Clean sweep for Mayo girls in Solar 21 Park, Milebush
THE Mayo Schoolboys/girls had three girls’ sides in action at Solar 21 Park on Saturday in their latest round of interleague group games.
First up at midday was the Under 12s who faced Cavan/Monaghan. This was to prove a most competitive tie between two extremely well-matched sides. Jane Moran in the Mayo goal made the first of several brilliant saves as early as the fourth minute. Her opposite number followed suit in the 11th minute, but Moran made another couple of stunning saves the second of which she displayed her bravery blocking the follow-up after the first shot came off the post. Mayo finished the half very strongly, with Molly Sheridan going close twice.
As the second half played out one always got the impression that a single goal could very well determine the outcome of this game such was the excellence of both goalkeepers and their defensive units. Mayo were really good defensively, led by the superb Saoirse Reynolds, and the visitors did not get many clear cut chances.
Late in the game, Mayo’s Karolina Filak scored what proved to be the only goal of the game to give Mayo a 1-0 victory and two wins out of two for manager Edel Mullin-Walsh and her coaching staff of John Hennelly, Rebecca Holmes, Emma Mullin and John Mullin. Michael Moran was the referee for this game.
Next up, kicking off at 1.30 p.m., was the Mayo Under 15s, who faced Donegal. In a cagey opening 20 minutes clear-cut chances were very much at a premium, with both sides cancelling each other out.
Ursula Shaughnessy went close for Mayo early on, just being inches wide before she worked the visiting ‘keeper after good approach play by Kasey Ruane. Amy Murphy had a well struck effort equally well saved before, on 26 minutes, we had the breakthrough. A surging run from midfield by Roise Burke was halted with a foul 25 yards out just to the left.
The mercurial Murphy had scored two goals against this opposition from corners the last time they met and her effort this time was brilliantly tipped up onto the bar by the goalkeeper, with Ruane reacting quickest to roll the ball across the six-yard box for Aoife Collins to fire home. Mayo doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when Shaughnessy pulled the ball back for Burke to rifle an unstoppable shot high into the roof of the net. Half-time and 2-0 to Mayo.
Burke gave an indication of what was to follow in the second period when the Donegal goalkeeper did well to thwart her in the 38th minute but could do nothing to stop her scoring her second goal of the game on 51 minutes with another fierce drive. She duly completed her hat trick three minutes later after a mazy dribbling run. Murphy had a shot saved on 58 minutes and a well struck free kick by the same player met the same fate five minutes later. Burke completed the scoring four minutes from time to complete a performance of ‘Gerrardesque’ proportions.
An emphatic 5-0 victory for a Mayo squad where everyone certainly did their bit but special mention goes to debutant Ruby Jennings who put in a fantastic display as a holding midfielder, the two full-backs, Cara Culkin and Emma Dowling, and, of course, the scorer of four goals from central midfield, Roise Burke. This squad is looked after by the very experienced duo of Emma Gibbons and Michael Collins.
Kicking off last but certainly not least was the Under 13 squad, who also faced Donegal. There was not a lot between the teams in the opening half, with the only goal coming for Mayo courtesy of a smart finish by Ava Mitchell. Mayo put some good moves together up their left flank involving Anna Meaney, Caoimhe O’Donnell and Anna Burton. The highly regarded Aoibheann McGreal in the Mayo goal gave an assured display of top-class goalkeeping in every facet of the skill: good shot-stopping, good distribution and an excellent positional sense in relation to where the ball is.
Mayo very much dominated the second half and added two further goals. Mitchell scored again after a superb piece of defending from the front, dispossessing the centre-back and giving the ‘keeper no chance with an assured finish. Her strike partner, the very impressive Emily Coleman, capped off an excellent all-round game by scoring the final goal of the game when her explosive pace took her past the last defender and her finish was of the highest order. A girl with huge potential if ever there was one.
Most Donegal attacks floundered on the rock that was Mayo centre-back and captain Sive Flanagan, who never lost a single duel and is well versed in bringing the ball out of defence and starting attacking moves. This was an impressive display by John Hennelly’s young charges, running out 3-0 victors. John is assisted by Edel Mullin-Walsh, Martin McGreal, Aisling Reilly, Jessica Lambe, Melissa Devaney and Amy Dunleavy. It is refreshing to see Melissa and Amy getting involved as coaches now as they both would have played in underage Mayo teams relatively recently. Pearse Concannon was referee for both the Under 13 and Under 15 games.
Mayo Schoolboys/Girls stalwarts Tom Mullin and Patrick Lambe were both on hand to oversee the smooth operation of all (and the provision of some much-appreciated grub for the hungry players!). Recent addition to the committee, J.P. Kilcourse, also helped behind the scenes. The Mayo Schoolboys/Girls would like to sincerely thank all the parents who helped with the gate collection for Mayo Under 16 player Emma Langan and indeed everyone who contributed to this most worthy of all causes.
Mayo Under 16s’ home match with Limerick Desmond will be played this Sunday at 2 p.m. in Solar 21 Park.