Cavan ladies hoist Sean Faherty Cup, again

By Mike Fitzpatrick

Cavan 1-12, Mayo 1-9

Cavan ladies stormed into New York football history on Sunday last with a hard fought victory over perennial rivals Mayo, retaining their title in this New York football final for a magnificent eighth time in nine years.

Mayo clearly knew what they were up against, coming into a tie versus such a hotly fancied side as Cavan. Opening the game, Mayo piled forward with Joanne McKenna unlucky not to open the scoring due to some fine goalkeeping from Cavan’s Sharon Levins.

Olive Wilson of Cavan retained her reputation as arguably one of the finest exponents of ladies football with a fabulous display in keeping the Mayo forwards from getting off the mark.

With McKenna and her teammates up front, the highly talented Denise Dunnion and Nadine Doherty did eventually break through the Cavan backline, with McKenna grabbing six points in the course of the game, and Dunnion scoring a goal and a point.

Cavan, however, proceeded to chip away at the Mayo defense. The on-form Gillian Bennett grabbed a fabulous six points, and along with Nadine Doherty, who scored a goal and a point, provided much of the scoring action for the Blues.

Mayo’s determination to defeat their rivals has to be applauded however. Cathy McKenna, Ellen McGrail and company will consider themselves unfortunate not to have left Gaelic Park with something other than runners-up medals.

But this Cavan squad is virtually unstoppable. With such established names as Wilson, Karen Shalvey, Rosie O’Reilly and Gillian Bennett adding to the newer talents on display, this side will surely be around for some time.

The Mayo fans were highly vocal in support of the girls in green, but it was not to be their day; instead, Cavan marched on.

Cavan: Sharon Levins, Olive Lynch, Olive Wilson, Geraldine Faherty, Louise Fox, Mary Maguire, Pauline Coleman, Justine Clifford, Orla Kirk, Deirdre Feeney, Catherine McAteer, Rosie O’Reilly (0-2), Karen Shalvey (0-3), Gillian Bennett (0-6), Nadine Doherty (1-1). Subs: Claire Bennett, Geraldine Faherty, Mary Ann Connaughton

Mayo: Ann Marie McGrail, Elaine Donovan, Mary Toolan, Karen McCaffre, Louise McMahon, Fiona Ward, Stephanie McGrail, Ellen McGrail, Sharon Gallagher, Nollaig Cleary, Collette McGoldrick, Shauna McGirr, Cathy McKenna, Denise Dunnion, Joanne McKenna. Subs.: Camie O’Shea, Mary Friel, Loretta Duffy, Eileen Cunningham, Patty McGrail, Liz McGrail, Christine Hurley, Siobhán Morrissey, Kathleen Rowland, Teresa O’Malley, Audrey Hennessy,