Mayo fail to make extra man count again

Fri, Apr 18, 2014

Mayo limped out of the national league in spectacular fashion last Sunday in Croke Park against a much livelier and hungrier Derry team. What has everyone worried is Mayo’s failure and inability to make a numerical advantage count for the second time in three weeks.

It was Stephen Cluxton who was red carded for the Dubs’ three weeks ago, this time it was Fergal Doherty, the heartbeat of the Derry team after a thunderous hit on Aiden O’Shea in the shadows of the Hogan Stand. I was very keen to see how Mayo would use the extra man after what happened against Dublin two weeks previous.

Mayo fall flat against Derry

Fri, Apr 18, 2014

Having the championship throw-in against New York in just over a fortnight will have been a welcome relief to James Horan and his squad this week as they picked over the bones of last Sunday’s national league semi-final defeat at the hands of Derry in Croke Park.

New season kicked off in style

Fri, Apr 18, 2014

The big game of the opening weekend of the Mayo League Super League last weekend was the meeting of Westport United and Castlebar Celtic in the Sportspark only seven days after their Connacht Cup semi-final clash in Castlebar. The Covies came out on top this time around, despite going in trailing 1-0 at half time thanks to a Jason Hunt goal. But three second half strikes from Martin Geraghty and a Dave Hoban brace gave the hosts a 3-1 win.

Mayo fall short again in Croker

Sun, Apr 13, 2014

Mayo left Croke Park on Sunday evening with far more questions than answers, as a 14 man Derry team ran at them and right through them, into the National Football League final in a fortnight's time. For the second time in the space of a few weeks, Mayo had a man advantage and a decent lead, but they were unable to see the game out and came up short in Croke Park. When Fergal Doherty was shown a second yellow card and ordered off the field for a late challenge on Aidan O'Shea in the build up to Mayo's goal 24 minutes in, it should have been the staging post for Mayo's march to victory. But, they never got moving as freely as expected and Derry ran out deserving winners.

Champions get off to winning start in Super League

Sun, Apr 13, 2014

Ballina Town got their title defence off to a winning start in Attymass on Saturday night thanks to early goal from ace marksman Brendan Lavelle against a tough battling Moy Villa side. The champions made all the running early on in the contest, but were made to sweat at the end as Moy Villa threw everything at them to try and salvage an equaliser at the death.

Stephen Moyles served an early warning of Town's intent when when he was played in down the right after four minutes, but he pulled his effort wide of Patrick Keane's post four minutes in. The Moy Villa goal only survived two minutes more, before it was breached by Ballina.

Work rate disappoints Horan as Derry book final spot

Sun, Apr 13, 2014

Mayo supporters left Croke Park on Sunday evening with plenty to ponder for the summer ahead. While losing to a Derry team who have impressed in this years league campaign is no great failure on the face of things, the manner of the defeat is what has supporters and the Mayo manager alike looking for answers. “We were three points up and we had a good goal chance, we made a hames of it. We didn't take it and the longer that game would have went on Derry would have won by more, I'd say. They were starting to run through us and away from us. A very disappointing performance from us and one we'll have to analyse very seriously, the whole lot of us as a group. We weren't good today, right through. So we need to have a look at that” proffered Horan in response to being asked should his side have put away a 14 man Derry team.

Derry hid their hand last week

Fri, Apr 11, 2014

Derry travelled to Castlebar last Sunday to take on the home side in what was a crucial game for Mayo to see if they would qualify for the playoffs of the National league. I should have smelled a rat earlier in the week when the bookmakers had Mayo at an outrageous 1/16 to beat the Oak Leaf county. This game could have been a cracker but it turned out to be a damp squib. Derry fielded only one of their starting 15 which made us realise from the outset that they did not care about the result, we will only know for sure if Brian McIver got anything out of this game when we see the Derry line up on Sunday.

Mayo AC athletes put in big showing at National 10k

Fri, Apr 11, 2014

After a brief run for shelter from an April shower, the sun came out at noon in the Phoenix Park on Sunday for the National 10k. Mayo AC had 24 on the start line, one of the biggest contingents among the 600 club athletes taking part in the National 10k championships. There were 13 women and 11 men making up the Mayo AC team, with the women going to the gun at 1.10pm and the men 20 minutes later.

Mayo drivers perform well in a number of events

Fri, Apr 11, 2014

It was a busy weekend for Mayo and District members, competing the length and breadth of the county and beyond. Westport’s David Carney had his Citroën DS3 at Kerry Motor Club's Circuit of Kerry Rally in Tralee on Sunday, but unfortunately he was unable to finish the event due to fuel pump gremlins, but he did gain valuable stage mileage in his rapid French chariot. Putting in a flawless display in Kerry was Aidan Gannon, who was navigating London-based Sligo man Anthony O’Brien in his Mitsubishi Lancer. Not only did the pair win class nine, they also received the Dunlop Drive of the day award finishing in 19th place overall.

Competition season gets into full swing around the county

Fri, Apr 11, 2014

Balla
Adrian O’Connell was the winner of last weekend’s stableford competition sponsored by Lawnmower and Tool Hire, Castlebar. O’Connell’s scoring on the back six holes kept him in front of Bob Leggett and Fenton Barrett when the scores were totted up. Each of the three men finished on 37pts. In the ladies’ competition, Catherine McNulty was the clear winner with a score of 39pts, she finished five points in front of Patricia Conwell in second, and Aine McSuibhnie in third place.

Tougher test expected this time against Derry

Fri, Apr 11, 2014

Cillian O’Connor remains the one injury doubt for Mayo from those who were available for selection last weekend for Sunday’s Allianz National Football League semi-final in Croke Park. The Ballintubber attacker, who had to leave the action after just 10 minutes in Elverys MacHale Park last Sunday, may not make it back into the starting line-up for this weekend’s game. The team is due to be announced at some stage today (Friday, April 11).

A summer of drama and excitement starts here

Fri, Apr 11, 2014

This weekend 42 of the 43 teams taking part in the Mayo Football league will kick off their campaign for the new season. The odd team out being Ballyvary Blue Bombers who are part of the seven team League One this season. The big change this year in the league format is the return to 10 team divisions in the top three levels this season after a couple of years with eight team divisions.

The expansion of the top divisions has seen four teams move up from the Premier A to the Super League this year to fill out the league. Straide and Foxford United, Fahy Rovers, Moy Villa and Charlestown Athletic have joined the big boys this term. The defending champions Ballina Town will open their season with a short trip to Moy Villa on Saturday night. This year the Mayo League has spread the games out over both Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Also getting to grips with each other tomorrow night are the newly crowned Connacht Junior Shield champions, Straide and Foxford United (they beat other Super League newcomers Charlestown Athletic 3-0 last Sunday in the final in Milebush), and Manulla in Foxford. Fahy Rovers will be the first team to make the long trek to Carnenash on Saturday night when they face Iorras Aontaithe, all three games are down for 6pm kick-offs.

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