Wicklow retain Nancy Murray Cup with big win over Mayo

Wicklow 7-15 Mayo 0-04

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