Westport ladies chase first ever senior county title

“THERE are decades where nothing happens, and then there are weeks when decades happen.”

That famous quote from communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin comes to mind when assessing the history of the Mayo senior ladies football championship.

Like all great empires, Carnacon’s 21-year-long rule has collapsed at a pace that has taken everyone by surprise.

Since then, it’s been much like the last days of the British empire, where an abrupt withdrawal unleashed all-out war between numerous factions in India, Ireland and the Middle-East.

First came Knockmore, who in 2021 staged a revolution that would have put the Bolsheviks to shame. Their rule lasted less than a year.

The barony of Burrishoole then took the crown, only to lose it just three games into their defence.

On Saturday, Westport can become the third club in three seasons to win Mayo club football’s premier competition.

Noirin Moran battled away in the blue jersey for most of Carnacon’s hegemony years, during which time not a lot happened - until Westport won the Intermediate title in 2018.

What happens between now and Saturday is the culmination of years upon years of endeavour for Westport LGFA — decades happening in days, as Lenin might see it.

“I’m excited even thinking about it,” Moran told The Mayo News after their semi-final win over Carnacon.

“I’m playing football long enough, I’m 33 years of age, and still this is my first senior county final. So the thought of even playing in the county final, never mind winning silverware or dreaming of winning silverware it’s incredible.”

Standing over the ruins of one of Ireland’s greatest footballing empires, the former Mayo star wore a smile as broad and radiant as the unseasonal autumn sunshine.

But days like these have been ‘a good few years in the making’ and have only come after ‘a tough road’, according to Moran.

“We’ve had a change in management, losing players, but there’s a core group of girls there that came through from Minor that just really blended it all together.

“There’s been dark days, dark nights running, dark evenings in the pouring rain and snow and that. I suppose it’s just the grit.”

Growing up, the Westport girls ‘always looked up to Carnacon’ and were inspired by Knockmore’s 2021 coup.

Noirin Moran knows well that none of it was by accident.

“They’re doing the exact same thing, they’re doing those dark days and hard running. That’s what we’ve always aspired to be,” she says.

Tomorrow, the very team that inspired them to dream big dreams could be the very ones who shatter them.

“At the end of the day we have to play our own game. We don’t want to get too caught up in what Knockmore do,” said Moran.

One man who’ll have learned plenty from their thrilling league final defeat to Knockmore is team manager, Neil Chambers.

“Like every sport it’s great to see women’s sport coming on so much,” said the former Burrishoole footballer, who put much of the current Westport senior team through his hands.

“The girls have seen the Westport lads winning intermediate a few years ago and last year winning the first county title, but also the other side of it; losing. They won’t want that to happen the next day. We’ll be leaving everything on the pitch on Saturday.”

“These are the girls you played alongside all your career,” added Moran, before elaborating.

“There’s a blend there, the core Under-18 setup and they’ve just really added strength to it. Now we’re a little team and we’re the best of friends and we’d die for each other. To win alongside them would mean everything to us.”

It has taken them decades for them to get here, but one hour could change everything.

FIXTURE - Mayo LGFA SFC Final, Westport v Knockmore, Saturday, October 14, Bekan at 4pm.