Connacht LGFA Winter League Final
Galway 6-13 Mayo 1-04
In their first meeting since the Connacht final last July Galway got the better of old foes Mayo on Sunday. Four goals and six points from player of the match Sarah Conneally made sure Galway retained their title that they won last year against Sligo.
The first half seen Galway take charge of this game with Tracey Leonard, Louise ward and Sarah Conneally doing most of the damage to Mayo hopes. Galway opened with four unanswered points before Mayo could open their account with a well taken point from Sarah Baynes. The Galway keeper Lisa Murphy then pulled off a double save from Emma Needham to keep Mayo at bay. Galway took back control with three more points from Leonard, Conneally and Deirdre Brennan before Louise Ward and Tracey Leonard linked to set up Sarah Conneally for the first goal of the game. Galway’s second came from Tracey Leonard when her free kick drop in over the Mayo keeper. Galway added two more points in the last 5 minutes of the half which saw Mayo having two players sin binned, that left the half time score 2-09 to 0-02.
Mayo’s new manager Peter Leahy made 15 changes at half time in the hope to turn the game around. Galway started the second half strong with two points from Sinead Burke and Sarah Conneally. Mayo did have a mini revival mid-way thought the half when Grace Kelly Scored a goal and a point but that was as close as Mayo would get to Galway as they ran out easy winners tagging on four goals in the last 10 minutes one from Leanne Walsh and a hat trick from Sarah Conneally leaving the final score Galway 6-13 Mayo 1-04.
Galway’s Captain Lisa Gannon picked up the cup from Liam McDonagh and paid credit to her team mates and the management team for the win and hoped they could push on now in the Lidl National League which kicks off Next’s weekend.
Talking after the game Mayo’s Manager Peter Leahy praised his team for the effort they had shown and he was looking forward to their opening game in the National League next Sunday against his native Westmeath.
