opening score with four points from Shauna Howley, Sarah Mulvihill, Lara Sweeney (a free) and Amy O’Connor.

Their excellent captain Nina McVann was the one who set up Clodagh Keane for the winning goal 55 seconds into the second added period.

However, Westport remained defiant, pointing five times before the end.

Knockmore replied with points from O’Connor, Mulvihill and Keane which ensured a four-point win in an all-time classic game of football.

There will be a full report plus reaction from Knockmore’s Shauna Howley and Cormac Reape in Tuesday’s Mayo News.