- Top of the week – Mayo come up three points short in Carrick
Galway 1-11 Mayo 0-11 · TG4 Connacht Senior Final, Sunday 3 May
Mayo’s senior ladies fell three points short of a Connacht title on Sunday, beaten 1-11 to 0-11 by Galway at Heartland Credit Union Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon as the Tribeswomen secured a provincial three-in-a-row.
Daniel Moynihan’s Galway side appeared to have the final in firm control with a 1-10 to 0-3 lead after 32 minutes – but Diane O’Hora’s Mayo answered with eight of the next nine scores in a storming second-half kick-back that fell only just short of the line.
Sinéad Walsh posted 0-7 (five from frees) in another commanding performance from the Mayo top scorer; Aoife Geraghty, Hannah Reape, Aoife Staunton and Lisa Cafferky added a point apiece in a fight Mayo will draw on as the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship group stage opens on the weekend of 6 – 7 June. The provincial chapter closes; the All-Ireland chapter starts now.
Full Senior match report below.
- Weekend in review
Sunday 3 May · TG4 Connacht Senior Final · Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada · 15:00
Galway 1-11 Mayo 0-11
A neutral venue in Leitrim, a provincial title on the line, a third Connacht crown in succession for Galway, and a Mayo fightback that will leave the Mayo dressing-room with as much resolve as regret. Galway led 1-10 to 0-3 after 32 minutes, the goal from K Slevin (1-3, 1f) the swing-piece. Mayo took eight of the next nine scores. They ran out of time, not out of conviction. Sinéad Walsh’s 0-7 (5f) leaves her once again the standout scorer on the day; Aoife Geraghty, Hannah Reape, Aoife Staunton and Lisa Cafferky kicked one point each.
Monday 4 May · Connacht Minor A Final · Tuam Stadium · 16:00
Roscommon 1-12 Mayo 1-11
A point separated the sides at full-time after a final that ebbed both ways across 60 minutes. Roscommon led 1-7 to 0-7 at half-time, Vivienne Gannon’s 14th-minute goal the early statement. Mayo’s response came in the same minute. Aoibhinn McNamara’s attempted point dropped to Kate Byrne, who bundled home from close range to keep Mayo in touching distance.
The decisive score came two minutes into injury time when Roscommon’s Gerrity stroked over a long-range point to seal the deal. Heartbreak for the Mayo Minors, who put down a final to be proud of, and a first Connacht Minor A title for Roscommon. The All-Ireland Minor series is the next horizon.
Full Minor match report below.
Saturday 2 May · All-Ireland U20 Round 1 · TU Dublin (Blanchardstown)
Dublin 4-10 Mayo 0-07
A 15-point opener at Robert Hollingsworth’s home base saw Dublin take a perfect start to the group stage, with four goals at telling moments the defining factor. Mayo, playing under the old playing rules at U20 grade this season, will regroup quickly with the home opener against Galway lands at the weekend.
Adult Senior League – Round 6: League wrap-up below. Final League Round 7 to be played the weekend of 16 – 17 May.
Juvenile club leagues: U16 League Round 4 throws in on Wednesday 6 May. Full fixture grid in section 4 below.
- Adult League snapshot & Round 6 wrap
A busy weekend of Adult League action across the county produced clear pace-setters at the top of every division and several emphatic scoring displays. With Division 2 returns still being confirmed at the time of writing, here is the latest from Divisions 1, 3, 4 and 5.
Senior League Division 1
Round 6 produced three results in the top flight, with the Burrishoole v Charlestown fixture having been played earlier in April. Knockmore made the biggest statement of the round with a commanding 5-19 to 0-03 win away to MacHale Rovers A. Carnacon edged a high-scoring contest with Kilmovee Shamrocks 4-14 to 3-11, while Westport A maintained their unbeaten run with a 3-16 to 2-05 victory over Castlebar Mitchels A. Burrishoole and Knockmore lead the way on 15 points apiece, with Westport A – the only side yet to drop a point – sitting third on 12 from four played.
Senior League Division 3
Louisburgh remain top of Division 3 on 15 points following a walkover from St Brigid’s, with Balla pushing hard in second after a 4-14 to 3-10 win over Kiltane. Breaffy stay firmly in the chasing pack courtesy of a 1-13 to 1-07 victory over Aghamore A, and Tuar Mhic Éadaigh produced one of the round’s standout returns with 4-11 to The Neale’s 2-08.
Senior League Division 4
Division 4 has a genuine two-horse race developing, with Kiltimagh and Kilmaine both on 15 points after six rounds. Kiltimagh racked up 5-18 in defeating Cill Chomáin 2-08, while Kilmaine were equally clinical in seeing off Westport B 2-17 to 2-06. Claremorris B delivered a strong showing of their own, beating Kilmeena 4-17 to 1-07, and Belmullet edged a thriller with Shrule/Glencorrib 2-12 to 5-02. Béal an Mhuirthead hold third on 12 points.
