Magnificent opening half display secures All-Ireland U14 Platinum title for Mayo

Mayo 2-9

Cork 0-7

By Ger McCarthy 

Mayo were crowned 2023 All-Ireland LGFA U14 Platinum Champions following a merited victory over Cork at McDonagh Park in Nenagh on Saturday afternoon.

The Connacht side’s first All-Ireland LGFA U14 top-grade success in 29 years was achieved on the back of Hollymount’s Emma Stagg who proved a thorn in Cork’s side throughout the afternoon.

Stagg brilliantly finished off two moves with unstoppable shots to the back of the net and added three points for good measure to make it 2-7 to 0-3 at the break.

Lily Foskin, Sorcha O’Rourke and Róisín Ní Liatháin scored for a Cork team denied two goal opportunities by Mayo goalkeeper Méabh Lavin.

The Connacht side were full value for their interval lead however, thanks to additional Kate O’Donnell, Chloe Foley and Katie Hughes efforts. 

The second half failed to match in the intensity of the first. Emma Stagg took her total to 2-4 before a pair of Tamara Moynihan (one free) gave Cork some badly needed impetus. 

Two late Caoimhe Foley scores proved academic prior to Siofra McGuinness wrapping up a deserved Mayo win.

Scorers for Mayo: E Stagg 2-4 (1f),  K Hughes 0-2, K O’Donnell, C Fahey, S McGuinness 0-1 each.

Cork: T Moynihan (2f) and C Foley 0-2 each, L Foskin, S O’Rourke, R Ní Liatháin 0-1 each.

MAYO: M Lavin; C Walsh, I Basquille, S Tiernan; E Duffy, L McNamara, S McGuinness (captain); A Ferguson, G Bailey; K Hughes, E Stagg, K O’Donnell; C Foley, M McLoughlin, A McNamara. Subs: A Doherty, C Breslin, C Brennan, L Cusack, A McHugh, A Hanly, M McDonnell, M Folan, A Gill, E Moran, R Kelly, L McDonnell, S Staunton, M Cichopek, E Sheridan, M Gibbons, E Higgins, N Walsh.

CORK: O McGrath; A Kelleher, D O’Flaherty, M Buckley (captain); H Sweeney, Ś Walsh; H O’Shea; H Deasy, L Foskin; C O’Regan, A Coughlan, S O’Rourke; R Ní Liatháin, T Moynihan, R O’Mahony. Subs: M Ní Luaniagh, E Motherway, S Galvin, K Hanrahan, G O’Sullivan, C Harte, A McCarthy, C Foley, O Higgins, F O’Connell, L Buckley McKernan, K Crowley, E Lee, C O’Regan, S Duggan.

Referee: Paul McCaughey (Westmeath).