Photo: RTÉ
It was announced yesterday that Cora Staunton has returned to the Mayo ladies senior football panel and will be involved with Peter Leahy’s team as they embark on their championship campaign this summer.
For Cora it’ll be yet another tilt at the championship – she was involved at this level for the first time at the tender age of fourteen back in 1996 and apparently hasn’t missed a single championship match the county has played since then (what a record that is). If that information about her debut year is correct then my – admittedly poor – mental maths makes 2018 her 23rd championship season. However, a piece by RTÉ (here) reckons this one will be her 21st successive summer campaign while The 42 (here) quotes Peter Leahy saying it’ll be her 24th. Whatever the correct number is, it’s an extremely impressive one.
This was’t the only news involving Cora this week, as a few days earlier it was confirmed that she’d signed up with Great Western Sydney Giants for a second season of Aussie Rules this coming winter. I wouldn’t dare hazard a guess at how many seasons she’ll rack up Down Under before finally hanging up her boots.
In the meantime, though, Cora and her Mayo colleagues have the not insignificant task of facing Galway in the LGFA Connacht final on which to focus. No more than the lads, the ladies have found the going tough against the neighbours in the championship in recent seasons so a win for the Green and Red on 24th June would be a nice boost.
She is Mayo greatness personified . Truly an inspiration .
Fantastic pundit also should have a career in media when she finishes playing
I’d agree with you there, Pat – she was very impressive on the podcast when we had her on for the Galway preview.
A true successor to Queen Meabh.
can only agree with that she is a brilliant pundit , great knowledge and a pleasure to listen to , RTE should snap her up , its irrelevant which of their current shams they bench to make way for her. no doubt SKY will be the one to innovate here and get her on.
Cora will go down as probably the greatest of all time in ladies football. The scores she puts up are mind boggling.
I do think the Mayo management should use her sparingly. In the big games in recent times she has missed too much. She tries to do it all on her own and the rest of the team depend on her too much.
While she was in OZ the rest of the forward line worked very well as a unit. No selfish play and a big spread of scores. Got them to a league final.
I think bringing her on with 15 to go is how I would go with her from now on, it might push them over the line in the bigger games.
Agree with you 51, great servant but can’t have a repeat of last years final where the other forwards felt everything had to go through her and their forward play was too predictable. She needs to adapt her role, and make space for other forwards as very often she is double marked.
Super commitment to give it a lash for another year . On another note really looking forward to Limerick and seeing the starting team and how the bench is used . These qualifier games are about winning and building momentum as we learnt last year .Win and move on and hope there is no serious injuries .
No doubt about it Cora Is one of the finest sportsperson Ireland never mind Mayo has ever produced. I’m proud that she is from Mayo.
Cora is a great football who in 23 years has put her club and county on the map. The Mayo team need to move the ball more quickly with the footpass. This is their achilles heel in my opinion. Let the ball do the work. There is no i in TEAM.
Just saw the U20 team posted and quiet a surprising lineup, will have to see if this is team that starts.
MayoMessi – I,m not too familiar with the local scene. I have only seen 2-3 of those players – what are the surprises in that team? Who are the big omissions?
U20 team suprising omissions Johnny Maughan, Conor Diskin and Matthew Macken.
Colm Moran has been injured.
1. Patrick O Malley – Westport
2. Rory Brickenden – Westport
3. Brian O Malley – Westport
4. John Cunnane – Ballyhaunis
5. Paul Lambert – Westport
6. Oisin Mullin – Kilmaine
7. Cathal Horan – Kilmovee
8. Jordan Flynn – Crossmolina Deel Rovers
9. Evan O Brien – Ballinrobe
10. Nathan Moran – Hollymount/Carramore
11. Ryan O Donoghue – Belmullet, Captain
12. Oisin McLoughlin – Westport
13. John Gallagher – Mayo Gaels
14. Ross Egan – Aghamore
15. Tommy Conroy – The Neale
Bar Colm Moran Who has been reported as being injured I would say that John Maughan Donovan Cosgrove and Matthew Macken being omitted or al least at this stage they are is a surprise. Conor Diskin also omitted like the other three are very well built for this competition. Maughan is starting for Castlebar seniors, we have gone for 5 leaving certain students which is a surprise even though they are gone players for there age group. Oisin Mullins named at CHB didn’t appear for the U17s last year was part of the minor in the FBD, but has now managed to be the focal point of our defense. I wouldn’t be surprised if we weren’t showing our full hand for this game. Forwards look exciting and two players in midfield that didn’t play minor championship football, o Brien because of injury.
Tean named, no Leeroy, Cian Hanley and Evan Regan starting. Should be an interesting evening.
Best wishes to the starting 15