Double header of women's cup finals this Sunday
A DOUBLE header of cup finals takes place at Solar 21 Park, Castlebar, on Sunday afternoon when the Mayo Women's Football League host the Mary Walsh Cup and Tommy Rumley Cup deciders.
Kilmore and Killala feature in a north Mayo battle for the Mary Walsh Cup at 11.30 a.m. with newly crowned league champions Manulla taking on Kiltimagh Knock United in the Tommy Rumley Cup at 2.30 p.m.
For Kilmore especially, it is an exciting end to their return to the league after an absence of several years. It was a tough enough first season for them and the other newbies, Crossmolina, but there's lots of positive green shoots for the future and the Erris ladies will be eager to make their mark with some silverware.
Standing in their way are Killala, a club with lots of talent who on their day are a match for anyone. Their chief scorer, Alva Munnelly, is one of just seven players to record double digit scores in the league this year.
Having secured their fourth league title in a row Manulla will be looking to add to their collection of silver in the Rumley Cup final. Aside from their stern record on the field, the esteem and affection in which the legend after whom the cup is named is held is motivation enough for Tommy's home club to want to bring it home.
Standing in their way is a plucky KK team who are a side showing progression every year since they entered their first women's team in the league in 2020.
This is their first appearance in a cup final as they build on winning the Division 1 title last year and moving up to the Premier League this season - a tough battle ground but progression is the aim of their game, mixing experience with integrating young players with an eye not just on the now but the future.
LEAGUE COMPLETED
The 14th and final round of the Mayo Women's League 2023 was completed last Friday evening.
Ten teams took part this year, with Kilmore returning after a few years absence and Crossmolina fielding a women's team for the very first time.
Manulla (Premier) and Straide & Foxford (1st Division) had been confirmed as winners in their respective divisions heading into Friday's games, with both recording wins to end their league campaigns on a positive note.