Mayo LGFA league finals round-up: Smiles in the sunshine
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THE sun beamed down on the Connacht Centre of Excellence on Sunday as cup and shield finals were played out at the end of the league season. The football on view was spectacular and the excitement knew no bounds as memories were made in the sunshine.
THE outcome of the Mayo LGFA Division 1 Shield final might have come as a surprise to some. A stunning performance by the ladies in green and gold saw Kilmovee dispatch the Burrishoole challenge in impressive fashion on a final score-line of 6-13 to 2-9.
The Clew Bay women entered the game as favourites, as they had finished third in the league table, boasting the best offence in Division 1, whereas their opponents on final day, Kilmovee, had displayed the leakiest defence of the competition.
“We really had to not to leave ourselves exposed and to stop that ball being delivered in early on a one-on-one situation,” explained a delighted Kilmovee manager Kieran Flatley after the match: “So we told our half-backs, two midfielders and half-forwards that they'd have to work extremely hard around the middle, to put the pressure on and not give Burrishoole time to deliver the ball.”
The game plan was executed by the players perfectly. The Shamrocks hoovered up Burrishoole kick-outs and scored their goals in the first half. It was a huge mountain to climb for the Barony ladies after that, which eventually proved too high.
Experienced inter-county player Lisa Cafferky was named player-of-the-match and Serena Hanley had a big performance on a day where the overall team effort shone most brightly under the Bekan sun.
Burrishoole had a successful league campaign, welcoming back Maria Cannon from Australia, they recorded five wins and were only beaten by Westport and Knockmore, but the shield final wasn't their day.
It had been Kilmovee’s goal from the start of the season, to contest this shield final, as Flatley explained, acknowledging the supremacy of Westport and Knockmore, the two big guns in Mayo club football.
But to win it, was ‘the icing on the cake’, as the manager commented. Especially as Kilmovee had had some tough defeats against Burrishoole in the recent past.
Balla claim Division 3 crown
The fight for the Division 3 Cup title went down right to the wire. The encounter between Balla and Louisburgh went to extra-time. And even then, only one single point separated the two before Balla edged Louisburgh by 1-15 to 2-8. The player-of-the-match award went to Balla's Ellie Mahon and team captain Belinda Patterson gleefully accepted the trophy.
The Division 3 Shield was awarded to Aghamore, who scored an impressive 6-17 against Breaffy, who recorded 3-6.
The Division 4 Cup honours went to Kiltimagh after an impressive performance against Kilmaine. Kiltimagh captain Caomihe Hession led her colours to a 5-15 to 0-8.
While the Cup final in Division 4 was a one-sided affair, the Shield decider between Kilmeena and Belmullet turned out to be nailbiter. Both teams left nothing behind, and at the final whistle, the girls in black and white were one point ahead. Final socre: Kilmeena 3-7 Belmullet 2-9.
Achill claimed the Division 5 Cup in scenes of wild delight. Captain Sadhbh Keogh lifted the cup for her team after beating Ballinrobe in the final 3-13 to 1-12. Player of the match was Achill's Sarah Courell.