Irish to have a great week at Cheltenham, but expect no records from Willie

Fri, Mar 11, 2016

Now that the election is over (almost), we can concentrate fully on what will unfold in the Cotswolds for four hectic days next week. There are certain acres of ground which are held sacred by followers of sport in this country. Horse Racing, and particularly National Hunt Racing, also has its sacred piece of ground where man and beast combine in pursuit of their holy grail. The irony for Irish National Hunt fans is that these few acres are in a town in the Cotswolds that couldn't be more English. All that changes next week, when an estimated 15,000 Irish people descend on the town.

Willie Mullins will have a good week, with a strong chance it will finally include victory in The Gold Cup itself, but I cannot see him matching last year's record number of winners. Looking at Tuesday's opening race, the Supreme Novices Hurdle, the market suggests the continuation of the dominance of Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci with the lightly raced Min. At odds of around 7/4, he does not represent a lot of value on what he has achieved so far, and I'd prefer to have a few euro each-way on Buveur D'Air or Altior. I expect both of these to make the frame. I also expect Min to be a drifter on the day, so if you are thinking of getting involved, hold off until Tuesday morning. Then take advantage of some of the specials on offer: don't be surprised if one of these offers Min as large as 3/1. In the Arkle Challenge Trophy, if Douvan stands up, he wins; it is as simple as that. If he doesn't, expect to see Vaniteux or Sizing John take advantage.

Now we are up and running

Fri, Mar 11, 2016

Mayo finally got off the mark after a pulsating battle with Ulster champions Monaghan in Clones last Sunday. Given the situation I feel this was the most important league game Mayo have played in the last 15 years as defeat would surely have left an insurmountable battle to survive in division one, so huge credit has to be given to both management and players. It would also have been the first time since 1994 that Mayo would have lost four games in a row at the start of a league campaign so needless to say Stephen Rochford did not want that statistic on his CV.

McManus loss a big blow to Mayo

Fri, Mar 11, 2016

The Mayo senior hurlers cemented their place at the top of the division 2B league table last weekend with their second tough road win on the bounce seeing off Down by 0-20 to 0-16 in Newry last Sunday. That was JP Coen's men third win in a row, but it came at a big cost he told us this week.

Castlebar Duathlon is ready to test the best

Fri, Mar 11, 2016

A completely revamped course using the beautiful Greenway to Turlough and the bike route using the quite roads around Parke and Pontoon this new course is suitable for all abilities and should be a participant joy to take part in. The Castlebar Adventure Duathlon is now longer but considerably flatter than its predecessor at 39k, with No Booster Mountain to climb no Rathbawn hills to cycle the new course is more forgiving. There is only one distance this year for individuals but there is a relay option and this category has proven very popular throughout the series.

Hennelly points the way for Mayo

Sun, Mar 06, 2016

Vital interventions at the start and the end of this encounter from Robbie Hennelly saw Mayo over the line to gain their first two points in this years National Football League. Right from throw in Hennelly was called into action after Karl O’Connell burst through from half-way with the ball, but one on one with Hennelly the keeper stood tall to stop Mayo getting off to a terrible start.

Mayo need to get moving this weekend

Fri, Feb 26, 2016

GAA: National Football LeagueTwo games in to his first National League campaign, Stephen Rochford would have hoped that he would have some points on the board to show for it. But that is not the case. Injuries and club commitments had robbed him of a number of key players for the games against Cork and Dublin. Since that Dublin game, Mayo have had three weeks to get themselves up to pace after only coming together right at the tail end of last year.

What ifs and a game to be won

Fri, Feb 26, 2016

Life in general and sport in particular are all about “what ifs”. In the run-up to Mayo's crucial league game against Donegal on Sunday, I can't help but think of another what if. What if Corofin had beaten Castlebar Mitchels last November in the Connacht club final, how would Stephen Rochford have coped with the pressures of managing two high profile teams; with great difficulty, I think is the answer. Despite being robbed of the services of the Castlebar contingent for the first five rounds of the league, because of their run to the All-Ireland club final, the Mitchels have done Mayo football a huge favour in beating Corofin and allowing Rochford to concentrate on matters Mayo. Try to imagine what it would have been like managing both teams; virtually impossible. You would probably cope during the week where you'd have training with both teams on alternative nights but it's the weekends that would constitute the big problem.

Roche would literally have been on a football pitch seven nights of the week. The Mayo manager's job, which is practically full time, means all of your Saturdays and Sundays are for the cause, between fitness testing, endurance training, tactical training, team meetings, meetings with selectors, and, in Mayo's case, dealing with a massive injury list would surely have left no time for any other concern. I wouldn't imagine Corofin would have been best pleased if his entire weekend was spent with Mayo, which it would have had to be. I imagine Mayo folk wouldn't have been too pleased if his time was been spent with the Galway club, while his Mayo team made an uncertain start to the league. As I said, it was all a “what if" scenario but we should be grateful to Castlebar for not putting Rochford in that particular predicament.

Top of the table clash for Mayo

Fri, Feb 26, 2016

Mayo will go looking for their fourth win from four games in the league this Sunday. Having beaten Cork, Dublin and Galway so far in the league, it would be easy to feel they've got the hardest games out of the way already. But this Sunday they welcome to Swinford Amenity Park an Armagh side that are in as rich a vein of form as they are themselves. Armagh sit level on nine points from three games just like Mayo at the top of the table, and the ladies from the Orchard county are also in fine form.

Manaulla crowned champions on final day

Fri, Feb 26, 2016

Manulla were crowned Mayo League masters division one champions on Wednesday night last with a comprehensive win over already relegated Snugboro. The win completed a league double for the Manulla 7’s and Masters sides. Straide and Foxford United follow Snugboro down to division two next season after being beaten by Kiltimagh-Knock United who finished the season in second place.

Athletic top the pile after dramatic evening

Fri, Feb 26, 2016

Charlestown Athletic claimed the division two title in dramatic circumstances, coming from behind on two occasions to beat Manulla B and lift the trophy. Athletic now move up to division one next season alongside an impressive looking Castlebar Celtic side who overcame Swinford B with ease.

Westport and Ballina keep up winning ways

Fri, Feb 26, 2016

Both of the two Mayo sides battling it out for top spot in the Connacht Junior League picked up wins last weekend. Westport are leading the way at the top of the table on 35 points two ahead of second placed Ballina. The Bulls had a six point win on the road in Monastery Field over Connemara last weekend, with David Keane crossing the whitewash twice, once in each half, and Séan Tobin kicking two penalites to keep his side's nose in front down the closing stretch. This weekend Westport will be on the road again where they take on more Galway opposition in the shape of fourth placed Ballinasloe. When the sides met earlier in the league it finished with both sides locked together on a scoreline of 13-13.

Ballina warmed up for their Connacht Junior Cup semi-final this Sunday against Galwegians with a big 34-10 win over Buccaneers in Dubarry Park in Athlone to keep them in touch with Westport. Ballina got tries from Alex Corduff, Chris O'Neill, Fionn Mulligan and Colm Quinn, with Quinn and Mickey Murphy also kicking a couple of conversions each in the game. This Sunday represents a great chance for the north Mayo outfit to make it an all Mayo decider in the final of the big cup competition in the province and having beaten Westport twice already this year, the Ballina men will be full of confidence of taking home the cup that Westport won last year.

Connacht continue to learn lessons as the stay top

Fri, Feb 26, 2016

It is another big weekend for Connacht Rugby. Still sitting on top of the Pro 12 table, Connacht are preparing to step it up for the visit of former champions Ospreys to the Sportsground on Saturday (7.35pm).

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