Super-sub McNicholas fires winning point in dying moments

Mayo 0-12 Monaghan 1-8

Remarkably, this was the third final in a row decided by the odd point. Unlike last year’s heart-wrenching finale however, yesterday was a day of jubilation for the Mayo supporters, among the impressive 22,783 crowd, who followed Armagh’s lead by invading Croke Park to greet their heroes at the hooter.

Among them was Triona McNicholas, a 17-year-old substitute still a year away from her leaving cert, but who found enough space in the crowded Monaghan defence to fire over the winning point three minutes from the end.

“I didn’t know what was going on, I just got the ball and found myself in enough space to shoot. And it just went over the bar,” said the delighted student from Kiltimagh afterwards.

This was always an absorbing encounter without ever touching the heights that the Ladies game has scaled in past seasons. The game has taken on a more defensive form in recent years, and where before it favoured the talents of Cora Staunton and Marcella Heffernan, any time this match threatened to break into a free flow, hard defending or a foul would curtail it.

While Staunton was watched closely by Christina O’Reilly all afternoon, the Carnacon star still managed to account for two-thirds of her team’s scores, all but one of her eight points coming from play.

Staunton may have been the game’s most influential player, but player of the game went to birthday girl Marcella Heffernan in attack.

Heffernan got her team’s first point from play in the 10th minute, after Staunton had nailed two frees and got an important score in the 39th minute to level matters when Mayo were floundering.

Heffernan’s early point sparked Mayo’s best period of play. In the next five minutes, they would score four more points, with their attack, inspired by the Heffernans, Stauton and Ciara McGuinness, built up a substantial lead.

Mid-way through the first half, Monaghan looked in trouble. Although Mayo were playing in spasms, they were more fruitful spurts, while Monaghan, whose build-up play sparkled, would often spurn their scoring opportunities.

They needed inspiration, and found it in their captain, Niamh Kindlon and Edel Byrne. Kindlon nailed two points and set Brenda McAnespie up for another, Byrne got a wonderful goal.

The goal, coming two minutes before the interval, was all Byrne. She caught Denise Horan’s kick-out, burst into a 40 yard sprint that left Clare O’Hara in her slipstream and cushioned the ball into the far corner of the net. It was a goal to grace any game, and gave Monaghan the impetus going into the dressing-room, putting them into the slenderest of leads, 1-5 to 0-7.

“The goal came at the right time for them,” Staunton said. “It was a vital stage, and when we went into the dressing-room, we knew we weren’t putting away our scores. Once we got the lead, we sort of sat back on it.”

Monaghan started the second half as they finished the first, Kindlon put Monaghan a point further ahead. Staunton and Heffernan clawed Mayo back into the game, before yet another Staunton free saw Mayo regain their lead in the 44th minute.

While the tightness of the encounter kept everyone gripped to their seats, the tension of the occasion was reflected in the football.

That Marty Duffy saw fit to award 45 frees tells its own story.

Still, the lead swayed like a pendulum as the game heralded towards its conclusion, and most supporters probably believed they would see another day out before they could celebrate.

The appearance of Therese McNally on the Monaghan side re-ignited their challenge, and she was at the hub of Ciara McGuinness’s point in the 52nd minute which saw the Ulster champions regain the smallest of advantages.

It was to be their last score. Staunton again proved her importance to the Mayo cause, by easefully kicking her seventh free of the match in the 54th minute, before McNicholas grasped her turn to be the hero in the dying minutes.

The last kick of the game dropped dangerously into the Mayo square, but Denise Horan dealt with it comfortably, something which pleased every member of the Mayo panel in the immediate aftermath.

“We are all delighted for Denise, because she took a lot of unfair slack after last year’s final defeat,” Staunton said. “But, this has been all about hard work since last January. After last year, some players didn’t feel like coming back, but we felt we owed it to the team and ourselves to give it another go. I think we proved out there we are a good team.”

And a team that could show their male counterparts a thing or two.

Scorers: Mayo: C. Staunton (0-8, 7 frees), M. Heffernan(0-2), C. Heffernan, T. McNicholas (0-1each)

Monaghan: N. Kindlon (0-4, 1 free), E. Byrne(1-0), D Dempsety, B. McAnespie, A. Tierney, C. McGuinness (0-1 each)

MAYO: D. Horan; N. O’Shea, H. Lohan, M. T. Garvey, C. O’Hara, Y. Burne, E. Biggins; C. Egan, E. Reilly; J. Moran, E. Mullin, C. Heffernan, C. McDermott, M. Heffernan, C. Staunton

Subs. S. McGing for O’Hara(33 mins), T. McNicholas for Mullin(38 mins), M. McGing for Moran(43

mins) R. Barrett for Byrne(53 mins)

MONAGHAN: M. Gray; C. O’Reilly, M. Croarkin, U. McNally, L. Connolly, J. Greenan, M. Lavelle; C. Mulligan, C. Brady; E. Byrne, N. Kindlon, A. Tierney, O. Callan, B. McAnespie, D. Dempsey

Subs. A. O’Reilly-Harvey for Connolly(17 mins), C. McGuinness for Callan(47 mins), T. McNally for

Dempsey(47 mins), S. Murray for McAnespie(50 mins)

Ref M Duffy(Sligo)

*GALWAY are the All-Ireland Junior champions after a 2-17 to 2-7 win over Donegal. Gillian Joyce was inspirational in Galway's victory, notching up a personal tally of 1-8 to send them on their way. Galway stormed ahead going 1-2 to 0-0 ahead but at half-time, they only enjoyed a two point advantage., after Maureen O'Donnell netted to reduce the deficit.

Donegal enjoyed the better start to the second-half but when Galway scored four points in succession, Donegal heads began to drop. However, they were thrown a lifeline on 50 minutes when they were awarded a penalty. O'Donnell's effort was saved but Nora Stapleton fired home the rebound.

Now Donegal were back in control but it wasn't to last as just three minutes later Annette Clarke scored a goal for Galway and the Connacht team were always on top after that.