Galway come up short as Staunton does the damage

Date Published: {J}

Mayo 5-11

Galway 2-15

ALAN DOOLEY AT TUAM STADIUM

MAYO reclaimed the TG4 Connacht Ladies Senior Football Championship in fine style at Tuam Stadium on Sunday, ending a gallant Galway side’s three-in-a-row ambitions with a quintet of goals which swung a final that more than lived up to pre-match expectations deservedly their way.

The well-worn cliché that “goals win games” rang true yet again as Mayo clinically punished a shaky Galway defence three times in the first half, crucially twice in quick succession through star forwards Cora Staunton and Aileen Gilroy in the moments before the interval, just as the home side had gotten their noses in front for the first time after Edel Concannon had rattled the net herself.

These killer blows left Gay O’Brien’s charges with a four point deficit to overhaul when they should have been at least on level terms following large spells of first half dominance, and while they gamely battled on in the second period, the continuing excellence of Staunton and Gilroy kept Mayo at arm’s reach and further goals from Fiona McHale and Carol Hegarty sealed the deal.

The Tribeswomen were the second county team to concede a goal over the weekend within a minute, and much like the hurlers against Cork this was also a gift, as a misplaced short free from defence landed in the grateful arms of Fiona McHale, who fed Cora Staunton close in and the net duly rippled with barely 48 seconds counted down on the electronic clock.

The Galway response was encouraging, though, with quick ripostes coming from Tracy Leonard and a super point from midfielder Patricia Gleeson. Two points from Mayo’s Lisa Cafferkey, a real menace throughout, sandwiched a Lorna Joyce effort for Galway before Annette Clarke and Carol Hegarty traded points to make it 1-3 to 0-4 in Mayo’s favour after a breathtaking opening ten minutes.

Mayo were causing problems with their powerful support runs and long balls into attack as Gilroy raced clear to grab a fine point on 14 minutes, but Galway again hit back with an attack that should have yielded a goal to draw level, as Clarke and Joyce combined well in the full forward line to set up Leonard, but agonizingly she blazed over the bar having done the hard part in sidestepping the Mayo goalkeeper Yvonne Byrne.

Edel Concannon was another Galway forward to enjoy a productive outing and she guided over her first point soon after. Staunton pointed a free at the other end to leave the margin at two before Galway ‘keeper Tina Hughes did brilliantly to deny Cafferkey a goal from close range. A Leonard free and Cafferkey effort followed as both sides were calm and assured in front of the posts and kept the needless wides to a minimum.

With time ticking down to the break, Concannon finally edged Galway in front with 1-1 within a minute; her goal coming on 27 minutes after a fine handpass from Clarke split the Mayo rearguard. Unfortunately, the lead quickly evaporated as Mayo stormed down to the scoreboard end and wreaked havoc before the siren.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.