Mayo’s women footballers today fell to a second successive defeat in this year’s LGFA Lidl National Football League when they lost out by nine points to Meath at Páirc Tailteann. It was another full-hearted performance from Liam McHale’s young team but the Royals’ greater experience told as they pulled away in the second half to win by 4-9 to 2-6.
Mayo made two changes to the selected team ahead of throw-in, with Bree Hession and Saoirse Delaney, who had both impressed off the bench last weekend against Dublin, starting in place of Kathryn Sullivan and Ciara Whyte respectively.
The home team enjoyed the advantage of a strong enough breeze in the opening half. This was reflected in the early scoring, with Meath bagging the first five scores before Sinéad Walsh, from a free, opened the visitors’ account.
When Vikki Wall shot low to the net after we’d messed up a restart, there was clear daylight between the teams. We hit back soon after, though, when Sinéad Walsh cut through the heart of the Royals’ defence, ending a mazy run by coolly slipping the ball to the net.
The two goal-getters came into direct contact shortly before half-time, which resulted in the MacHale Rovers players lying crumpled on the turf. Wall got a yellow for the incident but, to be honest, it looked more like an accidental collision. Sinéad Walsh was replaced temporarily by Kayla Doherty but was okay to resume after half-time.
We cut the gap to three at the break. This one came from a placed ball, with Maria Cannon taking over the freetaking duties and slotting it over.
Sinéad Walsh announced her return soon after the resumption by booming over a long-range free. That left just two between the teams but the gap was back out to five when they pointed a free and then Kerrie Cole goaled after our restart was turned over.
We hit back immediately, though, sweeping down the field and Sinéad Walsh applied the finish by palming the ball to the net.
With the wind behind us we kept Meath pinned back for the next few minutes but Sinéad was off-target with a few tricky frees and Sherrin El Massry drove a goal attempt wide. Erin Murray eventually cut the deficit back to two, fisting over despite the close attention of the Meath defence.
Vikki Wall was back on now and soon after we were a player down. Ella Brennan clattered into Wall as she drove forward and was sent to the bin for what turned out to be the remainder of the game.
Now a player up and with bodies tiring, Meath drove for home. Vikki Wall slammed home her second goal from a tight angle and, after we’d traded a few points (two more Sinéad Walsh frees for us), they broke rapidly out of defence and Niamh Gallogly applied the finish to leave the Royals a rather flattering nine points to the good at the finish.
Unlike the lads, there’s no break for the women next weekend, as it’s back to home ground on Sunday for the visit of Tyrone in Round 3.
Mayo: Róisín Dyar; Ella Brennan, Saoirse Lally, Danielle Caldwell; Bree Hession, Sherin El Massry, Hannah Reape; Aoife Geraghty, Erin Murray (0-1); Lucy Wallace, Annie Gough, Ciara Durkin; Maria Cannon (0-1, free), Sinéad Walsh (2-4, four frees), Saoirse Delaney. Subs: Kayla Doherty for Walsh (temporary) and for Wallace, Kathryn Sullivan for El Massry, Ciara Whyte for Hession, Alannagh Fitzpatrick for Gough, Millie Sheridan for Delaney, Siomha McNulty for Sullivan (inj.), Jenna Mortimer for Murray.
Oilean acla says:
February 3, 2025 at 6:26 pm
A feisty performance by our team and they fought to the bitter end unlike our men's team yesterday! ?
However, Meath were very strong and were wordy of the victory.
Onwards and upwards for cailini Mhuigeo. Go neiri libh i gconai.
Retrocut says:
February 3, 2025 at 7:19 pm
Calling a spade a spade, that was a poor showing. We might not have scored a point without Sinead Walsh. Sinead Walsh is playing a different sport than the rest of girls right now, an unbelievable footballer who is better than any of the girls who "opted out".
All this talk of playing with energy and freedom before the game, where was it? Basic errors all over the pitch, and if meath had their shooting boots on they would've absolutely trashed out.
Though Erin Murray and Aoife Geraghty never stopped trying in the middle also.
Ontheroad13 says:
February 4, 2025 at 9:47 am
It's funny seeing vicki wall playing for meath after she scored 2 goals in the aflw grand final a few months back and she's back playing for her county and we have how many playing aflw? At least 6 and not one has made themselves available for mayo that's disappointing.
MO2023 says:
February 6, 2025 at 1:25 am
That jersey which will also be worn by the men is awful.
Willie Joe says:
February 6, 2025 at 7:32 am
It’s not great alright, MO2023, but at least it will enable those of us who are colour-blind to distinguish between the two teams. In that respect, sitting in the stand with the low sun in our faces, it was a total joke trying to figure out which team was which last Sunday.
Pebblesmeller says:
February 6, 2025 at 9:58 am
A very, very young team. With youth comes mistakes, which can be fixed with time and coaching. But unfortunately what also comes with youth is a lack of conditioning and S&C. It's apparent that our squad, as a whole, is lacking in this department and we are playing catch-up. Apart from Danielle Caldwell and maybe O'Sullivan (although injuries seem to be catching up with her) we lack real physical players who have 4, 5 or 6 years of that conditioning in their legs. From the knee to the abs is the crucial area in Ladies football and you can see we are light in that area and that will take time to improve on in a young squad.