Brilliant Mayo are crowned league champions

Mayo were crowned Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 4 champions following a very impressive 2-14 to 1-6 victory over Wicklow in the final at Coralstown Kinnegad GAA Club this afternoon.

For a county that only fielded an adult team for the first time in a very long number of years just over 12 months ago, winning this league title is another magnificent step. Getting promoted to Division 3 for the 2023 season will only help further the development of camogie in Mayo.

Now with the league title under their belt, Mayo can now look forward to the All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship. While this will be a big step up for Jimmy Lyons' charges, the confidence they have gained throughout their unbeaten league campaign will stand to them greatly.

In today’s league final, Mayo laid the foundation for their victory in the first half when they were assisted by the strong wind. Indeed, by the end of the first quarter they had notched up nine delightful points while keeping their opponents scoreless at the other end of the field.

Fionnuala McLaughlin and Méabh Delaney landed two early points before the brilliant Saoirse Delaney followed up with four fantastic efforts.

With Mayo dominant throughout the field, they continued to rack up the scores, with Saoirse O’Brien, Lisa Scahill and Méabh Delaney all finding the range.

The same pattern continued in the second quarter. The crucial score of the half arrived a minute into this second quarter when a good move ended with Saoirse O’Brien placing Lisa Scahill with an inch-perfect pass before the full-forward hit a low shot to the back of the net.

Although Wicklow finally opened their account in the 18th minute with a point from Laura Manley, Mayo hit back with three more unanswered points through Méabh Delaney (two) and Lisa Scahill to leave them leading by 1-12 to 0-1 at the interval.

Despite facing into the teeth of the strong wind on the resumption, Mayo didn’t let up. In the opening 10 minutes of the half the defence – brilliantly led by the deserved player of the match, Ava Lambert – were rock solid and didn’t allow their opponents any worthwhile scoring chances.

Indeed, it was Mayo who got the first score of the half in the 40th minute, a second goal, and it was the killer blow for Wicklow. It came when a long-range free by Méabh Delaney dropped around the big square and was flicked across the goal by Emily Kelly to the unmarked Lisa Scahill who in turn hit a blistering ground stroke to the back of the net. There was no way back for Wicklow now.

While the Leinster side did manage to get a goal in the 45th minute, Mayo quickly responded with two magnificent points from Méabh Delaney and Saoirse O’Brien to make it game, set and match to the westerners.