Connacht look to stay off the bottom
Fri, Feb 21, 2014
Rugby
Connacht are not taking Sunday’s opponents Zebre lightly when the two clash in the RaboDirect Pro 12 in Parma. Despite a 100 per cent return from their seven matches with the Italians to date, Sunday’s fixture has all the hallmarks of a cup final. Last weekend’s Connacht’s hard-earned win over Edinburgh ensured they leapfrogged Zebre in the league. And now Pat Lam’s side need to carve out their eighth victory if they do not want to make a swift return to the bottom of the table.
Busy weekend of action for Mayo athletes
Fri, Feb 21, 2014
MA_2102_E1_0Athletics
Mayo AC were in action in a number of events over the week-end. In the fifth annual Cloonacool GAA 5km, Anthony Flannery (Clonliffe Harriers) was the winner in 17:03. He caught up with Anto Devaney (Mayo AC) at the 4k mark, and there were just four seconds between them at the finish. David Kearins (Sligo AC) was third in 17:49. Sean Murphy came home in sixth in 18:59, and like Anto he was sharpening up ahead of the cross-country championships in Dunboyne on Sunday where he will be part of Mayo AC's Masters team.
Just one hour between Mitchels and glory
Fri, Feb 21, 2014
Castlebar Mitchels are 60 minutes away from the holy grail of club football. To join the elite clubs like Nemo Rangers, Crossmaglen Rangers, and indeed our own Crossmolina Deel Rovers and Ballina Stephenites would be nothing short of a miracle. It took them 20 years to win the elusive Moclair Cup, now their eyes are firmly set on the Andy Merrigan. Castlebar have beaten the three hot favourites for the competition along the way to the final in Corofin, St Brigid's, and the dead certs until last Sunday, Dr Crokes of Kerry. There will not be a dry eye in Mick Byrne’s if they succeed.
Read more ...Mitchels move closer to immortality
Fri, Feb 21, 2014
GAA
March 17 may already come with St Patrick’s Day marked on the diary, but for Castlebar Mitchels players and supporters there is only one thing that matters about that date and that is the All Ireland Senior Club Championship Football Final. The Mitchels booked their place in the club showpiece occasion with a top class display against Dr Crokes in Portlaoise last Saturday and they are not going to rest on their laurels until they seal the deal in three weeks time.
Hurlers look to knock Royals off their throne
Fri, Feb 21, 2014
GAA: National Hurling League
The Mayo senior hurling team head off to Trim on Sunday for their second game in division 2b of the National Hurling League. Christy Phillips’ team got off to a winning start in the competition last weekend when they snatched a late win against Fingal in the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan.
Mitchels make their mark in style
Sat, Feb 15, 2014
Castlebar Mitchels 3-13
Dr Crokes 1-11
Galway International whets appetite for Mayo stages
Fri, Feb 14, 2014
The Irish rally season, and more specifically the Irish Tarmac Championships, roared into action over the weekend with the Colm Quinn BMW Galway International Rally. The event reverted to a two-day format with the stages based in the south Galway area.
Local Mayo interest was with Bekan’s Sean McHugh and his co-driver Aidan Gannon from Tubbercurry, the pair, after a demanding two days brought their BMW home a splendid second in class 14 in the national section of the rally.
Read more ...Prendergast takes newcomer award
Fri, Feb 14, 2014
Last year was an outstanding one on the road running circuit for Claremorris native and Mayo AC athlete Paula Prendergast. Paula, from Ballybrehony South, lives and works in Dublin. She was named most Improved female runner in Mayo, an annual award sponsored by Ballyhaunis native Frank Greally, editor of Irish Runner magazine in recognition of performances in both the 2013 Mayo AC League and other events.
Read more ...Spring League’s swing into life
Fri, Feb 14, 2014
Castlebar
In the Spring League Mick Kilcourse’s team were the winners with a score of 81, Padraig Rice’s side finished in second place with the team led by Frank Starken and Charlie Muldoon taking third and fourth spot last weekend. The gents singles competition was won by John Kelly with a score of 36. The ladies competition was claimed by Patsy Connor with a score of 32pts, while Carmel Connaughton took second spot, thanks to her back nine play, ahead of Ann Gallagher in third place. Fourth place was taken by Bernie Burke.
Subs, blood subs and black card replacements
Fri, Feb 14, 2014
Firstly to admit an error broadcast by yours truly live on radio last Sunday during the Mayo v Tyrone game. With the entire furore over black cards, yellow cards and red cards, I was blissfully unaware that teams were now in fact allowed to make six substitutions.
I’m positive I heard it discussed about Mayo’s six subs in Newbridge and getting away with it there, that the rule was that you could still in fact only use five. (It was seven subs Mayo used against Kildare, but one was a blood sub) I was wrong and if only I looked at my phone during commentary, I was been made aware by listeners to the game. There is no question you need a spotter at games like this, especially when they are played at one hundred miles an hour, to keep you on the straight and narrow. Last Sunday, while following play or watching for a referee’s decision you turned to notice a substitute on the field with no idea who had been replaced, the joys of live commentary. Tg4 couldn’t even keep up and they had cameras. But on to the game itself.
Read more ...k solid Naughton is ready for the Crokes examination
Fri, Feb 14, 2014
He’s been one of the most consistent goalkeepers in Mayo for the past number of years and if you’ve ever been to a Castlebar Mitchels game any time in the past decade you’re sure to have heard him roaring instructions at his defence.
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