City clubs gain ground with league wins

Thu, Feb 04, 2010

Galway’s two city rugby clubs enjoyed a successful weekend with both securing vital victories in the AIB League.

Galwegians made it two wins on the trot when they took Ballynahinch’s scalp by 15 - 12 after a last-gasp win over Buccaneers the previous weekend in division 1B, while across the city Corinthians, without a win since early December, overcame Clonakilty to move up mid-table with a 17 - 11 win at Cloonacauneen. In divison 3 Connemara lost out at home to high-flying Banbridge after last weekend’s well-earned victory away to Portadown.

Spring signals start of GAA action as Galway head to McHale Park

Thu, Feb 04, 2010

Spring may have arrived last Monday, and while many national school children were making St Bridget crosses to herald a season of new beginnings, it is with the start of the National football and hurling leagues that signals the end of the winter hibernation for many GAA fans. Genuine GAA supporters just love going to live games.

Galway hurlers hit the target in season opener

Thu, Feb 04, 2010

Galway hurlers got their season off to a positive start with a victory over Laois last Sunday in the Walsh Cup. Two Richie Cummins goals in the opening period of extra-time were enough for Galway to prevail in a real battle with Laois.

Claregalway sign past and future stars

Thu, Feb 04, 2010

Mayo footballing star and former Swinford player David Heaney, who only announced his retirement from county football yesterday, has transferred to Claregalway for the coming season. His transfer was rubber-stamped by the Galway County Board last weekend.

Wegians see off Buccs in local derby

Thu, Jan 28, 2010

David Clarke’s fine drop goal in the heavy fog at Crowley Park saw Galwegians secure a narrow 12-11 victory over their Connacht rivals Buccaneers on Saturday. Most games between Connacht’s leading two sides are keenly contested, but there will hardly be a closer affair with a more dramatic finish than this encounter. And although the quality was not always top drawer at times in a game littered with mistakes, it was a tense nail-biting affair which had both sets of supporters living on their nerves right up to the very last second. This match was preceded by a minute’s silence to mark the recent passing of the late Bobby Deacy, Galwegians’ trustee and ex-president of the IRFU. The game itself was played in dense fog, which made visibility difficult for both teams, but it was the visitors who started much the brighter.

Connacht maintain perfect European record

Thu, Jan 28, 2010

A 10 try, 66-0 victory, over Madrid rounded off an incredible European Pool campaign for Connacht on Saturday in the unusual surroundings of the Spanish capital. The result confirmed Connacht's position as top seeds in the Challenge Cup and European Rugby's only unbeaten side. The seeding guarantees a home quarter final, and, should they win, a home semi final.

Bourgoin will be the opponents on April 10. The game has been fixed for 1pm on the Saturday and will be live on Eurosport. The eastern French club has relegation concerns in the Top 14 French championship and that might take precedence. However they also have a solid record in European rugby, and reached the final of this competition last year having won away in the quarter finals at London Irish. The potential for an away win to spoil the party cannot be ignored.

Kernan’s Galway continue on winning ways while hurlers get ready for action

Thu, Jan 28, 2010

Joe Kernan’s Galway look to be odds on to book their place in the FBD League final this weekend after picking up back to back victories over both Sligo and Leitrim. This Sunday the Armagh man’s charges will face a sort of homecoming when they take on the students from GMIT at 2pm in Moycullen, and with a comprehensive score difference in their pockets from their two wins, the Tribesmen would have to go down by more than nine points to be denied a place in the home final. The students have two points on the board in the competition and will be full of confidence heading into the clash as they step up their preparations for Sigerson Cup action in the not too distant future.

Naomh Anna come up short against Cookstown

Thu, Jan 28, 2010

Naomh Anna, Leitir Mór, did their very best on Sunday afternoon at Pearse Park in Longford to try to reach the final of the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship, but it was not to be. They have punched above their weight for most of the season on the road to county and provincial success, but last weekend they came up against a team that was just too good for them. There is no shame in that. And to their credit, they fought like real troopers right to the final whistle as they have done all season.

Cookstown had big name stars like Owen Mulligan, Raymond Mulgrew, and former Tyrone star Paul McCurk in their ranks and that quality told. The Tyrone champions lead by 0-8 to 0-4 at the break and also raced into an eight point lead in the third quarter. To Naomh Anna’s immense credit they displayed tremendous application and attitude, they fought back with some fine scores from Patrick Mark Ó Fatharta and came back to within two points of the Tyrone men. However a minute from time Cookstown quashed any thoughts of a fairytale victory for the Connemara lads when Raymond Mulgrew released a Cookstown substitute who blasted past a helpless Eoin Ó Conghaile to put the Tyrone men into the final against Spa from Kerry at Croke Park next month. After the game, their team manager Ciarán Fatharta spoke of his huge pride in his panel and thanked the support the team has got all year from the local neighbourhood and the wider football community and from local clubs all around Connemara.

