Westport power past Carnacon on opening day

MAYO LGFA SFC ROUND 1

Westport 1-13

Carnacon 1-4

WESTPORT

THE women from the shadow of The Reek got their quest for a first senior title off to a winning start on Sunday morning. It was a dominant performance by last year's finalists. Laura Moran proved to be a reliable sharpshooter for the women in blue, scoring six points in total, contributing a crucial goal in the second half as well. 

Carnacon produced a fantastic start, with Niamh Flannery raising the green flag only after three minutes, off a brilliant assist by Cora Staunton. But after that it was all Westport for the rest of the first half, with the hosts leading 0-8 to 1-1 at the interval. The game could have been well decided by then, but Westport missed two excellent goal chances - Christina McEvilly and Sarah Mulroy were each denied by the crossbar.

Carnacon tried to take advantage of that, to claw their way back into the game at the start of the second half. But Laura Moran's goal in the 38th minute put Westport eight points clear.

The gap could have been closer as Carnacon themselves had two promising goal opportunities. But Cora Staunton's effort from a close range free was blocked by a Westport defender on the goal line before Louise Dowling's shot for the top left corner was brilliantly saved by Roisin Scott to keep Westport in charge. 

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