It is time for a new batch of clubs to step up
I popped along to Crossmolina last Saturday evening to see my former team, Crossmolina, play against Davitts in round two of the league. It was not too pretty to watch because the standard of football was not particularly good on this occasion. At no stage did I get the impression that Davitts were going to beat Crossmolina which will understandably be a concern for them, as they will be really anxious to continue to play at this higher level of football into the foreseeable future. There will not be too many clubs in a forgiving mood during this league campaign, so picking up points at every and any opportunity is essential. Those teams that got a real scare of relegation last year will be more determined than ever to avoid being sucked into the same territory again this year, so it is going to be a real baptism of fire for the Ballindine club as they will no doubt discover.
Westport are a young team that caught my eye long before last weekend’s results appeared on my radar. Crossmolina played them in the last round of the senior league late last year, and despite the match having little significance they really impressed with their application and attitude on that occasion. After their first round victory in this year’s league over Shrule/Glencorrib they entertained a much more potent outfit in Ballaghdareen last Saturday. In conversation with the Westport manager Tomas Tierney before the game he told me this encounter would give Westport a truer benchmark of how much they have progressed over the last two years. He was in jubilant form when we spoke on Sunday after their game as his young side had registered a four point victory over their more fancied opponents. Notwithstanding the fact that Ballaghdareen were missing a couple of players this was a notable scalp to take and perhaps suggests two teams heading in opposite directions? I have suggested in this column on more than one occasion that I cannot understand how a team laced with such talent, ie, Ballaghdareen, has not delivered more than one senior championship title in recent years.
Westport fundraiser day today at the course
Balla
Don Dillon was the winner of the gents’ competition with a score of 38pts, he finished two points in front of Mick Mellet with Jim Conlon coming home in third place on 33pts. The ladies’ competition was claimed by Catherine McNulty who scored 38pts. Kitty O’Connor came home in second on 36pts with Carmel Henry third. The Mary Staunton memorial scramble has been postponed until further notice. This weekend’s competition will be sponsored by Ted and Marion Gormally from Hennelly’s Bar, Manulla, and it will be a stoke play competition and be a qualifier for the golfer of the year.
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- It is time for a new batch of clubs to step up
- Westport fundraiser day today at the course
- Podium finishes for Mayo athletes
- McCullagh victorious on Mayo Autocross
- Juniors have a crack at Connacht title
- Potential new home for Westport United
- Double the Mayo interest in this year’s Rás
- Joyce plays the captain’s role to bring the cup home
- Cora Staunton blasts Mayo back to division one
- Westport make three out of three
- Roache leads the way after four rounds
- Connacht back in the big time again next season
- Mayo to play Donegal in honour of Garda Robert McCallion
- There is a lot of good to be taken from league final defeat
- Rolling back the years, with the Deel Rovers
- Feile na Gael opposition for Mayo sides unveiled
- Murt’s Mayo open up against the Mourne county men
- Cash benefit from league semi and final not what hoped for
- First major test for Claremorris awaits
- Cooney secures nationals title