Search Results for 'Mayo GAA'

Like every year in sport in this county there have been a fair share of ups and downs for all those who go out and do their best in the quest to be the best they possibly can be each week. You will find in this week’s sports pages a selection of pictures which capture some of the great moments in sport for those in the county who every year continue to give their all in the pursuit of sporting excellence. And as for excellence, there has been plenty of that on display from Mayo's proud sports people.

This fundraising drive is one of a number of fundraising initiatives that the county board has been undertaking in the recent past. Following the county convention last week a new major fundraising drive was announced which will benefit not only the county board, but clubs and the individuals who sign up. The new scheme, under the name Cáirde Mhuigheo, has a number of different schemes to which people can sign up. The first will be a season ticket costing €200 which gives purchasers entry to all of Mayo’s national league games and first championship game. They will also be able to purchase a ticket for all of the next championship games that Mayo plays in up to the All Ireland final. Purchasers of this ticket will also get free entry to every club game in the county. As part of the deal they will also get a Cáirde Mhuigheo jacket and discounts of up to €100 from a number of Mayo based businesses that will come on board. Another option is for people to enter the Cáirde Mhuigheo lottery which will be set up. There will be a €120 double lotto draw which will give those who sign up two entries in the lotto, and a Cáirde Mhuigheo jacket and other discounts. There is also a club lotto entry costing €60 which will see those who purchase get one entry in the monthly draw and 40 per cent of the cost of the ticket being given to the club nominated by the purchaser.

Tourmakeady's Kevin O'Toole was elected to the post of County Secretary at the 2011 Mayo GAA Convention held in Geesala at the High Chaparral on Monday night. The former County PRO held off the challenge of sitting assistant secretary Vincent Neary and Burrishoole delegate Margaret O'Malley when the votes were counted in north Mayo. Neary held on to his position as assistant secretary for 2012 after a vote, with Achill's Packie McGinty taking over as Mayo GAA President after he was elected unopposed alongside the majority of other returning officers. The other major position up for election was that of Croke Park delegate where the incumbent delegate Jerry Henry from Castlebar Mitchels was challenged by retiring county secretary Séan Feeney. After the votes were counted the Castlebar man held on to the position for another year.

In his last secretary’s report, outgoing county secretary Sean Feeney paraphrases a quote from Charles Dickens’ 1859 novel A Tale of Two Cities saying, “I have enjoyed the best of times and the worst of times,” in his opening gambit, which goes on to set out the challenges he sees coming for the association as a whole. The returning spectre of emigration as a threat to the association is something he sees becoming a major factor. “The years ahead will be challenging for the association as a new wave of emigration threatens our resilience once again. The spectre of mass unemployment and the inexperience of our young to cope with a less affluent society is a cause of concern.” But he believes the association will be able to pull through as it has in the past, saying: “The GAA has survived greater challenges in the past and I have no doubt it will survive this once again.”

There’s no rest for the men in black and red from south Mayo as their impressive march through the intermediate ranks looks to continue on Saturday afternoon in Kiltoom. Last weekend it was Carrick-on-Shannon where they came out three point winners over the Leitrim champions Melvin Gaels in a hard fought provincial semi-final encounter. They are hitting the road again tomorrow to take on the Roscommon champions Padraig Pearses. Captain Michael Conroy was once again the go-to-man, scoring 1-7 of his sides total of 1-12. Conroy’s goal early in the game pushed his side into a five point lead early on which was vital in the outcome of the game, as Melvin Gaels pushed Davitts hard in the final third of the game. On Saturday, they will need to be on top form again to see off the challenge of the Roscommon champions. Pete Warren will be hoping that Conroy keeps up his good form along with the likes of Colm Boyle, Ronan McNamara and Paul Carey who picked up an injury during last weekends game for tomorrows showdown.

A unique occasion will take place in Milebush Park on Saturday at 2.30pm when the Mayo Soccer Masters take on the Mayo GAA Masters for the Tony McHugh Memorial Cup. The Tony McHugh Memorial Cup is being presented by the Mayo Emigrants Liaison Committee, in appreciation for all the work that he did during his short life for numerous organisations, along with Kevin Bourke from Rehab and Joe O’Dea, manager of the Welcome Inn Hotel. Tony ran monthly dances for Irish people in London, so they had a contact place to meet other Irish emigrants, and in many cases acquired work. It is reckoned that Tony got hundreds of people jobs during the last recession.

All proceeds of the Ballintubber GAA lotto for the week October 9 to 16 will be donated to the Mayo Down Syndrome Association.

The Mayo League last week announced the appointment of Claremorris manager Michael Hutton as the new manager of the Mayo League team for its upcoming Oscar Traynor campaign. Joining Hutton’s backroom team is Paul Ginty who will take on the role of fitness coach/trainer and Paul Byrne who will be one of the coaches. Tommy Rumley will be the kit manager with Padraig McHale the team liaison officer. Mayo have been drawn in a three team group including the Roscommon League and the Sligo Leitrim League.

Saturday October 8

Mayo have two representatives in Anthony Tohill’s preliminary squad announced this week with Ballinrobe’s Donal Vaughan being rewarded for his impressive summer in the green and red with a selection. Joining him in the 31 man preliminary squad is Australian based Pearse Hanley who plays Australian Rules football for the Brisbane Lions. Hanley (22) played just one season for the Mayo senior football team in 2007 before he departed for the Lions. Hanley previously played for the Irish u17 International Rules team where he won the Ron Barassi medal for the best player at the grade. He has played 34 times for the Lions since making his debut in 2008.