The Mayo ladies team got the perfect start to the group stages of the All-Ireland Senior Championship this afternoon. Facing Tyrone in a Group 4 first round tie at Healy Park in Omagh, Mayo came out on top in what proved to be a high-scoring encounter. They won at the finish by 3-14 to 3-11.
Tyrone bagged the first score in this match but it was the visitors who took control soon after. Goals from Grace Kelly and Rachel Kearns helped Mayo into a six-point lead but that gap was back down to just two, 2-6 to 1-7, at the break.
Two goals for Tyrone early in the second half turned the contest on its head and it looked then as if Peter Leahy’s team had missed the boat. But then a third Mayo goal – Rachel Kearns’ second of the day – hauled the Westerners back in front, with late points from Emma Needham, Natasha Gaughan and Rachel Kearns sealing a hard-fought three-point win.
Match coverage – Ladies Football, Balls.ie.
Next up for the ladies is a home match against Donegal, with that game set to be played on the weekend after next. Details on how the Senior Championship is structured are here.
Well done to the ladies today and here’s hoping they also do the business against Donegal, thus ensuring qualification for the All-Ireland quarter-final.
Well done ladies. Your success is lost under all the hype of Tomorrow’s game.
It’s true Breege but whether ppl comment or not you simply have to be impressed with this group of women. They simply don’t give up. It must be a Mayo thing but it’s admirable and a remarkable achievement against the odds. The past year has been tough for Mayo ladies football but those who stuck with it are amazing. I’m so proud of them and all they have achieved. Hopefully they will rise again for Donegal, no easy task. But who would bet against our women!
Maigheo abú…go deo ???
Hmm…those question marks were meant to be green and red hearts…
Well done ladies. A good win and Rachel Kearns rattling the net a couple of times as well. Keep the pedal down and keep the wins coming.