Gaynor Cup winners claim the Eric O'Reilly Shield

Next up in the Mayo Young Sports Stars Awards we recognised to the teams that brought honour to their communities, starting with the Eric O'Reilly Shield winners as the top soccer team of the year.

Mayo's Under 12 girls created history at the end of June 2019, becoming the first team from the county to ever win the Gaynor Cup.

Mayo were undefeated in being crowned champions in the tournament at University of Limerick, run on a round robin format, as they overcame the challenge of physically stronger teams with a show of technical ability and good work rate throughout the squad.

In their group they drew with Galway, beat North Eastern Counties SL, and then faced South Tipperary in a winner-takes-all encounter that they edged by a goal to nil.

The tournament at UL followed the North West Gaynor Cup qualifier in Longford in April, a six-team event in which Mayo defeated the hosts 2-0 in the final and, remarkably, didn't concede a goal in any game during the day. That sealed their place in the final four of the Gaynor Cup in June.

The management team, headed by Kevin Sheeran with Micheal Collins, Jessica Lambe and Melissa Devaney, expressed great pride in their young charges' talent and attitude all season long.

Making history by seeing them become the first Mayo side to win a Gaynor Cup at any age level was the icing on the cake for the management after fulfilling their first remit of helping to develop footballers.

Their superb performances in 2019 deservedly earn them the Eric O'Reilly Shield Award as soccer team of the year.

The squad was: Aoife Meaney, Aoife Collins, Roisin Horkan, Isobel Phillips, Emily Vahey, Emily Jennings, Emma Duffy, Sarah Ruddy, Kayla Doherty, Rebecca Moran, Hazel Harrington, Blaithin Brennan, Grace McHale, Mallaidh Lavelle, Maura Hughes, Ashleagh Salmon and Katie Heaney.