No minor victory for Hanley and Reape

Mon, Aug 04, 2014

Getting to run out on the field in Croke Park and representing your county is something that every player grows up dreaming about and last Sunday, two of Mayo's minor football hero's, captain Cian Hanley and goalscoring ace Brian Reape were full to the brim with excitement after doing just that.

Mayo 'Reape' their reward in Croker

Sun, Aug 03, 2014

The Mayo minors booked their place in the final four of this years Electric Ireland Minor Football Championship with a impressive victory over beaten Ulster finalists Armagh in Croke Park on Sunday. Enda Gilvarry's side got over a nervy opening 15 minutes to win the game in some style with Bohola Moy Davitts corner forward Brian Reape bagging himself two second half goals to seal the win with 20 minutes to go in GAA headquarters.

“When I think it's wrong I'll say it” - Horan

Sun, Aug 03, 2014

The assertion by Cork selector Ronan McCarthy in the Irish Examiner in lead up to Sunday's All Ireland quarter-final between Mayo and Cork, that Mayo duo Cillian O'Connor and Kevin McLoughlin were good at tactical fouling and getting away with it was lambasted by an angry James Horan in the aftermath of Mayo's single point win over Cork. Horan said that “our character was challenged in the lead up to the game by the Cork management, which I think is unprecedented in Gaelic Football, where a management team name players and for us it was taking the integrity of two of our players and our team. I think it's something that's disgraceful and they should be ashamed of what they done. Does that make victory sweeter for us? It probably does. I just think it's a new low when you have opposition management naming specific players and taking their integrity and good name. We've coaches and we try and play as well as we can all the time within the rules of the game and to have two guys who have struggled this year, to come out and say that at this level is not good enough at all.”

Mayo hold off the rebels at the gate

Sun, Aug 03, 2014

The first half of Sunday's All Ireland quarter final between Mayo and Cork, will have long faded into the memory bank by the time the Mayo's meeting with Kerry comes around, but the second half is one that the fat will be chewed over a lot in the next 21 days. The first half was a bitty and often ill tempered affair where Mayo struggled to break down, Cork's blanket defence and the sides went in level at eight points each. Mayo ran down closed off avenues and their foot passing into their full forward line was wasn't sticking as Cork smothered the Mayo attack like jam on a warm slice of bread.

Horan keeps faith with same starting team

Fri, Aug 01, 2014

James Horan has made no changes from the team that defeated Galway in the Connacht final for Sunday's All Ireland quarter-final against Cork.

Big turn out for Balla 10k

Fri, Aug 01, 2014

It was a glorious sunny evening with a welcome breeze for the 22nd running of the Balla races. The Balla 10k is the most keenly anticipated in the Mayo calendar and the tough course has provided challenges for all comers and all levels over the years. It was the third race in Mayo AC Move2Improve Series sponsored by C&C Cellular. Freddy Keron-Sittuk from Raheny Shamrock AC returned to retain the title he won last year and was the clear winner in a time of 33.01, though well outside his 2013 course record. Clubmate Ian Conroy was second and with Bernard Roe fourth their clubmate David Grange also finished well as Raheny Shamrocks also took the team prize.

In his prolific career John Byrne has often featured at the forefront of Balla 10k finishers and he came home third in a time of 34.09. Norah Newcombe (Ballina AC) was the clear winner of the women's race and finished ninth overall in a time of 37.24. Following her return to her native Ballina she will be a leading contender at races in the west. Colette Tuohy displayed formidable consistency to claim second place in 39.37, ahead of Sarah Syron who is back to form with a string of excellent 10k times. Ann McDonnell ran a stormer and was delighted with her personal best of 45.41 and won in the over 35 category. Angela O'Connor continues to perform at the top level with a great time of 41.58 to win the over 45 category from Chris Gallagher second place in a time of 44.34. O’Connor, Tuohy, and Syron combined to win the women's team prize for Mayo AC.

Tynan flies ‘Sky’ high in Mayo

Fri, Aug 01, 2014

Martin Tynan from Monaghan beat all challengers to claim victory on Mayo and District Motorsport Club’s Loose Surface Autocross on Sunday. Driving a Mitsubishi Evo 8, he had to do it the hard way, coming from behind on the final run to beat local favourite Derek Deane.

MMA takes centre stage in Castlebar this weekend

Fri, Aug 01, 2014

It is fast becoming one of the most popular sports in the world and now MMA is coming west. A major MMA event is taking place in the Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar, on Sunday August 3, with some of the top competitors in the county coming to town to do battle for the inaugural West Cage Fighting Championships. This is an opportunity for fans of the sport to witness firsthand the spectacle of an all-out, full-scale MMA event. There will be 10 fights over the course of the night, with each contest being decided over three, three-minute, rounds.

Minors ready for High Noon showdown

Fri, Aug 01, 2014

It’s going to be a long day for Mayo supporters in Croke Park on Sunday, with the action getting under way at 12 noon when Enda Gilvarry’s Mayo minors take on the defeated Ulster finalists Armagh in GAA headquarters.

Captains’ prizes still swinging into action around Mayo

Fri, Aug 01, 2014

Balla
Last weekend’s stableford competition which was sponsored by McEllin Plant Hire was won by Richard Murphy with a score of 38pts. Paraic Cuffe finished in second place with Frank Larkin in third. The ladies’ competition was won by Patricia Conwell with a score of 39pts, with Mary Fahy finishing in second place and Geraldine O’Malley coming home in third place. The annual open week classic competition will continue over the weekend until Bank Holiday Monday. Teams of four cost €40 for entry.

Last weekend’s stableford competition which was sponsored by McEllin Plant Hire was won by Richard Murphy with a score of 38pts. Paraic Cuffe finished in second place with Frank Larkin in third. The ladies’ competition was won by Patricia Conwell with a score of 39pts, with Mary Fahy finishing in second place and Geraldine O’Malley coming home in third place. The annual open week classic competition will continue over the weekend until Bank Holiday Monday. Teams of four cost €40 for entry.

Day of double delights for Mayo supporters

Fri, Aug 01, 2014

As we expected Cork are our opponents for Sunday’s All-Ireland Quarter final which promises to be a great day out for Mayo Fans albeit a long day. The minors take centre stage at 12 noon followed by the seniors at 4pm. I have heard rumblings as to why the Mayo senior game couldn’t be on at 2pm, so Mayo fans wouldn’t have to spend the best part of six hours in Croke Parke. It would have been the correct course of action, imagine someone from Belmullet going to support the minors, leaving at 7am on Sunday morning and probably not getting home until the early hours. I don’t envy them, however beggars can’t be choosers and we should be delighted the minors are getting at least one game at headquarters. Last year the minor quarter final against Westmeath was played on bank holiday Monday in Tullamore, most Mayo fans won’t be present for the start of the minor game anyway as happened in Castlebar for the Connacht Final. I personally can’t wait and will watch every second of every game.

Rebels put an end to my Mayo days

Mayo look to cork rebels challenge

Fri, Aug 01, 2014

Mayo head to Croke Park on Sunday for their fourth All Ireland quarter-final on the bounce since James Horan first took charge of the side. An achievement that any inter-county manager would be proud of, but in Mayo all that matters to some supporters is getting over the finishing line in first place in late September.

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