Westport keep up lead at the top
Fri, Jul 06, 2012
By the end of this weekend, Westport United’s lead at the top of the Super League table will probably be down to seven points as the Covies have no game this weekend. Neither Westport or second placed Ballina Town are in action this weekend and Castlebar Celtic will be able to leapfrog Westport into second place. But the Covies are still red hot favourites to take the title, with the half-way point in their league campaign reached they will have a seven-point lead in their back pocket at the very least by the time they next play in the league. Last weekend Westport were 2-0 winners over Iorras Aontaithe thanks to goals from David Hoban and JP O’Gorman in either half, while Balllina saw off Fahy Rovers by the same score and Castlebar Celtic were made to work hard to come away from Foxford with the points. Castlebar Celtic needed a Ger O’Boyle goal late on to go home with a 3-2 win against the side who are rooted to the bottom of the Super League. Stephen Moyles put Straide and Foxford United in front early on, James Minogue pulled the game level before the break with Stevie Ryan putting Celtic in the lead just after the break. Paul Fitzpatrick levelled the game not long after and it was a close range finish from O’Boyle late on that sealed the win for Celtic.
Read more ...Mayo to take new look Galway in Connacht final
Fri, Jul 06, 2012
Just under two months after they took apart the challenge of Galway in the division two league final, the Mayo ladies will once again face off against the Tribeswomen with some silverware at stake. On Sunday afternoon in McHale Park at 4pm both sides will go toe to toe in the Connacht final. In that final Mayo ran out 4-17 to 2-7 winners with Cora Staunton once again leading the line for Mayo scoring 2-11 of that total. That win propelled Mayo back into division one after a year in a second tier and has set them up well for a crack at Sunday’s Connacht final.
However it will be a much different looking Galway side that Mayo will face on Sunday afternoon from the one they saw off by 16 points in that league final in Parnell Park. In the interim Gabrial Naughton has taken over in charge of the side from Con Moynihan and a slew of big name Galway players have come back into the reckoning such as Annette Clarke, Lorna Joyce, Aine Seoighe, Marian Hernon, Joanna Connolly, Edel Concannon, Maria Connell, Roisin Leonard, and Niamh Duggan.
Read more ...Connacht boost ranks ahead of new season
Fri, Jul 06, 2012
Connacht Rugby has bolstered its squad for next season by signing exciting centre Danie Poolman from the Stormers. With the Heineken Cup returning to the Sportsground next season Eric Elwood continues to build and develop the team and has signed the 23-year-old on a three year deal.
Pretoria born Poolman has excelled for the Cape Town based team in an international backline that includes Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, and Gio Aplon. He will be joining a settled Connacht side which has been strengthened by some astute signings in recent months and when the RaboDirect PRO12 kicks off in September Eric Elwood will be able to call on Heineken Cup finalists Nathan White and Willie Faloon, as well as former international Dan Parks.
Read more ...5K summer series continues to grow
Fri, Jul 06, 2012
Last week’s second leg of the Mayo AC 5K summer series saw Timmy Glavey cross the line in first place in a time of 16.36. Brendan Gill followed him home in second place in a time of 17.02, with Cian Mooney nine seconds further back in third place. The ladies’ section was won by Sarah Syron in a time of 20.10 with Ann-Marie Egan in second place in a time of 20.37 and Laura Langan finishing in third place in a time of 20.45. More than 50 per cent of those who took part finished in under 25 minutes, which was up from 44 per cent in the first leg which took place in Castlebar. The final leg will take place next Tuesday evening in Ballinrobe where there will be a party afterwards to celebrate the success of all the runners who have taken part in the series.
Read more ...It’s time to shout stop
Fri, Jun 29, 2012
Walking into McHale Park last Sunday I met friend and former Leitrim footballer Vinny Wrynne. We chatted briefly about Leitrim’s chances. He suggested that Leitrim had travelled more in hope than any form of confidence. As it transpired Vinny more than likely realised that Leitrim hadn’t a pup’s chance of beating Mayo last Sunday. In fact the scoreline tells the story. There was a period in the second half, such was Mayo’s dominance, when it was hard to believe that this was a Connacht football championship match. The 22 points between the teams at the end of the game only served to underline what was an embarrassing situation for Leitrim in particular and one that clearly does nothing to advance the game in either county. Let me say straight away that no blame should be levelled at the feet of this young Leitrim football team or indeed at their management as they prepared their team to be the best they possibly could be against a Mayo team that is simply at a different level. And, in fairness, Mayo should not be censured for subjecting their opposition to such a humbling annihilation either. Sentimentality rarely comes into play on days like last Sunday even though I was hoping that Kevin McLoughlin would tap the ball over the bar, instead of scoring Mayo’s fourth goal, when put through on the Leitrim goal in the final few minutes. At that stage I was genuinely feeling sorry for the Leitrim players and management, not to mention the loyal Leitrim supporters around me, who persevered right to the very end.
Read more ...Mayo girls go for glory
Fri, Jun 29, 2012
Today, Friday June 29 the Mayo under 16 girls squad will arrive at the University of Limerick to take part in the 2012 Gaynor Cup. The journey began way back in October 2011 when open trails were held and the best talent from around county arrived in Milebush Park to show what they could do. An initial squad of 30 girls were chosen and they competed in games against Clare winning 9–0, Ballina Town u18 girls losing 2–1 and a Connacht selection winning 3-1. After this they headed to Sligo and came out on top 3–1. Then finishing up the preparation was a double-header playing Galway and Sligo winning 2–1 and 2–0 respectively.
Read more ...Lots to play for, for everyone this weekend
Fri, Jun 29, 2012
By the time the meeting of Crossmolina and Kiltane comes to a conclusion, Deelside, on Sunday at around 6.30pm, the limit of the ambitions of most of the sides in the Treanlaur Catering senior and Egan Jewellers intermediate football championships will be known. In section one, wins for Knockmore and Garrymore will send both sides into the last eight of the competition. It would set up the final day showdown between the sides to see who would come out in first place, while condemning the other sides in the group, Aghamore and Shrule Glencorrib, to a winner takes all clash in the last round to avoid the relegation play off. But that is only one possible outcome, Shurle Glencorrib,put Knockmore to the pin of their collar in the first round with Knockmore coming out 1-18 to 1-16 winners after a fierce battle. They will not fear going to Garrymore on Sunday afternoon at all and a win would put them in a very good position to claim a spot in the last eight.
Read more ...Mayo Leagues back in action following Euros break
Fri, Jun 29, 2012
The mid-season break in action in the Mayo League due to the European Championships is well and truly over this weekend with a full round of action across all divisions. Last weekend saw sides return to cup competitions in the Connacht Gold Cup, Connacht Gold Shield, and another number of catch up league games over the divisions. With six rounds down out of the 14 of the league campaign, Westport United are streaking out in front at the top of the table and are 10 points ahead of their nearest rivals. Ballina Town, Castlebar Celtic, and Claremorris are all on eight points chasing the Connacht Junior Cup winners who have 18 points from their opening six games.
Read more ...Mayo GAA Fixtures
Fri, Jun 29, 2012
Treanlaur Catering SFC Group 1
Aghamore v Knockmore, Sunday July 1 at 4pm
Aghamore v Knockmore, Sunday July 1 at 4pm
Read more ...Breaking through:
Fri, Jun 29, 2012
Breaking through: Ciara Whyte, Quay NS, Ballina breaks away from Dunboyne NS players at the An Post FAI Primary Schools 5-a-side girls B All Ireland final last Tuesday. Photo:Sportsfile
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