End of season competitions winds down hectic year around clubs

Fri, Dec 16, 2011

Ballina
Last weekend’s stableford competition which was played over 12 holes was won by Paddy O’Donnell with a score of 31pts, he finished two points in front of Darren Flaherty in second place. The club AGM takes place tonight Friday, December 16 at 8pm. Members are encouraged to attend as this is a very important meeting and helps to set the tone for club affairs for 2012.

Sports shorts

Fri, Dec 16, 2011

Operation Transformation star presents Goal to Work certificates to Ballina sports coaches

Take up the GOAL Mile test on Christmas day at Ballina AC

Fri, Dec 16, 2011

A very different Christmas tradition will take place again this year as people from Ballina and the surrounding areas will take part in the GOAL Mile on the Ballina Athletic Club track at Belleek, Ballina, on Christmas morning from 11am to 12.30pm.

Chambers claims national title in nail biting encounter

Fri, Dec 16, 2011

Last Friday evening Michelle Chambers from Castlebar Boxing Club claimed the 54kg national intermediate title after a nail biting bout with Rosmary Doherty from Carndonagh Boxing Club in Donegal. Chambers got off to a great start with some great overhand rights to Doherty's head, and led at the end of the first round, 5-2. However in the second Doherty produced a great round of long range boxing to keep Chambers away, the score at the end of the second was 6-6. Chambers, now on the back foot, was feeling the pressure, the third round started the same way the second ended with Doherty in the ascendancy.

Set piece is a key issue as Connacht head to Gloucester

Fri, Dec 16, 2011

Connacht head to England for Saturday’s return joust with Gloucester knowing an improved performance, particularly in the set piece, is vital to achieve a first Heineken Cup win. Despite earning their first point in Europe’s elite competition last weekend against the English premiership outfit in their 14 - 11 defeat at the Sportsground, Connacht know they let slip another chance to achieve a much-needed win after a run of defeats.Now they travel to Gloucester with hopes that an improved performance up front will provide the backs with sufficient ball to cause their opponents problems. If Connacht do not improve in that area, the Cherry and Whites will simply adopt a 10-man game plan and Connacht will be on the back foot again.

Mayo to launch fundraising drive with Cáirde Mhuigheo plan

Fri, Dec 16, 2011

This fundraising drive is one of a number of fundraising initiatives that the county board has been undertaking in the recent past. Following the county convention last week a new major fundraising drive was announced which will benefit not only the county board, but clubs and the individuals who sign up. The new scheme, under the name Cáirde Mhuigheo, has a number of different schemes to which people can sign up. The first will be a season ticket costing €200 which gives purchasers entry to all of Mayo’s national league games and first championship game. They will also be able to purchase a ticket for all of the next championship games that Mayo plays in up to the All Ireland final. Purchasers of this ticket will also get free entry to every club game in the county. As part of the deal they will also get a Cáirde Mhuigheo jacket and discounts of up to €100 from a number of Mayo based businesses that will come on board. Another option is for people to enter the Cáirde Mhuigheo lottery which will be set up. There will be a €120 double lotto draw which will give those who sign up two entries in the lotto, and a Cáirde Mhuigheo jacket and other discounts. There is also a club lotto entry costing €60 which will see those who purchase get one entry in the monthly draw and 40 per cent of the cost of the ticket being given to the club nominated by the purchaser.

These initiatives are just the next step in fundraising drives launched by those involved in Mayo GAA, following the recent setting up of the London supporters’ club and the work already being done by Club Mayo in Dublin.

Connacht ready for another big occasion in Heineken Cup campaign

Fri, Dec 09, 2011

Connacht’s second home fixture in this season’s Heineken Cup sees English premiership outfit Gloucester visit the Galway Sportsground on Saturday (1.30pm).

Minister Ring meets EU Commissioner Vassiliou to discuss sport priorities

Fri, Dec 09, 2011

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, met this month with Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism, Youth and Sport in Brussels, following his attendance at the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council with his EU counterparts.

National medals for Emma Lofus and Hugh Armstrong

Fri, Dec 09, 2011

Ballina Athletic Club athletes travelled to Sligo Racecourse last week for the even ages and senior cross country championships and acquitted themselves very well. Emma Loftus ran a brilliant race in the u14 girls 3,000m race and finished in ninth place overall out of a field of 130 athletes, and took home a bronze medal in the process. Emma is eligible to run in the same age again next year. Hugh Armstrong, who competed in the European and World Mountain Running championships during the year, competed in the u18 boys 6,000m race and finished in eigth place overall to take home a bronze medal also. Maria Reilly was leading the u12 girls race until she had to pull out due to injury. Bridget Mills ran very well in the same competition, as did Cormac MacDermott in the u12 boys race. The u18 boys team of Hugh Armstrong, Cian Mulrooney, Jonathan Deane, and Ciaran Treacy performed very well and finished in sixth place overall. Roger Barrett was the first Mayo man home in the senior competition when he finished in 32nd place overall. His club mates Michael Canty, Sean Gallagher, and Tommy Neville competed also as members of the Mayo Intercounties Team. The uneven ages and novice championships takes place in the Curragh on Sunday next, December 11.

Charlestown Athletic FC AGM and Awards Presentations

Fri, Dec 09, 2011

Charlestown Athletic FC are holding their AGM in conjunction with their Annual Awards Presentations on Sunday December 11 at 1pm in the CBD Complex, Charlestown. Parents, players and anyone interested in Soccer in the locality are invited to attend. As the football season now commences earlier in the year and is now a longer season with additional age groups, registrations will be held early in the new year. Anyone wishing to assist with teams are particularly welcome and invited to the AGM.

O'Toole and Henry win election contests at convention

Fri, Dec 09, 2011

Tourmakeady's Kevin O'Toole was elected to the post of County Secretary at the 2011 Mayo GAA Convention held in Geesala at the High Chaparral on Monday night. The former County PRO held off the challenge of sitting assistant secretary Vincent Neary and Burrishoole delegate Margaret O'Malley when the votes were counted in north Mayo. Neary held on to his position as assistant secretary for 2012 after a vote, with Achill's Packie McGinty taking over as Mayo GAA President after he was elected unopposed alongside the majority of other returning officers. The other major position up for election was that of Croke Park delegate where the incumbent delegate Jerry Henry from Castlebar Mitchels was challenged by retiring county secretary Séan Feeney. After the votes were counted the Castlebar man held on to the position for another year.

Operation Transformation star to present Goal to Work certificates

Fri, Dec 09, 2011

Thirteen jobseekers from the Ballina area have just completed a 14 week long specialised sports coaching course which it is hoped will provide them with the tools to obtain some part time employment. The Goal to Work programme, for two days a week, allows trainees to become fully qualified GAA, rugby, and soccer coaches with additional sports modules in child protection, first aid, disability awareness, and active leadership also being offered. Trainees also honed their skills while on placement in Ballina urban area national schools for one of the days, giving many school children some quality coaching.

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