Maiden win for McHale as Cafferky double sinks Galway
Sinéad Walsh of Mayo is tackled by Sarah Ní Loingsigh of Galway. Pictures: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
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Mayo 2-5
Galway 0-10
Stuart Tynan in Duggan Park, Ballinasloe
Goals in each by Kilmovee’s Lisa Cafferky gave Mayo their first win in the 2024 National League, as well as a first win under Liam McHale.
The Mayo manager, players and supporters who travelled to Duggan Park will have watched on nervously as Roisin Leonard, who kicked three frees in the second, had a chance to level the game with seconds on the clock. But she sent her effort wide and the defeat leaves Galway without a point from their opening two games.
Cafferky was awarded player of the match and will get the headlines but there were excellent performers across the field for Mayo. At the back, the pairing of Danielle Caldwell and Mayo captain Saoirse Lally were immense, particularly when Galway began to pin Mayo back late on. In the middle, Aoife Geraghty and Hannah Reape were full of endeavour and industry while Fionnuala McLaughlin, Sinead Walsh and Tara Needham were key figures in the buildup to Mayo scores as the Green and Red made it three wins on the spin against Galway following victories in last year Connacht final ad All-Ireland quarter-final.
Despite the win, there will still be plenty to improve on for McHale’s charges. While their conversion rate in front of the posts was impressive, they invited pressure on needlessly in the first half following a number of poor passes and cheap turnovers inside their own 45 metre line. Fortunately from a Mayo perspective, Galway could not take full advantage. It must be said that the Tribeswomen are still missing the majority of their Kilkerrin/Clonberne contingent, who have been given an extended break after retaining their All-Ireland title and Galway manager Daniel Moynihan will hope to have them back to ensure Galway secure safety.
Like in the opening day defeat to Cork, it was Galway who opened the scoring through Aoife O’Rourke but two Maria Cannon frees left Mayo ahead at the end of the first quarter.
Galway began to get a hold on proceedings when Aoife Geraghty was shown a yellow card at the end of the first quarter for a foul on Aoife Ní Cheallaigh. The Tribeswomen hit three on the spin, two by O’Rouke and one by Ciara McCarthy, but Mayo found the net against the run of play when Tara Needham’s sublime pass found Lisa Cafferky and she coolly slid it into the net.
Sinead Walsh followed with a wonderful point for Mayo but O’Rourke nailed her fourth point of the half to leave it 1-3 to 0-5 in Mayo’s favour.
The introduction of Roisin Leonard kept Galway on Mayo’s toes and she kicked three frees in the second half as well as point by substitute Linda Booth. But Lisa Cafferky, who also got Mayo’s first point of the second half, would also score her second goal at the beginning of the final quarter. Louisburgh duo Ciara and Tara Needham combined to set up Cafferky for the simplest of finishes to put four between the sides, 2-4 to 0-7.
Fionnuala McLaughlin pointed Mayo’s final score of the game as the Green and Red held to hold firm in the final ten minutes, although Tara Needham will feel she should ended the game with a third goal but Galway goalkeeper Dearbhla Gower denied her with a fine save.
Mayo will look to make it two wins from two when they host All-Ireland champions Dublin at James Stephens Park next Sunday while Galway face Armagh.
