Big guns enter the action

Fri, Jan 29, 2016

The first round proper of the Connacht Junior Cup kicks off this weekend, with all the big guns getting their first outing in the competition. The preliminary round of the competition took place last weekend and Ballinrobe exited the competition by the narrowest of margins going down 5-3 to Dunmore on the road.

Entries open for Mayo Stages Rally

Fri, Jan 29, 2016

With just over six weeks to go until the 2016 Mayo Stages Rally on Sunday March 6, preparations are in full swing. Mayo and District Motorsport Club are delighted to welcome on board again. Hotel Ballina and Kennedy Motors as joint main sponsors of the popular west of Ireland event and thank them for their support in this, the 40th year since the establishment of the club.

League of Ireland football for Mayo?

Fri, Jan 29, 2016

The possibility of having a Mayo League team in action in the League of Ireland in the next few years is one of the major aims of the new five year plan for the league that was launched last Saturday. The plan's executive summary outlined the steps to such a possability happening, stating: "We want to provide a pathway for our elite players and coaches to progress to the top of the domestic game. The Mayo Football League believes that a Mayo representative team should play in the SSE Airtricity U17 League by 2017, the U19 League by 2019, and shortly afterwards the Mayo Football League will apply to join the First Division of SSE Airtricity League."

Davitt go down in ten goal thriller

Fri, Jan 29, 2016

Having lost a two goal advantage in the opening half when enjoying the favour of the considerable elements, matters looked like they would be very difficult for Convent of Mercy on the resumption, but in a terrific turnaround, they outplayed the Mayo side to clinch the Bank of Ireland FAI Schools Senior Girls Connacht title on Wednesday afternoon in Mervue United.

It all started so well also for the Roscommon outfit, as Grainne White fired them ahead on eight minutes, before setting up the second for Rachel Fitzmaurice to make it 2-0 on the quarter hour mark. Now while generally outplayed in the early stages, Davitt College were producing some rapid counter attacks and after Clare McDonagh was upended in the box on 21 minutes, the striker picked herself up to knock the resulting penalty past Marie Kelly to pull one back.

Mayo athletes bring back medals from Masters Cross Country

Fri, Jan 29, 2016

Six Mayo AC athletes travelled to Dundalk on Sunday to compete in the National Masters Cross Country Championships in the grounds of the institute of technology. They lined up in a competitive field of 220 from clubs nationwide. The 4k race was for all women athletes and was run over a testing two lap course in tough conditions.

Winter is over and it’s great to have football back

Fri, Jan 29, 2016

With the greatest respect to the pre-season provincial leagues, they are really what they are, challenge matches with large attendances. They are a means to an end, to prepare you for the competitions that matter, the National league and the championship. They are to build up fitness, improve your football skills, and try to unearth a player or two that might make a difference in bigger more important games. Unlike some folk out there, Mayo’s defeat by Roscommon in the final group game in the FBD league does not bother me in the slightest. After all Mayo, like most, were experimenting and playing with a very under strength team. There are two matters that do concern me however; firstly the delay in appointing Stephen Rochford means Mayo are a full month behind the other counties in terms of work done, and secondly the number of players Mayo have out injured for the start of the league.

I know Stephen Rochford wanted to have started work with his management team in November but ended up having his first get together in the middle of December, leaving him behind in terms of his team’s preparations. This will not affect the fitness of the established players who now live their lives like elite athletes, and I know from Tom Parsons (a perfect example) that he never stopped training and pushing himself to make himself a better player, this would be the same for Lee Keegan, Donie Vaughan, Keith Higgins, and all those who have been involved for that last few years, the concern is for the new recruits who would not have experienced the intense training required to play at the elite level. It will not be long until they catch up but they may be found wanting for the earlier rounds of the league.

Advertiser.ie Mayo GAA Podcast 2016 #1

Fri, Jan 29, 2016

Get closer to the action this year with www.advertiser.ie GAA Podcasts. In the first edition of the new series, Mayo Advertiser Sports Editor, Colm Gannon sits down with former Mayo footballer and Mayo Advertiser columnist John Casey to chew the fat over Mayo's upcoming National Football League season and what we can expect to see from Stephen Rochford's Mayo

Ardnaree take one more step towards the promised land

Sun, Jan 24, 2016

“It’s a long way from the hill in Ardnaree to the hill in Croke Park” said Ardnaree chairman Johnny O’Malley on the field in Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday afternoon as the faithful from the hamlet near Ballina soaked in the celebrations. They had just witnessed their side grind out a historic victory over Rockcorry from Monaghan in the All Ireland semi-final and book their place in Croke Park on Saturday fortnight where they will face Templenoe from Kerry in the final.

Ardnaree are fully focused on the next step

Sun, Jan 24, 2016

Amidst the hugs and backslaps from friends, family and well wishers on the muddied field of battle in Carrick-on-Shannon, the Ardnaree players were enjoying the spoils of their greatest victory to date, but they were firmly looking forward to what lies in wait in two weeks time and one last push on the field, that all things going well will see them go from local hero’s to local legends on the most famous field of them all.

Honours even at the end of fractious affair

Sun, Jan 24, 2016

Mayo had to come back from two points down at the start of the second half of extra time in the Sligo GAA Centre of Excellence on a wet and miserable hour of football on Saturday to earn a draw in the first ever North West Cup final.

Coen plays the captains part as Hollymount-Carramore head for Croker

Sun, Jan 24, 2016

Darren Coen played the captain’s part on Sunday in Breffni Park in Cavan scoring eight points as Hollymount-Carramore booked their place in the All Ireland intermediate club final in Croke Park.