Mayo clubs in Connacht Junior Cup action

Fri, Sep 23, 2011

A total of 16 Mayo teams will be in action in the Connacht Junior Cup this Sunday with all ties kicking off at 2pm. Bangor Hibs, Clew Bay United, Conn Rangers, Ballyheane, Glenhest Rovers, Snugboro United, Fahy Rovers, Kilmore, Ballyvary Blue Bombers, and Ballyglass will all be in action at home. With Killala, Partry Athletic, Newport Town, Ballina United, Moy Villa, and Straide and Foxford United all hitting out across the province in search of a place in the next round. Charlestown Athletic will make the trip to Ballyheane in a local derby as will Achill Rovers who head to Snugboro United, Mulranny United will go to Fahy Rovers as do Hollister who have a short trip to Kilmore, and Crossmolina who go to south Mayo to face Ballyglass.

Connacht look to get back to winning ways

Fri, Sep 23, 2011

Connacht return to the Galway Sportsground this evening determined to make up for last weekend’s narrow loss to Edinburgh. Having played most of the rugby last weekend, Connacht know they let themselves down when failing to take advantage of their opportunities, and coach Eric Elwood says tomorrow discipline will be the key. “What killed us last weekend was our discipline, the penalty count at one stage was 10 to two. But the best thing about league rugby is you can put it right the following week with four points,” said Elwood. “I think the lads know they didn’t do themselves justice last week so we’re expecting a big performance this week from everybody. We can’t change results, but we can change how we play on Friday.”

Gents’ Golfer of the Year up for decision at Westport Golf Club

Fri, Sep 23, 2011

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Last weekend’s competition sponsored by Shaws, Castlebar, was won by PJ Brett with a score of 53 nett. His scoring on the back nine kept him ahead of Declan Nally who also scored 53 nett. Paraic Cuffe took the gross prize and Mick Mellet came third with a score of 55 nett. The ladies’ competition was won by Breege Jennings, with Delia O’Hara second, and Brenda Cleary finishing in third place.

All-Ireland Gold for Mayo Cyclist

Fri, Sep 23, 2011

Mark Quigley, Western Lakes CC, has landed his second All-Ireland gold after a seven year gap when he won the A3 National road race championships finishing on the Windy gap just outside Castlebar. Mark won it the hard way by attacking with 40km to go, along with four others. In turn he dropped his companions with repeated attacks on the heavy and hilly roads of north Mayo. With 3km to go and the climb of the Windy Gap the only remaining sting in a race that saw heavy rain fall and severe gusts, Mark dropped his one remaining companion Derek Joyce (Galway Bay Cycling Club) with a gradual acceleration. At this stage he didn’t realise that team-mate Barry Holian had attacked the main bunch of riders and was on a solo pursuit to get to the front. The effort was enough to make it a great day for the South Mayo club and its sponsors with Mark winning alone and Barry taking second 26 seconds later, thus securing the first ever one two for the club at National championship level.

Westport look to break Ballyhaunis dominance

Fri, Sep 23, 2011

They will go in as the underdogs on Saturday, having never claimed the senior championship title, but Martin Brennan’s charges from the west coast served fair warning last weekend when toppling one of the two east Mayo giants of the small ball game in the county. The narrowest of margins was all that separated Westport when they saw off Tooreen in McHale Park at the semi-final stage on a scoreline of 1-13 to 1-12. But were it not for a late long range goal from Kenny Feeney for the vanquished side, the gap would have been more comfortable for the former Mayo manager’s side. Stephen Broderick was the main man for Westport, scoring eight points for his side in the semi-final and they will need big performances from him along with the likes of Eoin Madigan, Rory Brennan, and Adrian Connolly if they are to knock Ballyhaunis off their perch.

Final four fight it out for final spots

Fri, Sep 23, 2011

The first semi-finals of the Mayo club championships are down for decision on Sunday with both games throwing in at 3pm in Castlebar and Crossmolina. The meeting of Islandeady and The Neale will take place in the county ground, while Ardnaree and Lahardane will do battle in the home of the Deel Rovers.

Drama until the death in both contests

Fri, Sep 23, 2011

I arrived early at GAA HQ last Sunday as I like to soak up the pre match atmosphere of All-Ireland final day. Normally there is a great buzz in and around Croke Park from about 10am and last Sunday was no different. I was privileged to have been asked to do co-commentary for the minor game and match analysis on the big one, so I had to be in the grounds by 12.45. As it happened, I also received an invitation from the GPA to attend a pre-match reception in Jurys Croke Park at 12 noon. It was a gig for former inter-county footballers and was an excellent idea as the opportunities to meet and chat with former players from other counties are few and far between. In fact during our playing years we would barely look at each other never mind hang about for a chat after matches. So unless you participate in some of the GAA golf classics, you rarely get a chance to say hello. And I don’t play golf! My friend Pat Holmes had arrived at the reception before I got there and, unfortunately for me, had devoured most of the sandwiches. Notwithstanding that minor complaint, the 30 minutes I spent at the pre match event was pleasant. I chatted with Greg Blaney, the former Down centre-forward, and John Lynch, corner back with Tyrone in the eighties. I asked both for their pre match predictions. Neither of them could see anything other than a Kerry victory. And that was the general consensus in and around Croke Park prior to the match, with the exception of the Dublin folk of course.

