Defeat in Waterford consigns Mayo to relegation
Mayo suffered relegation to Division 2 of the Lidl National Football League for 2026 after going down to a superior Waterford outfit at Kilmacthomas on Saturday afternoon, the home side winning by 2-13 to 1-6.
Two goals from Lauren McGregor were the main highlights as Tomás Mac a t’Saoir’s side prevailed, leaving Mayo bottom after just one win from seven games.
Mayo led briefly when Annie Gough buried a well-taken goal in the second minute with their best move of the game.
However, Liam McHale’s side failed to replicate that ingenuity as Waterford re-took the lead when McGregor finished a goal at the end of the first quarter.
The Déise played the rest of the game with a tempo and intensity that Mayo did not match.
The Green and Red mounted several attacks but failed consistently to get the ball into the scoring zone.
All the while their hosts pulled further in front, with six different players scoring before half-time. The 1-8 to 1-0 score at the interval was a fair reflection of a half during which Mayo worked hard but misfired up front.
Even after Danielle Caldwell moved from wing-back to full-forward, Mayo struggled to keep up with Waterford’s slick attacking play.
The visitors began the second half well when Sinéad Walsh (free) and Ciara Whyte added two points to their tally.
However, the visitors – who needed to defeat Waterford and for Tyrone to beat Kildare for a chance to survive in Division 1 – did not build on their good start.
Spurred on by their substitutes, Mayo conjured some goal chances but struck several wides.
Waterford, meanwhile, pressed ahead and went 2-10 1-2 up after 40 minutes when McGregor shrugged off a challenge to add Waterford’s second goal.
Niamh Mooney countered with a point for Mayo before Brazil narrowly missed the chance to raise Waterford’s third green flag soon after.
The impressive Kellyann Hogan kicked the pick of the scores through a free as Mayo responded with late, but ultimately futile, efforts from Nicola O’Malley and Alannah Devereux.
Waterford: K. Gardiner; C. Murray, R. Casey, M. Ryan; Á. O’Neill (0-1), E. Power, K. McGrath; E. Murray, H. Power; C. McCarthy, B. McMaugh (0-1), K. Hogan (0-6f); K. Murray, C. Walsh (0-2, L. McGregor (2-1).
Subs: C. Fennell (0-2, 1f), A. Brazil, L. Ni Harta, L. O’Shea, A. Murray, A. Murphy, E. Bolger, N. Power, O. Kennedy, M. Dunford, C. Reynolds, N. Whelan, D. Beresford.
Mayo: R. Dyar; L. Wallace, N. O’Malley (0-1), C. Durkan; D. Caldwell, C. Whyte (0-1), S. Lally; H. Reape, A. Geraghty; C. Doherty, E. Murray, S. Delaney; A. Gough (1-0), C. Keane, S. Walsh (0-2, 1f).
Subs: N. Mooney (0-1), E. Brennan, M. McHale, J. Mortimer, A. Flanagan, S. Tuohy, A. Devereux (0-1).
Referee: B. Redmond (Wexford).