Ladies get back to business

Ladies get back to business

Division 1a

Mayo 5-11

Kerry 0-6

Michael Duffy

Ballinrobe

THE Mayo ladies got their season back on track with a comprehensive victory over a lacklustre Kerry in Flanagan Park on Sunday. The result was never in doubt after the second quarter of the game when the Mayo attack, again inspired by Cora Staunton, racked up four goals on the trot to secure a 16-point half-time advantage.

Kerry were much more organised in the second period as Mayo took their foot off the gas, but overall, manager Kevin Reidy will be pleased with the display. Players like Noelle Tierney, Triona McNicholas and Sinéad Cafferkey put in notable performances, ably assisted by the ever reliable quartet of Martha Carter, Claire Egan, Cora Staunton and the returning Emma Mullin.

Kerry were very much in the game in the opening stages, with only two scores coming in the opening nine minutes, frees from Staunton and Patrice Dennehy. Indeed, it was the women from the Kingdom who went closest to hitting the net in the opening stages. Big midfielder Lorraine Scanlon sent Deirdre Corriden through on goal only for her to rattle the crossbar.

But Mayo eventually found their stride and typically, it was Staunton who got the ball rolling on 14 minutes. She collected a fine pass from Fiona McHale before holding off three challenges and sliding the ball to the net with admirable composure.

She quickly follow this up with another goal and two points before the 24th minute, and with Martha Carter also raising a white flag, Mayo had moved on to 2-5, with Kerry’s only reply in that period coming from a Dennehy free.

Scanlon then had a chance of a goal which was desperately needed to get Kerry back into the game, but she shot across goal. And in the last two minutes of the first half, Mayo finished the game as a contest. Sinéad Cafferkey, who had replaced the injured Aoife Herbert after only ten minutes, pointed on 28 minutes, before her pass put Claire Egan bursting through on goal right on half time. She cooly rounded the keeper and slotted home her side’s third goal.

And with Kerry on the ropes praying for Des McEnery’s half-time whistle, Mayo struck another blow with Staunton laying off to Sinéad Cafferkey, whose goal made it a 16-point interval lead.

Mayo picked up where they left off in the second half, with Staunton racing clear and finishing a goal all of her own making on 34 minutes. She quickly followed up with a free on 35 minutes to open the gap to 20 points before Mayo eased off. Kerry became much more involved in the game, with both sides kick four points apiece during the low-key conclusion to the game.

Emma Mullin was Mayo’s best player in that second period, kicking three of those last four scores, the other coming from Martha Carter. Kerry’s score came from Dennehy, Mags O’Donoghue and Scanlon (two).

Kevin Reidy used the latter stages of the half to ring the changes as Mayo played ten minutes of the last quarter without Fiona McHale, who was sent to the sin-bin. Having gone down to Tyrone in their opening fixture, this was very much a ‘business as usual’ performance from Mayo, and with some of the more recognisable faces likely to return in the near future, Reidy’s side should be in the mix come championship time.

Mayo

Y Byrne; S Tierney, N Hurst, C Burke, S Hughes, C Sullivan, N Tierney; C Egan (1-0), M Carter (0-2); F McHale, E Mullin (0-3, 1f), A Herbert; L Cafferkey, C Staunton (3-4, 2fs), T McNicholas (0-1).

Subs used: S Cafferkey (1-1) for Herbert; K Walsh for T McNicholas; E Tansey for S Tierney; C McGing for S Hughes; BJ Maguire for Mullin.

Kerry

L O’Donnell; C Buckley, A Lyons, E O’Mahony; A Leonard, SJ Joy, M Finnegan; B Breen, L Scanlon (0-2); S Hounihan; M O’Donoghue (0-1), N Scanlon; P Dennehy (0-3, 2fs), D Murphy, D Corriden.

Referee: D McEnery (Westmeath)