On Saturday May 10 Milebush Park hosted the Under 12 Girls Connaught Blitz, with the Mayo squad hosting Galway, Sligo and Roscommon.
The Mayo squad selected and coached by Michael Collins and Kevin Sheeran have been training since mid January and have taken a trip up to North Donegal to play Inishown have a good mixture from all over Mayo with girls from Killala, Conn Rangers, Ballinrobe, Partry, Kiltimagh/Knock, Snugboro, Claremorris and Castlebar Town and Castlebar Celtic all participating.
The tournament was split into an A competition and a B competition, with Mayo B kicking off against Galway B and despite playing some nice football at times Mayo B just couldn’t find the net and lost the game 1 – 0. Great performances by Katie Gibbons, Olivia Flatley, Marie Wickham and Molly Granagher.
In the second game it was the same story with Mayo just not able to score the vital goal and the lost to Galway C by the same 1 – 0 score line, with a good showing from Marie Wickham and Anna McDonnell.
In Mayo B’s third game they faced Sligo B and this time they fared much better with Kate O Dowd bagging two great goals in a fine team performance to win the game 2 – 1. Great performances by Roisin Kelly and Kate O Dowd.
Mayo B’s final match was against Roscommon B and Mayo had at last found their scoring boots with Louise Dowling and Naimh Hughes bagging two goals, Kate O Dowd, Olivia Flatley and Anna McDonnell getting one each with a great performance from Nina McVan setting up three of the goals in the 7 – 0 win.
In the A Competition Mayo A started off against Roscommon A and the Mayo girls proved far to strong, Mayo were 4 nil up at half time with 2 goals from Kelsey Munroe a long range effort from Naimh O Dowd and a great solo effort from Molly Boylan. The second half was more of the same with Ava Keane netting twice along with Molly Boylan and Alva Munnelly with one a piece to leave the final score at 8 – 0. A great performance from Molly Boylan who ran the midfield setting up goals as well as scoring.
Mayo A’s second game was a tougher affair against a gallant Sligo A team after a tight opening the scored stood 1 – 0 to mayo with Ava Keane getting her second of the day, Mayo’s goalkeeper Abbigayle Ronayne was much busier in this game pulling off some great saves with Rolayo Aramide and Katie Gavin working hard in defence.
In the second half Mayo settled into the game and were awarded a penalty after an Alva Munnelly shot was handled on the line and Ava Keane stroked the ball home from the spot. Alva Munnelly then got her second goal of the day after a great passing move, and Molly Boylan finished off the scoring for Mayo. Sligo got a deserved late consolation goal from the penalty spot to leave the score 4 – 1 to Mayo A.
Great performances from Abbigayle in goal, Rolayo in defence and Ava and Alva always dangerous up front.
The final game of the day was the one everyone was looking forward to with the two unbeaten teams Mayo A and Galway A going head to head. It was Mayo who got off to a flyer with Molly Boylan and Kelsey Munroe linking up brilliantly to set up Alva Munnelly to put Mayo 1 up. Then it was Kelsey’s turn when she scored two quick fire goals to leave the halftime score 3 – 0 to Mayo.
Mayo then got a wake up call when Galway brought their goalkeeper out and she scored two quick goals at the start of the second half, but Mayo settled down to playing some nice football again and Molly Boylan 2, Alva Munnelly and Kelsey Munroe finished off the scoring to leave the final score 7 – 2 to Mayo A.
Great defensive displays by Naimh O Dowd and Katie Gavin with Kelsey Munroe brilliant in attack.
A wonderful day of football with the young Mayo girls winning 6 out of 8 games scoring 28 goals and conceding only 6.
The Mayo coaching staff would like to congratulate everyone who participated in trails and the squad training this year, the future of girl’s football in Mayo is looking very bright.
Full Squad Abbigayle Ronayne, Olivia Flatley (Claremorris) Naimh O Dowd, Kate o Dowd, Anna McDonnell (Knock/Kiltimagh) Molly Boylan, Ava Keane, Louise Dowling (Castlebar Town) Naimh Hughes, Katie Gibbons, Roisin Kelly (Snugboro) Rolayo Aramide, Holly Berkley, Sarah Grady, Katie Gavin (Castlebar Celtic) Annie Gough, Naimh Maughan (Kilmurry) Molly Grangher (Partry) Kelsey Munroe, Marie Wickham (Ballinrobe) Alva Munnelly (Killala) Nina McVan (Conn R