It has been an up and down couple of years for those involved with the Mayo ladies senior football squad. Last year it all came to a head on the league front when they were relegated from division one without winning a single game. On Sunday in Parnell Park, they will be looking to make it back to the top table of football when they take on the near neighbours Galway in the division two final in Parnell Park in Dublin. In the league stages of the competition Mayo saw off almost all comers winning six of their seven games with the only minor blot on their copy book coming with a draw against Fermanagh.
Mayo met Galway in the opening round of the league stages in Tuam, way back at the start of February where they ran out comprehensive 3-14 to 1-7 winners, which was the perfect start for new manager Fr Mike Murphy who took over the side on a full-time basis this year, having filled in a part time capacity in the past. Mayo have put up big scores on a number of sides in the earlier rounds scoring 3-13 against Waterford, 2-11 against Clare, 2-12 against Tipperary, and scored 4-6 against Kerry in their semi-final in Banagher a fortnight ago.
Cora Staunton was the form player for Mayo in the semi-final with the legendary Carnacon attacker scoring 2-4 for Mayo, with Sarah Roe and Niamh Kelly scoring the other goals, while Fiona McHale chipped in with two points for Mayo in their victory. Mayo's opponents on Saturday, Galway, were made to fight all the way by Clare in their semi-final. A late goal from Gillian Joyce was required to seal a 3-6 to 1-10 win for the Tribeswomen. Galway trailed at the break by 1-8 to 2-1, but were able to put together a strong fight back and limit to Clare to only two points in the second half. It promises to be another cracking game on Saturday in Parnell Park, the action gets under way at 3pm.