Success on the double for Oranmore in schools’ cup

Thu, Jan 28, 2010

There was double success for Calasanctius Oranmore in the Irish schools’ cup basketball finals in Dublin this week with the schools’ girls’ u16 and boys’ u19 sides taking the A titles. The girls’ final saw the Galway girls win out over Mercy Mount Hawk on a score of 57-41, while in the boys’ final the Oranmore lads had a narrow 77 -69 win over St Benildus College. In the girls’ final a great team display, backboned by Ailish O’Reilly’s MVP performance, secured the win. O’Reilly drained two three-pointers to end any hopes of the Mercy team gaining a victory. With two additional free throws to seal the game, Calasanctius Oranmore began the celebrations as the final buzzer sounded at the score line of 41 - 57.

Young Galway ace playing his part in City revolution

Thu, Jan 28, 2010

While Manchester City’s fourth round FA Cup win over Scunthorpe IN Glanford Park may have been grabbed most people’s attention, for the fact that until striker Robinho scored the citizens’ fourth goal of the day, the tie against lowly Scunthorpe was still in the melting pot. But for the soccer community of Galway there was only one thing on their minds, and that was one of their own patrolling the field in the sky blue of City. At half time in the game Roberto Mancini gave 18-year-old Greg Cunningham his senior debut for the side, replacing Nigel de Jong for the final 45 minutes. City manager Mancini, speaking after the game, was full of praise for his young players, including Cunningham, saying: “Our young players did very well, they have shown me what they can do in training and I had no problem in picking them today. They have the right mentality and this was a big test for them. I'm pleased with them and pleased for them.”

Mervue look for new boss as Glynn resigns

Thu, Jan 28, 2010

Mervue Utd confirmed this week that Johnny Glynn, manager of the First Division League of Ireland team, tendered his resignation to the club’s board of directors on Monday. The club confirmed that they accepted Johnny’s resignation with regret. The club paid tribute to Johnny’s huge contribution to the club over the past two seasons, both in winning promotion from the A championship to the League of Ireland and in keeping the club in the first division last season, and wished him every success in the future. “I would like to thank all the players, who have given their all, the staff and everyone at the club that have given me fantastic support over the last two years,” said Glynn. “I have enjoyed my spell at the club and I don’t want to get into the reasons for why I have left as I am leaving the club on good terms and I wish the club every success for the coming season ahead and for the future.” Club chairman George Guest said: “I would like to thank Johnny for his sterling efforts on behalf of the club over the past two seasons and wish him well for the future”. The club are now busy on the hunt for a new manager for the side as preparations continue for the new season in the League of Ireland first division.

Connacht travel strong for final pool fling

Thu, Jan 21, 2010

Connacht travel to Madrid this weekend looking to put the icing on the cake in their final Amlin Challenge Cup pool fixture.

Salthill Devon set for League of Ireland status

Thu, Jan 21, 2010

Salthill Devon is to apply for membership of the League of Ireland first division.

Naomh Anna Leitor Mor will give it their best shot

Thu, Jan 21, 2010

The 2009 football year was a fantastic one for Naomh Anna Leitir Mór. They regained senior status in Galway and collected the county and provincial titles at intermediate level. They ticked all their boxes and their objectives were met with style and gusto.

Old Connacht rivals meet in crunch league match2

Thu, Jan 21, 2010

Galwegians host a crunch local derby clash with Buccaneers on Saturday (2.30pm) at Crowley Park with money raised from the game being donated to earthquake hit Haiti.

Buccaneers’ need is the greater as they currently sit bottom of the division 1B table, but Galwegians’ hopes of a top finish this season could well depend on Saturday’s result.

Hegarty claims Leinster junior title

Thu, Jan 21, 2010

Galway junior squash player Jennifer Hegarty claimed the u-19 title at the Leinster Junior Open in Dublin last weekend.

Maree face defending champs in National Cup final

Thu, Jan 21, 2010

Maree will contest their second successive u-20 men’s National Cup final after a clinical victory over Killester on Saturday.

Gold medals for Galway athletes

Thu, Jan 21, 2010

Galway athletes returned to action on Saturday at the National Junior Indoor Track & Field Championships.

SPORTS SHORTS

Thu, Jan 21, 2010

•The next instalment of Galway Triathlon Club’s lecture series will take place next week with a talk on long-distance racing by some of Galway’s most experienced athletes. The open-forum will be hosted by Athenry AC’s ultra distance runner Mick Rice, multiple Ironman competitor Reilly Dibner, and stage race cyclist Nigel Forde. The session will be chaired by GTC coach Ray Glynn and will give an insight into long distance running, cycling, and triathlon. The talk will take place in the Radisson Hotel on Monday January 25 at 7pm.

Footballers cruise to first win of the season

Thu, Jan 21, 2010

Joe Kernan set out on his 2010 voyage with the Galway footballers last Sunday in Tuam stadium with an easy six-points win over a disjointed Sligo outfit in the FBD league.

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