GALWAY 1-12 MAYO 3-6
By Michael Gallagher at Elverys MacHale Park
A rip-roaring TG4 Connacht SFC Final gave the
Castlebar crowd everything they craved and more when a ferocious Mayo team put
Galway to the pin of their collar on Sunday afternoon.
Sizzling scores, yellow cards, a red card, a penalty
save, exhilarating excitement and two teams who ran themselves ragged produced
a provincial final of the very highest quality.
Tracey Leonard had the chance to win it for Galway
with 15 seconds left but she missed her free kick and Mayo deservedly came away
with the ball before the final whistle sounded. The sides will do it all again
on 7 July.
The first half was ferociously competitive with Mayo
laying down a serious marker of intent. Galway got off to a flying start with a
fine goal from Louise Ward when she waltzed through and blasted to the net, but
from then on it was nip and tuck.
Rachel Kearns was moving well at full-forward for
Mayo and kept Galway honest at the back but the yellow card flashed at
wing-back Ciara Whyte left Mayo under pressure and they trailed 1-4 to 0-2
after the first quarter. Roisin Leonard, Tracey Leonard, Sarah Conneally and
Olivia Divilly all pointed, but Mayo’s ferocious tackling was frustrating
Galway.
The Green and Red powered back into it with Sinead
Cafferky, Sarah Rowe and Kearns to the fore in attack. Galway were held
scoreless for a long period but eventually Tracey Leonard got then back on the
board with a brace to leave Galway four points clear at the break, 1-6 to 0-5.
Conneally kicked another Galway point straight after
the restart but Mayo were on a mission and responded explosively as two goals
arrived inside 60 seconds. Rachel Kearns volleyed home after a sizzling run
from Kathryn Sullivan and Éilish Ronayne scrambled home another one when Grace
Kelly’s effort dropped short.
That spurred Galway into life and points arrived
from Tracey Leonard, Megan Glynn and Aine McDonagh to leave them two clear
again.
Mayo swept down the pitch again and had the chance
to go in front after 43 minutes but substitute ‘keeper Dearbhla Gower saved
Sarah Rowe’s penalty.
That didn’t deter the Green and Red and when Grace
Kelly raced 50 yards to plant the ball in the net after 50 minutes the home
side were one clear, 3-6 to 1-11.
That set up a grandstand finish and Mayo were dealt
a huge blow when team captain Niamh Kelly was red carded and Galway were handed
the initiative, but all they could muster was a single point from Tracey
Leonard before the final hooter sent the thriller to a replay.
SCORERS
Galway: T Leonard 0-6 (4f), L Ward 1-0, S Conneally 0-2, A McDonagh 0-1, R Leonard 0-1 (1f), O Divilly 0-1, M Glynn 0-1.
Mayo: R Kearns 1-2, É Ronayne 1-0, G Kelly 1-0 each, S Rowe 0-2 (2f), S Cafferkey 0-1, N Kelly 0-1.
GALWAY:
L Murphy; S Molloy; S Lynch, F Cooney; B Hannon, S Burke, C Cooney; L Ward, A
McDonagh; O Divilly, T Leonard, M Glynn; L Coen, R Leonard, S Conneally.
Subs: M Seoighe for Coen 41, D Gower for Conneally
43, O Murphy for Hannon 50, N Ward for Cooney 51, S Conneally for Murphy 53.
MAYO:
A Tarpey; N O’Malley, R Flynn, D Caldwell; É Ronayne, Ciara McManamon, C Whyte;
Clodagh McManamon, S Cafferkey; R Durkin, T O’Connor, N Kelly; S Rowe, R
Kearns, G Kelly.
Subs: K Sullivan for O’Connor 20, F Doherty for
Whyte h-t, D Finn for Clodagh McManamon 38, E Needham for Ciara McManamon 45, N
Moran for Durkin 51.
Referee:
John Niland (Sligo).
