Fingal come calling on Sunday

Fri, Feb 14, 2014

The Mayo senior hurlers have their first league outing of the season with a home game to Fingal on Sunday at 2pm in Elverys MacHale Park against Fingal. This is the second season in charge for Limerick native Christy Phillips who is hoping to start the League campaign will continue on the success his team have had recently in the Kehoe Shield. Phillips and his backroom team of Leo Connor (Limerick) Austin Kenny (Tooreen) and Karen Lacey (Westport) have been fine-tuning their preparations for the League since the first week in January. The hurlers received a major boost over the past few days with the return of Tooreen’s Cathal Freeman to the panel. Mayo will be looking for strong performances from seasoned campaigners Donal O’Brien, Padraig O’Flynn, Derek McDonnell, Kenny Feeney and Brian Hunt. Relative newcomers to the panel David Kenny, Kieran Kiely and Fergal Boland will also be hoping to impress.

Mayo sides tastes defeat over the weekend

Mon, Feb 10, 2014

Kiltane dream ends in Croker
It wasn't to be for the sons of Erris in Croke Park yesterday as they fell at the final hurdle against Monaghan side Truagh Gaels in the All Ireland Club Intermediate Final. A great fight back in the second half had Kiltane within touching distance, but the Ulster men were pulled away with six points in the final six minutes to run out victorious. You can read the full match report here: http://www.advertiser.ie/mayo/article/66950/kiltane-dream-dashed-by-mckenna-masterclass

Kiltane dream dashed by McKenna masterclass

Sun, Feb 09, 2014

Truagh Gaels 2-21
Kiltane 2-13

Hurlers take home Kehoe Shield

Sun, Feb 09, 2014

Mayo 1-17
Queen’s University 0-15

Queen’s University 0-15

Barrett proud of his warriors as the adventure ends

Sun, Feb 09, 2014

They came a long way to be there. The sons and daughters of Erris converged on Croke Park from all corners of the globe and all corners of their rugged and beautiful outpost on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. While their family, friends and supporters travelled great distances to be in Croke Park last Sunday, the distance the men who togged out in blue and gold traveled was further. From the despair and desolation of their dressing room after losing their prized senior status, to the confines of Croke Park last Sunday, it has been some journey.

Westport United on the road for cup glory

Fri, Feb 07, 2014

It’s wagons east for Westport United and their loyal band of supporters on Sunday, as they look for a place in the last 16 of the FAI Junior Cup. Standing in their way is the imposing figure of Sheriff YC from the capital. The hooped side from Dublin won the competition last June in the Aviva Stadium when they saw off fellow Dublin side Kilbarrack FC. They are currently sitting in third place in the AUL Premier A table in the capital, but have four games in hand on the league leaders Kilbarrack United.

Westport United booked their spot in this round of the competition back in the middle of January with a 3-1 win over Trim Celtic in Meath. The main man that day, as he has been for many recent days for United, was JP O’Gorman who bagged himself a hat-trick. O’Gorman’s form will be key to United’s chances of success on Sunday. He followed that hat-trick with another hat-trick against Ballisodare United in the Connacht Cup.

Action returning to Mayo clubs

Fri, Feb 07, 2014

Ballina
In the recent 12 hole stableford competition, John Horgan was the winner with a score of 33pts while Richard Doherty finished in second place. In the seniors’ competition, Pearse Forde was the winner on 39pts with Dennis Bourke finishing in second place. The Spring League swung into action last weekend, but there is still time for players to get involved. Call 096 21050 for more information.

We’re back, but with black

Fri, Feb 07, 2014

If the enormous score line of 2-19 to 2-18 between Kildare and Mayo is a direct result of the new black card rule, then maybe it was not such a bad idea, particularly if you are a forward. However interpretation of the rules that merit a black card is likely to cause debate the length and breadth of the country. Rory Hickey issued two black cards in Newbridge last Sunday for fouls that would not have even warranted a yellow card in the old rule book. Paul Cribbin, the Kildare wing back, the first culprit. After making a brilliant block on Adam Gallagher and then trying to prevent Gallagher pick up the loose ball his outstretched arm tripped Gallagher, Hickey had no choice, it looked intentional and Cribbin walked. When Aidan O’Shea got into a rugby clutch with Gary White just before half time and allegedly threw him to the ground you knew there was only going to be one outcome. Hickey’s interpretation an intentional foul, so O’Shea walked. I am fully convinced if Kildare still had the full complement at the time of O’Shea’s incident, he would not have even received a yellow. Cathal Carolan got taken wildly around the neck late on while bearing down on the Kildare goal, Mr Hickey obviously thought it was an accident and not intentional, I thought differently.

Ballina split the spoils in tournament

Fri, Feb 07, 2014

The boxers from Ballina shared the wins in their own competition last Sunday afternoon, picking up seven victories from 14 bouts in a competitive afternoon of boxing. The Ballina competition was the second last tournament before the Mayo championships and there were a number of boxers honing their craft in the Dick Hearns centre before the county championships. Caroline McDonagh was awarded the club boxer of the season award and the 12-year-old looked impressive in her fight win over Molly Rowley from Swinford in the girl two 39kg category.

Mayo go north in search of points

Fri, Feb 07, 2014

After engaging in a shoot-out reminiscent of a hurling championship game last weekend against Kildare, James Horan’s Mayo go looking for their first points of the league on Sunday in Omagh against Tyrone. Horan, whose selection choices were stretched before the Kildare meeting because of injury and club commitments were stretched even further, with the injury picked up by Tom Parson’s not long after the start of the game, ruling him out for six weeks.

The blue and gold are sixty minutes from glory

Fri, Feb 07, 2014

It is the stuff of childhood dreams, a small rural parish getting ready to descend on the great cathedral of sport in the nation. When Kiltane run out on to the field on Jones Road on Sunday, there will not be many left back home to keep check on the house, and those who are left behind will have their ears glued to the radio, using their mind to picture the proceedings going on in Croke Park.

Mixed results over busy weekend for sport in Mayo

Mon, Feb 03, 2014

It was a big weekend for the Mayo senior football team who opened their National Football League campaign against Kildare in Newbridge. Unfortunately for James Horan’s men they came up one point short, thanks to a last gasp winner from Paddy Brophy (a man with a Newport mother). The Mayo Advertiser was there to catch all the action from the game and got the thoughts of manager James Horan and captain Andy Moran afterwards. To catch up on it all log on to http://www.advertiser.ie/mayo/section/sport

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