Senior League Division 5
Ballinrobe and Achill continue to set the pace, both unbeaten on 18 points from six. Ballinrobe maintained their perfect record with an emphatic 5-18 to 2-00 win over Mayo Gaels, while Achill collected the points from the rescheduled Castlebar Mitchels B fixture conceded in April. Aghamore B move to 12 points following Eastern Gaels’ concession, and MacHale Rovers B got the better of Moy Davitts B 1-08 to 0-02.
Senior League Division 2
Division 2 results and updated standings will be issued in next week’s update once all returns are confirmed.
- Coming weekend – fixture previews
Saturday 9 May · All-Ireland Series Quarter-Final
Mayo U14 v Meath
Platinum tier
Throw-in
1.45 pm
Venue
Pitch 1, St Brigid’s GAA, Newpark, Kiltoom, Co. Roscommon, N37 WK60
Manager
Eamon McGreal
What’s at stake: A place in the All-Ireland U14 Series semi-final, with Mayo seeded into the Platinum tier – the top tier of the Series – after a competitive triple-header at St Brigid’s GAA, Kiltoom on 25 April.
Saturday 9 May · All-Ireland U20 Championship Round 2
Mayo v Galway (Home)
Throw-in
2.00 pm
Venue
Swinford Amenity Park
Referee
Gus Chapman
Accreditation
Host-county handles media accreditation – requests come in to Mayo LGFA for this fixture where needed.
Form line: Mayo opened the campaign last weekend with a 4-10 to 0-07 defeat away to Dublin at TU Dublin. Galway is the home opener – the panel needs a response on home soil to keep All-Ireland progression alive across the remaining group fixtures.
Rules note: The All-Ireland U20 series is being played under the old playing rules across this season’s competition.
Minor League – Final group stage – Round 3 · Sunday 10 May, 11.00 am
Division 1 · Group A
* Knockmore v Parke KC
* MacHale Rovers v Westport
Division 1 · Group B
* Belmullet v Castlebar M
* Charlestown v Hollymount
Division 2 · Group A
* Claremorris v Kilmovee S
* Ballinrobe v Moy Davitts
Division 2 · Group B
* Kilmoremoy v Aghamore
* Swinford K v Breaffy
Division 3 · Group A
* Ballyhaunis v Tuar Mhic Éadaigh
* Islandeady v Balla
Division 3 · Group B
* St Brigids v Davitts
* Carnacon v Kilmaine
Division 4 · Group A
* Kiltimagh v The Neale
* Shrule GC v BYE
Division 4 · Group B
* Burrishoole v Achill
* Louisburgh v BYE
U16 League – Round 4 · Wednesday 6 May, 7.00 pm
Division 1 · 6 May
* 19:00 — Swinford K v Belmullet — Declan Leonard
* 19:30 — Charlestown v Breaffy A — John Brennan
* 19:45 — Knockmore v Kilmaine — Vincent Thomas
* 19:00 — Westport A v MacHale Rovers A — Pat Conlon
Division 2 · 6 May
* 19:00 — The Neale v Hollymount — John McHale
* 19:00 — Parke KC v Kilmoremoy A — Mel Kenny
* 19:00 — Moy Davitts v Carnacon — Mike Herr
* 19:00 — Claremorris A v Ballinrobe — John Boyle
Division 3 · 6 May
* 19:00 — Aghamore v Davitts — Sean O’Neill
* 19:00 — Castlebar Mitchels A v Westport B — Declan Corcoran
* Conceded — Balla v Ballyhaunis
* Bye — Kilmovee Shamrocks
Division 4 · 6 May
* 19:00 — Shrule GC v Kiltimagh — Ger Canny
* 19:00 — Louisburgh v Burrishoole — Brian Kilkelly
* 19:00 — Kilmeena v St Brigids — Rory Courell
* 19:00 — Achill v Tuar Mhic Éadaigh — Paddy Chambers
Division 5 · 6 May
* 19:00 — Mayo Gaels v Westport C — Garryowen McMahon
* 19:00 — MacHale Rovers B v Claremorris B — John Walker
* 19:00 — Eastern Gaels v Cill Chomáin — John E Burke
* 19:00 — Kilmoremoy B v Castlebar M B — Colm Reilly
- Feature piece
Mayo’s second-half eight-of-nine – a senior team finds its identity
The tactical ledger of Sunday’s Connacht Final reads as a contradiction. Galway in firm command at one end of it: 1-10 to 0-3 ahead after 32 minutes. Mayo authoritatively in command at the other: eight of the next nine scores. Diane O’Hora’s panel ran out of time before they ran out of fight, and the way the Mayo dressing-room has spoken about the season since the league was always going to come back to a moment like that – a side that knew what it could do, doing it, and asking how to do it earlier next time.
