Connacht host Dragons in must-win match for both sides

Thu, Jan 03, 2013

Connacht return to the Galway Sportsground on Saturday evening (5pm) for what has become an increasingly crucial game in this year's RaboDirect Pro 12.

Charity tag in Creggs

Thu, Jan 03, 2013

Creggs RFC held a successful tag rugby fundraiser over the festive season for the worthy Friends Of Belarus charity. Some 150 players togged out for the 12 teams from the local area, which represented the sports of Gaelic football, soccer, hurling, cycling and rugby.

The winners this year came from Ballygar Hurling Club, aka 'The Bally Boys' with Des Kelly and Paul Turley as manager and coach.

Galway GAA’s wish-list

Thu, Jan 03, 2013

1. Galway hurlers to win All-Ireland title
Having knocked on the door of All-Ireland senior hurling success last September against perennial winners Kilkenny, it would be fantastic if Anthony Cunningham's charges could take it a step further this year.

Having knocked on the door of All-Ireland senior hurling success last September against perennial winners Kilkenny, it would be fantastic if Anthony Cunningham's charges could take it a step further this year.

Connacht head to Lions' den looking to back up earlier demolition

Thu, Dec 27, 2012

After a rare four day break from action to celebrate Christmas, Connacht head into the Lions' den looking to claim a double interprovincial win over Leinster on Saturday.

It’s a Murray Christmas as Claregalway man takes national light middleweight title

Thu, Dec 27, 2012

Martin Murray, who fights out of the Galway Black Dragon Kickboxing Club, ended the year on a high when he became the latest IKF Senior All Ireland K-1 rules Light Middleweight champion by TKO in round three when his Waterford opponent Joe Harte was unable to continue.

Flat performance from Moycullen sees them miss opportunity to go fourth in Superleague

Thu, Dec 27, 2012

Moycullen’s final SuperLeague game of 2012 proved to be their most disappointing as they fell to a red-hot Dublin Inter team in NUIG last Saturday.

Connacht on red alert for expected Christmas cracker in the Sportsground

Thu, Dec 20, 2012

The traditional festive interprovincial series begins on Saturday with Connacht hosting Munster at the Galway Sportsground on Saturday (5.15pm), followed by a visit to Leinster next week.

Ask Santa for a gumshield this year

Thu, Dec 20, 2012

Many parents of young sports people are perhaps wondering what to get their children for Christmas, and although slightly left of centre, the one that could perhaps save parents a few thousand euro is a gumshield. They are also known as mouthguards and, if you or your child play contact sport, they should be a compulsory part of everyone's kit - just as important as boots, runners, or hurl or hockey stick. A simple rule for a manager, player, or parent could be: no gumshield, no play. I always wore one from underage up to retirement and on more than one occasion that moulded bit of plastic protecting my mouth and teeth was the difference between heading for a post match shower and a bite to eat or the dentist's chair. If players do not want to wear one for mature, logical, protective, and proactive reasons, then they are being silly and the GAA agrees. Mouthguards compulsory from January 2013 The association is taking a hard line, and rightly so, on the absence of mouthguards from January 2013. Indeed the initiative that sees the GAA following sports like hockey and rugby, and making the wearing of mouthguards compulsory for u-18s down through all the underage ranks (starting on January 1, 2013) has been well received. The regulation will not be enforced on adults until January 2014, but most adults should know the benefits of wearing one at this stage. Wearing a gumshield - that is what we called them - or a mouthguard, should be a no-brainer. And while it does take few games or a few training sessions to adapt to them and regulate your breathing if you have never worn one before, they are well worth the effort. A recent study found that the average cost of dental treatment for sport related injuries in children to be €213. Other studies have shown that the overall risk of damage is close to twice as high when a mouthguard was not worn, as compared to when they are used. It will be up to the referee during games to see if players are wearing mouthguards. And if the eagle eyed referee notices that a player is not wearing one, he/she is cautioned. And if the "offender" persists in not wearing the mouth/teeth protection, he/she is sent off. However, surely the primary responsibility to make this initiative work rests with the parents. Any parents who allow their progeny to play reasonably high impact sports such as camogie, hurling, rugby, football, soccer, basketball or whatever, should surely ensure that their children's teeth are protected as best as possible. There is a onus on underage coaches too as regards insisting that those children in their care are properly kitted out and that includes a mouthguard. A youngster is as likely to take a bang to the mouth at training as they are to in a game, so mouthguards should be considered compulsory for all sessions. Get a good one In my experience, for a gumshield to be comfortable, easily worn and really effective, it needs to be the proper moulded ones that you get from a dentist. The dentist takes a mould to fit the individual wearer perfectly and offers far superior protection. The good ones should cost less than €100. The ones that you buy over the shelf in a sports shop and mould with hot water were a total disaster as far as I was concerned and were not fit for purpose. In fact I remember almost gagging when I tried one of those in an emergency when I had lost my good one.

