Byrne and Staunton continue to reel in the years for Mayo
- Aug 25,2016
TG4 All Ireland semi-final
Saturday 27th August, 6:30pm
Dublin v Mayo
Kingspan Breffni Park
Byrne and Staunton continue to reel in the years for Mayo
While Mayo and Dublin are accepted as two stalwarts of the modern ladies game both Counties have clashed very rarely in championship. On record we can only find two championship meetings between the teams, in 2002 and 2003 both of whom were won by Mayo.
In 2003 the two sides meet in the All- Ireland final, current Clare GAA football coach, Mick Bohan was the Dublin manager having trained the team the previous year alongside Willie Lillis to a first ever Leinster senior crown.
Both sides where poles apart in terms of final day experience, Dublin were appearing in their first senior All Ireland final while Mayo were featuring in their 5th final in a row. The Westerners had won the Brendan Martin cup in 1999, 2000 and 2002 but had lost out dramatically to Laois in the 2001 decider to a late Mary Kirwan free kick. Mayo won back the title in 2001 with a stylish win over Monaghan and were now going for their 4th title in 5 years.
Mayo went on to retain their All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football title back in 2003 thanks to a dramatic late goal from Diane O'Hora. With two minutes left on the clock Mayo trailed Dublin by a point when Mayo captain O’Hora latched onto a high ball that had been spilled by Dublin goalkeeper Cliona O’Connor to volley Mayo into a 1-04 to 0-05, a lead which they didn’t relinquish.
Remarkably Mayo have four players from their 2003 All Ireland winning side still togging out for the County in 2016, namely goal keeper Yvonne Byrne, the ever green Cora Staunton and fellow panellists Helena Lohan and Clare Egan.
Byrne lined out at centre back in the 2003 final while Staunton was named at centre forward. The Carnacon legend was held scoreless by the Dublin defence on that occasion a feat Gregory McGonigle side will be hoping to duplicate on Saturday in Cavan.
Dublin’s only survivors from that championship meeting 13 years ago are Sinead Aherne and team selector Niamh McEvoy. Aherne a member of the Dublin minor panel at the time was introduced as a second half substitute while McEvoy partnered Angie McNally at midfield.
Saturday’s game is sure to be an enthralling encounter with both teams looking to book their place in the 2016 All Ireland final. It has been nine years since Mayo last reached the senior decider on that occasion back in 2007 Cork held the upper hand over the Connacht champions winning by 2-11 to 2-06. Meanwhile, Dublin are aiming to return to Croke Park for the third year in a row having lost to Cork in the 2014 and 2015 finals.
Dublin or Mayo will take on either Cork and Monaghan in this year’s final which will take place in Croke Park on September 25th.
DUBLIN 2003: Cliodhna O’Connor; Sorcha Farrelly, Louise Keegan, Maria Kavanagh; Niamh Hurley, Martina Farrell (Capt), Orla Colreavy; Angie McNally (0-1 (1f)), Niamh McEvoy; Elaine Murphy, Gemma Fay (0-1), Bernie Finlay; Mary Nevin (0-1), Louise Kelly, Karen Hopkins (0-1). Subs: Elaine Kelly for Murphy (28 mins), Aishling McCormack for Hopkins (43 mins), Sinead Aherne (0-1) for Finlay (45 mins)
MAYO 2003: D Horan; N O’Shea, H Lohan (Capt), S McGing; MT Garvey, Y Byrne, C O’Hara; C Egan, J Moran; E Mullins (0-1), C Staunton, M McGing (0-1); D O’Hora (1-2), M Heffernan, C Heffernan. Subs: A Gallagher for Moran (39 mins)