There is still a Connacht title gap; there is also a senior team that has rediscovered a clear way to play. The All-Ireland series begins on the 6th of June. Mayo will join the Leinster Champions and 3rd in Ulster in Group 3 of the TG4 All-Ireland Series.
- News and notes
Adult Championship Draw
Live at County Board on Monday 12 May. We are hoping to livestream the draw – details to follow.
New playing rules – implementation in Mayo
A vote at the full meeting of the County Board on 12 May will decide the implementation timeline of the “enhanced playing rules” in 2026.
- Minor match report
Connacht LGFA Minor Championship A Final
Roscommon 1-12 Mayo 1-11
In Tuam Stadium
They gave it absolutely everything, but it just wasn’t to be.
In the end, a gallant Roscommon team seized the day to become the first team other than Galway to win a Connacht Minor A title since 2012.
Though the winners were ahead for long periods, in truth, there was little to separate the two teams, who fought heroically from the start and were level four times.
Mayo were in it right up until the last minute of injury time, but a leveller could not be found.
A Roscommon team imbued with pace and skill took the game to Mayo from the start. With Laura Glennon, Aoife Creevy and Georgia Gerrity excelling on the wings, the Rossies hit four points in the opening six minutes.
Mayo hit back with four of their own from Kasey Ruane, Aoife Meaney, and the pacy Saerlaith Dillon (2), levelling the game within five minutes.
Playing a slick, attacking brand of running football well suited to the fine weather, Roscommon kept asking questions of the Mayo defence. Shauna McGrath pointed to restore their lead before Vivienne Gannon palmed home a goal after getting on the end of a shot from Georgia Gerrity.
Mayo used the ball cleverly in the face of a dogged, relentless Roscommon defence, kicking further scores through Aoife Meaney and two from the excellent Emily Duffy.
Trailing 0-7 to 1-7 at half-time, Mayo’s work-rate never wavered. Grace Bailey, Emma Higgins, Kate Byrne, Lily Hession and Síofra McGuinness ran themselves to a standstill around the middle, where Laura Glennon and Aoife Creevy continued to excel for Roscommon.
Their full-back, Méabh Finneran, in particular, was heroic in the second half, thwarting a number of Mayo attacks that looked like they had ‘score’ written all over them.
The second half did not produce a score until the 42nd minute, when Rachel Higgins pointed Roscommon ahead. Her opposite number, Kate Byrne, did the exact same before she hit a slicing shot through the gloves of Lily Finneran and into the Roscommon net.
Emily Duffy put Mayo ahead for the first and only time in the game before Laura Glennon levelled it again with a free after 48 minutes.
Mayo’s subs made a telling impact, with the likes of Aoibhinn McNamara, Clodagh Breslin, Katie Corcoran and Katie Hughes all getting involved in the play.
The last quarter was an arm-wrestle, with both teams hitting wides and making some big tackles and turnovers as the tension reached fever pitch.
The game appeared to be heading for extra time when Emily Duffy pointed her fourth to cancel out a superb shot from Roscommon sub Amy Rogers.
However, the Rossies saved their best for last 62 minutes in, when Georgia Gerrity stormed forward again from wing-back to score a scintillating, game-winning point.
Francis Regan’s charges did their level best to find a leveller, but time ran out, and Roscommon emulated their U-20 male counterparts in lifting a hard-earned Connacht title in the home of Galway football.
Mayo: Kayla Hughes; Sophie Tiernan, Isabelle Basquille, Doireann Guilfoyle; Grace Bailey, Amy Doherty, Chloe Fahey; Emma Higgins, Kate Byrne (1-1); Lily Hession, Saerlaith Dillon (0-3, 2f), Síofra McGuinness; Emily Duffy (0-4), Kasey Ruane (0-1), Aoife Meaney (0-2).
Subs: Clodagh Breslin for Fahey (28), Aoibhinn McNamara for Meaney (39), Katie Hughes for Ruane (39), Katie Corcoran for Dillon (50).
Roscommon: Lily Finneran; Esmae Halpin, Méabh Finneran, Alanna McCormack; Charlotte Trautt, Laura McSharry, Georgia Gerrity (0-2); Sarah Jane O’Connor, Rachel Higgins (0-1); Laura Glennon (0-4, 3f), Rachel Flynn, Aoife Creevy (0-1); Vivienne Glennon, Isobel Kenny (0-1), Shauna McGrath (0-1).
Subs: Amy Rogers (0-2) for Flynn (48), Erin Dootson for Kenny (54), Sarah Reilly for McGrath (60).
Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo).
- Senior match report
Connacht LGFA Senior Championship Final
Galway 1-11 Mayo 0-11
In Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon
A valiant effort wasn’t enough for the Mayo ladies to win back the CBE Cup from a deserving Galway team this afternoon.
Regardless of the defeat, Diane O’Hora’s team can take great pride from the way they conducted themselves throughout this game – particularly after going ten points down early in the second half.
Instead of wilting after Kate Slevin finished the only goal of the game in the 31st minute, Mayo delivered a poised, powerful second-half which saw them claw the deficit back to three points by the time the hooter sounded.
Had they had more time, who knows how this fixture could have ended. But in the end, Mayo came as close as they have in the past three seasons to winning what would have been their twelfth Connacht senior championship and their first since 2023.
Lining out with a starting team with an average age of 25 – Saoirse Delaney and Tara Needham were late replacements for Kate Brennan and Suzanne Tuohy – Mayo conceded their first score to the excellent Leanne Coen after just 15 seconds.
Galway followed up with efforts from Coen (2) and Eva Noone before the sixth minute before Mayo got to grips with the Connacht champions. Diane O’Hora’s women fought hard against an electrifying Galway team. Leanne Coen, the Ward sisters and the Divilly sisters all stood out for Daniel Moynihan’s charges.
Mayo, meanwhile, showed well up front where the Cafferky sisters, Aoife Staunton, Saoirse Delaney and Sinéad Walsh always looked lively. Lisa Cafferky opened Mayo’s account with a score from play after 11 minutes.
However, Galway enjoyed most of the possession, which made it difficult for Mayo to increase their tally. Mayo added two points before half-time through frees from Sinéad Walsh. Meanwhile, Galway attacked in big numbers, with the Ward sisters bolstering their attacking ranks with some lung-bursting runs through the middle.
The Tribeswomen had a solid second quarter, shooting five points (two from frees) to build a 0-9 to 0-3 half-time lead.
Mayo’s full back line, ably marshalled by Lucy Wallace, Sherin El Masry and Meabh Delaney, kept the Mayo goal well-guarded. Once did Galway test Laura Brennan, when Kate Slevin crashed a rasping shot off the post before Lynsey Noone pointed the rebound in the 22nd minute.
Slevin worked the scoreboard twice before the break – with a free and a buzzer-beater from play – to send Galway in with a six-point half-time lead.
The second half mirrored the first half, in the sense that Galway took off like a rocket. Slevin split the posts after just 33 seconds. Mere moments later, she blasted in a goal off the foot of Lucy Wallace, who had an excellent game at corner-back.
Mayo’s response was exemplary. Ten points down, the girls in green and red halved the deficit in just six minutes. The ever-dangerous Sinéad Walsh shot three points (2 frees) during this period, while Westport’s Aoife Staunton and Aoife Geraghty also notched singles.
Leanne Coen’s fifth point – and Galway’s last of the entire game – came after a fifteen-minute fallow period during which Mayo were by far the better team. However, the Tribeswomen never lost their composure, and had some inspiring displays in the likes of Chellene Trill and Lynsey Noone.
But Mayo were hot on their tails and slowly brought the gap back to three from Sinéad Walsh’s left boot and Hannah Reape in the dying seconds. Needing a goal to level the game, Mayo couldn’t get their hands on the ball as Galway played keep-ball until the clock ran down.
Galway were then crowned Connacht senior champions for the twentieth time in their history and the third year in a row. However, Mayo can take great heart from this display as they head into the All-Ireland Series having put up a great fight against one of the top teams in the country.
Mayo: Laura Brennan; Lucy Wallace, Sherin El Masry, Meabh Delaney; Ella Brennan, Lynda Hanley, Tara Needham; Aoife Geraghty (0-1), Hannah Reape (0-1); Saoirse Delaney, Fiona McHale, Aoife Staunton (0-1); Lisa Cafferky (0-1), Sinéad Walsh (0-7, 5fs), Sinéad Cafferky.
Subs: Clodagh Keane for Sinéad Cafferky (half-time), Aoife Kennedy for Delaney (50), Maria Reilly for Lisa Cafferky (50), Isobel Phillips for Hanley (52), Kayla Doherty for Needham (56).
Galway: Leah O’Halloran; Brónagh Quinn, Louise Ward, Kate Geraghty; Hannah Noone, Nicola Ward, Chellene Trill; Niamh Divilly, Siobhán Divilly; Olivia Divilly, Kate Slevin (1-3, 1f), Lynsey Noone (0-1); Eva Noone (0-2, 1f), Leanne Coen (0-5), Andrea Trill.
Subs: Róisín Leonard for Lynsey Noone (48).
Referee: Aaron Clogher (Roscommon).
