Mayo look to make it a fantastic five

Fri, Sep 22, 2017

Ten years since they last graced Croke Park on All Ireland final day, the Mayo Ladies seniors are back in the big house for a crack at a fifth All Ireland title and their first since 2003. The last time that Mayo won the All Ireland they faced Dublin in the final and squeaked through in a very low scoring encounter on a score of 1-4 to 0-5, but this Sunday's meeting will be a far higher scoring encounter.

Tierney is ready to play the captain's part

Fri, Sep 22, 2017

Having a summer back at home, albeit studying for her final accountancy exams, was a great help to Mayo captain Sarah Tierney who had to head back to Dublin recently for work. But having football to take her mind of the study in the summer was something for which she was grateful. "I was sitting my final acountancy exams in the summer so I was home based which was great during the summer. I'm working in Deloitte in my second year there, it can tough going up and down for training. I found football a great release when I was studying whereas some of the others would have been just studying 12 hours a day."

Ready to Rowe in for the challenge

Fri, Sep 22, 2017

The last time that Mayo were in the All Ireland final, Sarah Rowe was out on the field kicking points, but not for Mayo, she was taking part in the children's game at half-time. Ten years later and the DCU PE and biology student is one of Mayo's main attacking threats as they go looking for their fifth All Ireland title.

Ten years waiting for this one to come around again

Fri, Sep 22, 2017

Ten years on from when she hit a consolation goal for Mayo in the All Ireland final against Cork, Fiona McHale is relishing getting a chance to finally pick up a winner's medal in the big one on Sunday. The Carnacon ace has tasted All Ireland glory with her club a few times in the intervening years and has had third level success at a national level both as a player and a coach, but this is the one she wants.

They gave it their all, but it does not make it any easier

Fri, Sep 22, 2017

This football lark does not get any easier does it. The feeling of sick in the pit of my stomach the morning after an All-Ireland final is an all too familiar feeling now after Mayo suffered another agonising one point defeat to Dublin in another All-Ireland final. The margin of loss makes it even more difficult to take. The level of Mayo's performance makes it hard to comprehend they did not win the game. Every mistake and refereeing decision will be scrutinised and placed under the microscope for years to come.

Junior replays top the bill on Saturday

Fri, Sep 22, 2017

Now that the dust has settled on the inter-county season for another year attention turns back to the local scene this weekend with the double header of replays in the Mayo Junior Football Championship on Saturday evening announcing the return to local action. The action will get under way at 6pm with the meeting of Ballycastle and Kilmeena, followed by the clash of Balla and Achill at 7.30pm.

Connacht need to get back to winning ways

Fri, Sep 22, 2017

Pressure mounts on Connacht Rugby to deliver a winning performance when Cardiff Blues arrive at the Galway Sportsground on Saturday (3.15pm). Cardiff, without a win this season, will take heart from fellow Welsh outfit Dragons, whose fighting performance saw them romp to victory over Kieran Keane's side last weekend. However this week Connacht forwards coach Jimmy Duffy says Connacht are in a better place having completed the review of that 21-8 defeat to Bernard Jackman's side.

It all comes down to Sunday in Super League race

Fri, Sep 22, 2017

The race for the Super League title comes down to this Sunday, with both Westport United and Manulla still in with a shout of claiming the title. The defending champions Westport United know that they need just a point from their game away to Claremorris to retain the title, while Manulla will be hoping they can see off local rivals Castlebar Celtic on the road and that Claremorris do them a favour to force a play-off for the title. If fortune favours United it will be a fantastic fourth league title in a row for the Covies. These two games kick-off at 2.30pm.

At the bottom of the table there is still plenty to sort out with Ballyheane looking to pull themselves level with Glenhest Rovers and force a play-off for the final relegation spot alongside the already relegated Achill Rovers. Ballyheane travel to the aforementioned Achill Rovers knowing they need a win, while a point for Glenhest Rovers at home against Ballina Town will keep them safe in the top flight for another season. These two games will kick off at 12 noon. The other game in the top flight is the meeting of Ballyglass and Straide and Foxford United also kicking off at 12 noon, but there is nothing of consequence riding on this game unlike the other four on the final day of the season.

It just wasn’t to be for brave and battling Mayo

Sun, Sep 17, 2017

Sometimes it’s not about being the better team, it’s about finding ways to win games when you are probably second best on the day. Dublin were able to do that, they were able to get themselves over the line right at the end when it mattered most and they claimed their third All Ireland title in a row.

Here we go again.....

Fri, Sep 15, 2017

All-Ireland final fever is here. I still have to pinch myself to contemplate that Mayo are back in the football showpiece again. Looking at Mayo's run to the final you'd almost forget that it started against Sligo in Castlebar on May 21. The ticket fiasco is still the same, however, with most Mayo folk willing to beg, borrow, or steal to get their hands on that elusive golden ticket. Some novel efforts took to Tinder looking for a female acquaintance, the only catch was they had to have a spare ticket for the game. The most desperate are offering their spouses in return for a match day pass, it's all part of the fun, it's all part of the build up.

Looking to take the final step on the journey

Fri, Sep 15, 2017

"We’ll be competitive and we’ll be looking for a performance every day that we go out and we can be honest in ourselves and we did ourselves and the county proud and we’re going the right direction towards what our goals will be.” That's what Stephen Rochford said back in December 2015 — two days after he was appointed Mayo manager. While there have been days when things haven't quite gone to plan they have always been "honest" in themselves as a team and that's what has brought them to where they are right now, 70 minutes away from their final goal.

The Flying Doc is still fighting fit and backing Mayo

Fri, Sep 15, 2017

The Mayo senior football teams of 1950 and 1951 have gone down in both history and folklore among GAA folk the length and breadth of both the county and the country.

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.