Search Results for 'Mayo GAA'

The Mayo senior ladies’ side will get back to championship action tomorrow evening when they make a trip to the midlands in the All Ireland qualifiers. At 6pm tomorrow they will go toe to toe with Tyrone in Birr in the second round of the All Ireland qualifiers as the main attraction on a double header bill.

The only silver lining that the Mayo minors could take out of their Connacht final defeat to Roscommon a little under three weeks ago was that they were going to get a second chance. If Tony Duffy’s side are going to take that second chance, they will have to seriously up their performance against the rising kings of underage football in Munster, Tipperary.

I was doing co-commentary on the Kerry v Clare qualifier match last Saturday at the Limerick Gaelic Grounds. I definitely got the short straw on this one as, at times, during the game it was hard to comprehend that this was in fact a championship encounter, such was the feeble challenge from the Banner men. There was a great deal of anticipation and excitement amongst the press boys as they waited for the live draw to see who would be playing who this weekend. Irrespective of the pairings, this weekend was always going to throw up one of the most eagerly anticipated set of quarter-finals in the twelve years of the back door format and, with, it the most open All-Ireland race in living memory. The sense of excitement is created by the possibility of shocks and also by the novelty of matches between teams that have sometimes never played in championship, as with next Sunday when Kerry play Donegal in one of the most eagerly awaited quarter-finals ever. We also have the unique pairing of Mayo v Down which has undoubtedly created its own excitement locally. I remarked to one of the RTE sound men sitting beside me when the draw paired Mayo with Down, that it was a great draw for Mayo. His response was that it was a great draw for Down too. And I suppose we were both right. But let us not confuse the issue here. I believe Down appear to be the easier of the four options that were available, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is a handy game for Mayo. Down will also think they have a mighty chance of beating Mayo. The Mourne men are certainly no world beaters and I will be surprised if we don’t progress to a semi-final on September 2. The standard of the Ulster championship isn’t what it used to be, so Ulster teams, with perhaps the exception of Donegal, appear to be ordinary enough. Yes, Down are probably a better team when they come to Croke Park, but Mayo too will relish the opportunity of playing at HQ. With everything at stake and the threat of possible elimination I think the Mayo lads will really be inspired to rediscover something close to their real potential. We definitely didn’t see the best of Mayo in what was a rather dull Connacht championship, but we have come to expect a little bit of magic a couple of times a year from Mayo. And now is the time to deliver a performance that will lift the confidence of both players and supporters. I have been getting mixed responses on the street, with many unsure of the capabilities of this Mayo side. But these players are smart enough to realise that the standard of football required to win championship encounters in Croke Park will most definitely have to be miles ahead of the standard we have witnessed to date this year in the Hyde or McHale Park. I think Mayo will prevail if they are a lot tighter in defence as Down are a side capable of punching holes in a rear guard that isn’t on top of its game. I flagged it here two weeks ago that our half back line in particular must stay at home and mind the house. Donal Vaughan is due a big game but he has shown us, particularly last year, that he thrives in Croke Park. I expect a big game from our centre back, one which will give the team enormous momentum if he can get those knees pumping! With the return of Aidan O’Shea to Mayo’s midfield, ( I would be shocked if the big Breaffy man wasn’t there for the throw in on Saturday evening) Mayo possess two outstanding ball winners in this crucial sector as Barry Moran is playing with huge confidence at the moment. It is important, therefore, to have these two competing for primary possession in and around midfield. To ensure this happens, Mayo must not allow any short kick outs to a free Down man. Mayo’s pair can be potential match winners if Down areforced to go long with kick outs. Mayo will have to be incisive and smart in moving the ball into the scoring zone. Our forwards haven’t sparkled in the two matches played in the championship so far and must deliver a better performance tomorrow if Mayo are to have any chance. With they type of forwards Mayo possess, they must get early fast ball into the inside line where I hope Cillian O'Connor is deployed, if they are to do any damage. And finally, nice football doesn’t get you too far these days. Mayo will need to get stuck in from the throw in and get the game on their terms because there’s so much at stake here! Our minors are really up against when they take to the field against the All- Ireland champions, Tipperary. I hope they play to their potential and enjoy what is a fantastic occasion for these young men.

At Wednesday night’s draw, when Garrymore were pulled out of the bag to complete the third quarter-final pairing in the Treanlaur Catering Senior Football Championship, it was the confirmation that only one possible pairing could come out in the fourth game. Out came Ballintubber and they were swiftly followed by Castlebar Mitchels, pairing the sides who have met in the last two finals in quarter-final action this time. The chances of these sides meeting at this stage looked remote enough last week, with both sides top of the table in their respective groups and looking favourites to stay there and claim a top seed for the draw. But Castlebar Mitchels came a cropper to a rejuvenated Crossmolina Deel Rovers at home last Sunday and slipped into the second seeds pot for the quarter-final draw. The draw itself has also the mapped out the routes from here on into the finals in both the senior championship and the Egan Jewellers Intermediate Football Championship.

On Wednesday the Mayo GAA rumour mill was at full steam with talk that Conor Mortimer had decided to leave the Mayo senior panel, only a matter of days before Sunday’s Connacht Final. The former Shrule-Glencorrib man, who along with being Mayo’s all time leading scorers, has been one of the most colourful and charismatic players to every wear the green and red for Mayo.

Tony Duffy is in his third year as Mayo minor manager and on Sunday he’s looking for his latest batch of minors to pick up a second provincial crown in those three years. This year Mayo will have to do it the hard way by going to the their opponents backyard to win the title.

Just under two months after they took apart the challenge of Galway in the division two league final, the Mayo ladies will once again face off against the Tribeswomen with some silverware at stake. On Sunday afternoon in McHale Park at 4pm both sides will go toe to toe in the Connacht final. In that final Mayo ran out 4-17 to 2-7 winners with Cora Staunton once again leading the line for Mayo scoring 2-11 of that total. That win propelled Mayo back into division one after a year in a second tier and has set them up well for a crack at Sunday’s Connacht final.

The National u14 Feile na nGael championships this year will see two hurling sides from Mayo taking part in Dublin from July 5 to 7. Tooreen will represent Mayo in division four, as they are hosted by the Naomh Mearnog Club in Portmarnock. The side are also grouped with Tomas Davis in Tallaght and Dungannon (Tyrone). The Tooreen side go to the festival in high hopes of progressing out of their group, with one eye also on the division four final in Croke Park also. Tooreen’s last national title was in 2004, as they overcame Middletown of Armagh in the division three final in Navan to claim the Michael Cusack Trophy. Many of that Feile na nGael winning side are now members of the Tooreen and Mayo Senior Hurling teams.

Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company and Mayo Sports Partnership in association with Mayo County Development Board, Mayo Mental Health Association, Connacht Rugby (IRFU), the FAI, Mayo GAA, HSE , and the Department of Social Protection will deliver Goal to Work in Ballyhaunis this September. Places will be limited to 12 trainee coaches. If you would like further information or an application form please contact Mary Glynn, Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Knock Office on 094 9376627 or e-mail [email protected]. Closing date for receipt of completed applications is strictly 4pm Thursday, June 21. Short listing may apply based on information provided in completed application form. Interviews will take place on Tuesday, July 10 in Ballyhaunis.

This week the Mayo Advertiser is delighted to announce that it has joined forces with the Mayo Football League. The Mayo Advertiser has come on board to sponsor the Mayo League’s divisional teams of the year from the Elverys Sports Super League down through the five divisions to the Welcome Inn Hotel League Two. The team of the year awards recognises a number of players for their performances over the course of the season in each of the divisions.