Ladies Football: National League Final
For the second time in seven days Mayo will face off against Cork in a national final, this time it is the turn of the Mayo senior ladies side who take on the Rebels in the Ladies' National League final in Parnell Park tomorrow evening at 7.15pm.
Mayo have been the story of this year's league campaign going through the round-robin stage unbeaten before seeing off a very good Kerry side in a dramatic semi-final in Birr. Mayo came through by a single point on a scoreline of 1-16 to 2-12 and Mayo manager Frank Browne knew that as soon as the ball left Cora Staunton's boot it was going over the bar seven minutes into injury time. "I was actually looking back at our midfield and defence to see how we were set up for the kick-out when she kicked it. I'd seen her kick 30 points from that distance the night before so I knew she had it nailed. I was trying to make sure we were ready to go from the kick-out to make sure Kerry didn't get another chance."
A fortnight on Mayo are ready to go to face a Cork side they saw off in round one of the group stages of the competition on the last day in January. "We're all good, a couple of little niggles but you're going to have that after a long league campaign, but Cork now and Cork at the start of the year will be two different teams completely. They're back to where they want to be, but look, we're there to win it too," says Browne.
The Wexford native believes that Mayo's win over Kerry in the semi-final is the most significant victory they have had this season for a number of reasons. "The Kerry game was really crucial for us, no doubt it was the toughest game we've had so far, because Kerry after Cork are probably the most consistent team in the country and you know what they suffer from, it's a bit like Wexford hurling back in the mid 2000s, they were no bad hurling team, but they just had to play Kilkenny every year in the championship, a bit like Cork footballers with Kerry back in the day too. They have to play Cork every year in the championship and we'd feel that after Cork they are the most consistent side over the last few years in the championship."
Mayo have come good late on in a number of tough encounters so far this year and Browne says that's no fluke. "What's really helped us that our fittness is very good and moving down the stretch in the last 10 minutes we're able to do what we've had to, we've done that against Kerry, Monaghan, and Galway in the league, when we're there with 10 minutes to go, we believe we'll do it and that's testament to how hard the girls have worked to get into that condition.
"The buy in has been total and anyone who hasn't bought in simply didn't play or left the group, because they realised they couldn't commit fully and they weren't being fair to themselves or the group as a whole. We train midweek, everyone is there full stop. We train in Athlone on Wednesday night and Ballyhaunis on a Friday night and you have to be there. Right from number one to the water carrier the buy in is total and that's the way it has to be for what we're trying to do."
The commitment from everyone involved in the panel is key and although there are plenty disappointed they are not starting games they are ready to go when called upon he says. "From a manager or coach's point of view it's easy to tell people yeah, you're starting, but it's a terrible job having to say no, you're on the bench, because you know the effort and commitment they have put in and just fall short of the 15. Whether we like it or not, of course it's personal for everyone, because everyone wants to be out there playing. But they take it on the chin and of course they are disappointed but if they weren't you wouldn't want them to be there. I know though that when I look over my shoulder they are ready to go and willing to do the job, it's massive commitment, it's easy to be in the 15 and on the pitch, it's a harder place to be watching on, but they are all ready and willing to go."