The classic pairing promises a great final

Fri, Sep 16, 2011

Didn’t the summer slip by so quickly? What summer? I hear you ask. But here we are again at All- Ireland final weekend and the majority of us are still hoping for an Indian summer. Alas, it does not much look like it is coming our way now. But, we have the football All Ireland to look forward to and, this year in particular, it brings the promise of its own ray of sunshine. This final has definitely tickled the imagination of all GAA followers. The Dubs are back. But are they? Time will tell of course. As with every year the hunt for tickets is on in earnest and, also, as with other years, they are again at a premium like the proverbial ‘hen’s teeth’. Indeed it will be felt even more intensely this year as the pairing of Dublin/Kerry attracts far more neutrals than any other possible pairing. Every year, I get more than a few calls from family, cousins, friends, acquaintances, and occasionally from people I have never met in my life all looking for a ticket for the final. As this is the first Kerry/Dublin decider since 1985 it is a major box office draw. I have heard it suggested many times that participating counties should get the bulk of the tickets for finals. While there is a strong argument for that it would be wrong to deny genuine lovers of Gaelic football the opportunity of being at HQ for the highlight of the year.

Breakdown area remains top priority as Connacht head to Bradley’s Edinburgh

Fri, Sep 16, 2011

An interesting challenge awaits Connacht this evening when they come up against Michael Bradley’s Edinburgh at Murrayfield (7.30pm). Connacht travel to the Scottish capital with the momentum of two wins on the trot, but they will come up against an Edinburgh outfit determined to get their first points in this season’s RaboDirect Pro 12. Connacht have never beaten Edinburgh at home, and coach Eric Elwood knows Bradley has the advantage in this encounter.

Final four pairings set up some tough battles

Fri, Sep 16, 2011

Last Monday night’s draw for the final stages of the Mayo club championships across all three grades has set up some exciting games over the coming weeks. The main interest on the night was on the senior championship pairings, with two west Mayo and two north Mayo teams going into the hat. The luck of the draw kept the divisional rivals apart, with last year’s beaten finalists Castlebar Mitchels being pitted against a fancied Knockmore side, and the defending champions Ballintubber squaring off against Ballina Stephenites.

Keegan and McCann one step away from senior glory on a great weekend for Mayo handball

Fri, Sep 16, 2011

On one of the busiest weekends in the 60x30 season there were some top class performances and results for Mayo’s handballers, who secured three All-Ireland titles and a place in the senior singles decider this weekend. The excellently appointed Williamstown court was packed for the two senior doubles semi-finals and ladies senior singles final last Saturday, and all three matches lived up to expectations. Dessie Keegan and Joe McCann were first up as they faced legendary 40x20 champion Paul Brady and long-time partner Michael Finnegan, in a somewhat unique pairing. Keegan and McCann beat the duo two years ago to claim their one and only senior doubles title in the 40x20. Keegan and McCann started at a blistering pace, with McCann in particular on top form, and with the Cavan men struggling to come to terms with the power and killing ability of the Mayo duo the opening game was won impressively 21 aces to 9. In the second Keegan and McCann looked to close out the contest as they led 13 aces to 3 at one stage. However a determined fight back from Brady and Finnegan soon had matters level at 14 aces all. The Mayo duo should have pushed on from there but they let matters slip further and lost this game 21-16. Any concerns that the Mayo camp might have had in the deciding third were swiftly allayed as Keegan and McCann once again found their feet and they ran out comfortable enough winners, 21 aces to 10, to book a place in Saturday’s final. The second semi-final was a also a thrilling affair and it saw Wexford duo Gavin Buggy and Colin Keeling get the better of Kilkenny’s Michael Ducksy Walsh and Michael Clifford on a 21-18, 18-21, 21-4 scoreline.

Back nine scoring decides a number of club competitions

Fri, Sep 09, 2011

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Last weekend’s Stableford competition sponsored by Tolsters Bar, Castlebar, was won by John Walsh with a score of 40pts. His scoring on the back nine was enough to keep him in first place ahead of Paraic Cuffe who also finished on 40pts. Pat Kilgallon took third place, with Breege Moran winning the ladies’ competition on 37pts, Geraldine Evans came second and Carmel Henry third. The junior competition was won by Liam Timmiss with a score of 34pts, while Sean Canny scored a hole in one on the 15th hole during his round.

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