Pearse Stadium may play big part if Ireland secure Rugby World Cup in a decade’s time

Thu, Dec 20, 2012

It is hoped that Ireland will be the prospective host country for the 2023 Rugby World Cup and should that application prove to be successful, games may be featured in Pearse Stadium throughout the tournament. The Galway County Board has showed its support by adopting a motion issued by the Salthill/Knockacarra club regarding the usage of Pearse Stadium in this competition.

Connacht head to France expecting Biarrtiz backlash

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Connacht Rugby are likely to keep faith with the young XV which overcame Biarrtiz last weekend when the two sides meet for the second of these back-to-back Heineken Cup fixtures in France tomorrow night (8pm).

One enforced change will see Johnny O’Connor come in for Willie Faloon who fractured his eye socket last weekend, but coach Eric Elwood is likely to allow the remainder of that winning team another start in the Parc des Sports Aguiléra tomorrow.

Connacht anger as McCarthy heads east

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Mike McCarthy’s departure to Dublin has come after repeated and concerted efforts by Leinster Rugby over a number of years.

Galway Garda edge Teachers in tight game

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Galway Garda are back in the Connacht Senior Football final and on course for three All Ireland titles in succession after a narrow one-point victory over a resilient Mayo Teachers.

Galway masters in All-Ireland final

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

The Galway Masters (over 40s) will face Cavan in the All-Ireland final at the Sligo Institute of Technology grounds on Saturday (2pm).

Fahey stars in final

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Galway’s Niamh Fahey, who plays for Arsensal Ladies, has added another title to her impressive CV.

Join Galway hurlers for a special Christmas fundraiser

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Galway hurlers and sponsors Supermac’s are inviting supporters to join them for a special Christmas fundraising lunch on December 23.

Local ref receives national award

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Galway football referee Peter Flaherty has won this year’s FAI’s Referee of the Year award.

Flaherty, a native of Carraroe, was presented with the award by FAI chief executive John Delaney at an awards ceremony in Donegal.

Bish Christmas fundraiser

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

St Joseph’s College Rowing Club is holding a Christmas cake sale and coffee morning on Saturday to raise funds for the club.

Turkey tennis

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Donal Hegarty and Ger King were the men’s A winners of this year’s Turkey Tournament at the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Sunday.

Ballinderreen enjoy healthy 2012

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Ballinderreen Juvenile Hurling Club may not have won much silverware this season, but at the end of 2012 the club remains in a healthy position, according to chairman Martin Murphy.

Mr Murphy said 93 players are registered with the club which will conclude this year in a “relatively healthy financial position”.

Moycullen miss out on first semi-final

Thu, Dec 13, 2012

Moycullen missed out on a golden opportunity to advance to their first national semi-final when they lost to UCD Marion 69-59 in Saturday’s SuperLeague Cup quarter final in Leitir Móir.

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