Mayo prove much too strong for Laois in All-Ireland decider

MAYO were crowned All-Ireland ladies football B champions following their massive victory over Laois in the final at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, yesterday (Wednesday) evening.

As the scoreline of 11-14 to 1-5 suggests, it was very easy for the Mayo girls. Once they settled into their stride and after Louise Dowling scored the first of their 11 goals in the eighth minute, it was more or less one-way traffic until the end.

The Mayo girls went on to add seven further goals in the opening half, with Ava Lambert and Leah Johnson getting two each along with one from Ciara Needham, Tara Needham and a second from Dowling.

This left Mayo leading by 8-5 to 0-2 at the interval, which had all but secured them the title.

There was no let-up from Mayo after the resumption as they raised a further three green flags, with Tara Needham, Louise Dowling and substitute Ciara Middleeton all finding the back of the net.

In the end it was all too easy for Mayo. They were just a class apart and left Laois with no excuses in what turned out to be a very one-sided decider.

The Mayo team that started was: A. Ronayne, S. Lally, Á. Moffatt, S. El Massey, C. Needham (1-1), A. Geraghty, A. Lyons, E. Murray (0-1), J. Cawley (0-1), A. Kennedy (0-1), L. Dowling (3-1), L. Johnston (2-1), F. Collins, A. Lambert (2-2), T. Needham (2-4). The subs used were: C. Middleton (1-1), M. Cannon (0-1), A. Mahon, K. Melvin, R. Beale.

The starting Laois team was: N. Dempsey, L. Kelly, S. Farrelly, G. Donovan, G. Salmon, S. Larkin, J. Cahill, A. Fitzpatrick, J. Murphy, E. Lacey (0-1), L. Tarpey, O. Hennessy, G. Lalor, D. Doherty, L. Keane (0-4). The subs brought on were: D. Forbes, A. Lalor, K. O’Neill, A. Gallagher, O. Knowles (1-0).

Mayo's Leah Johnson was named the player of the match, while Tara Needham captained the girls and accepted the trophy from the Ladies Gaelic Football Association president, Marie Hickey.