Wicklow retain Nancy Murray Cup after emphatic win over Mayo

August 10, 2024

Ciara Connolly of Wicklow and Mayo's Laoise Greally ©INPHO/James Lawlor

Wicklow 7-15
Mayo 0-4

by Cóilín Duffy, at St Rynagh’s GAA Banagher

Poppie Rose Cullen Dunne and Laura Smyth both found the net twice, as Wicklow retained the Nancy Murray Cup title in emphatic fashion in ideal conditions at St Rynagh’s GAA Club in Banagher.

Wicklow led throughout in a game where Mayo weren’t without their scoring opportunities but the Westerners found it hard to convert possession to scores.

Twelve months ago, Wicklow were ten-point winners over Mayo in the final, and once again Brendan Tobin’s charges really signalled their intent from the off.

Inside the opening minute Kelly O’Neill, Ciara Wafer and Smyth linked up with the latter denied of an early scoring chance by resolute Mayo full-back Caoimhe Delaney.

However, the scores suddenly flowed from the Garden County who were 0-2 to 0-0 ahead with back-to-back points from Laura Smyth and Nicole Curran in the third minute, before Curran extended the lead further with a well-struck placed ball two minutes later.

Mayo worked hard but scores were at a premium, with an early Saoirse Delaney effort going wide of the target, while an Emer Delaney long-range chance was batted out by Wicklow ‘keeper Caitlín Hughes 

Mayo got off the mark in the seventh minute with the first of two points from midfielder Lilian Keane, but her second score after ten minutes was to be Mayo’s last of the opening half as Wicklow powered on.

The Leinster side grabbed their first goal in the 12th minute, after an initial block by Gráinne Delaney fell into the path of Cullen Dunne who capitalised and finished to the net.

Five minutes later Wicklow had pushed 2-7 to 0-2 in front, with Curran finding the net after a low shot from 30 metres went past Mayo ‘keeper Aoibheann Crawley.

Mayo kept battling but despite strong efforts from the likes of Róisín Cassidy, Emer Delaney and Saoirse Delaney, they weren’t able to add to their tally.

Wicklow added points from Shannagh Goetelen, but Mayo defended tenaciously in the closing seven minutes of the half and at the break winners led by 2-9 to 0-2.

On the restart Mayo dominated possession and scoring chances but couldn’t make use of this on the scoreboard. Instead, Wicklow’s third goal arrived from Ciara Connolly in the 36th minute, and while Emer Delaney responded with a fine Mayo point it was hard to stem the tide.

Connolly pushed Wicklow 3-10 to 0-3 ahead with a fine point, and as both sides began to empty the bench, Cullen Dunne again found the net to extend Wicklow’s lead to 19 points in the 41st minute.,

Mayo responded with a Saoirse Delaney point, but her 45th minute effort was her side’s final score of this tie.

Substitute Sophie Bermingham added two quick points, while Wicklow added goals from Smyth (two) and co-captain Casey Kelly on the way to a 32-point win. 

SCORERS FOR WICKLOW: L Smyth 2-2; N Curran 1-4 (0-1 45, 0-1f); PR Cullen Dunne 2-0; C Connolly 1-3; S Goetelen 0-3; C Kelly 1-0; S Bermingham 0-2; I Doyle 0-1

SCORERS FOR MAYO: L Keane 0-2(1f); S Delaney, Emer Delaney 0-1 each

WICKLOW: C Hughes; C Kelly, F Corrigan, C Kennedy, H Doyle, A Connolly, S O’Shea, S Goetlelen, I Doyle, C Connolly, C Wafer, N Curran, K O’Neill, L Smyth, PR Cullen Dunne. Subs: E Tyrrell for O’Neill, S Birmingham for O’Shea (38); N O’Neill for Kennedy (48); DS Cullen Dunne for PR Cullen Dunne (53); K Campbell for Doyle (55).

MAYO: A Crawley, R Lambert, C Delaney, G Delaney, K Scahill, R Cassidy; L Greally, N Greally, L Keane, S Delaney, C Greally, C Delaney, C Kennedy, Emer Delaney, A Lilly. Subs: Éabha Delaney for G Delaney (19), C Burke for C Delaney (HT); E Tener for C Greally (37); L Flanagan for Kennedy (37); S Lynskey for Lilly (53).

REFEREE: Jerome McAllister (Antrim)


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