Cup action takes centre stage

Fri, Apr 29, 2011

The divisional cups kick off in earnest this weekend in Mayo with action spread across six different competitions on Saturday and Sunday.

The eight sides in the top division will kick things off on Saturday evening in the FCS Cup with all the games getting under way at 6.30pm at the quarter final stage. The two sides promoted to the Super League last year, Ballinrobe Town and Claremorris, will go head to head in a south Mayo derby in Ballinrobe. The home side are going into the contest on the back of a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Westport United last weekend, while Claremorris have started the season positively and won last time out on a score of 4-1 against Swinford. Iorras Aontaithe will make the journey from Erris to Swinford on Saturday night looking and will go in as favourites to make it to the last four following their 1-0 win over Manulla in the league last weekend. As for Manulla they have the difficult task of trying to see off the challenge of Castlebar Celtic in the last eight. Declan Kilkelly’s men had a massive 5-0 win over defending league champions Ballina Town last weekend in the league to really mark out their intentions for the season ahead.

GAA Last chance for Mayo hurlers

Fri, Apr 29, 2011

The Mayo senior hurling team go into this weekend staring elimination from the championship straight in the face. Last weekend they opened their account in the Christy Ring Cup with a defeat against Wicklow.

Easter excitement around the greens in Mayo

Fri, Apr 29, 2011

Balla
In the Stableford competition sponsored by Lawnmower and Tool Hire, Castlebar, Padraig Joyce was the winner of the gents’ section with a score of 38pts, Dermot McMahon came second with Martin Boyle third. The ladies’ was won by Kitty O’Connor with Geraldine Kilgallon second and Mary Lavin third. The category prize went to Catherine McNulty.

Sports shorts

Fri, Apr 29, 2011

Davitt College student captains gymnastic team at the World Championships

Kilmovee 10k starts summer season

Fri, Apr 29, 2011

Conditions were good for the second annual Kilmovee 10k last Saturday afternoon. Some said it was very hot, but nobody among the record turnout of runners and walkers — 335 finishers — was really complaining. There were entries from 16 counties also. This year the event was the first race in the 2011 Mayo AC C&C Cellular

Mayo look to get back on winning ways

Fri, Apr 22, 2011

Fresh off the back of their defeat in the National Hurling League Division 3B final last weekend, the Mayo senior hurling team will be in action in the Christy Ring Cup on Saturday afternoon against Wicklow in McHale Park. Having won their first five games on the trot, Mayo lost their last two and it was a disappointing end to the league according to Mayo manager Murt Connolly. “It was a disappointing end of the league, we didn’t finish off as we would have liked to, maybe the wins we had early on built in some complacency no matter how hard we try to guard against it.”

Early season top of the table clash

Fri, Apr 22, 2011

This may only be the third weekend of the league season, but it offers an opportunity for a number of clubs to firmly state their intentions for the season. The big game of the weekend in the Super League is the meeting of Castlebar Celtic and Ballina Town on Sunday in Celtic Park. With both sides currently sitting in first and second place in the table respectively, a win for either could seriously damage the others chance to go on and win the league at the end of the season, due to the condensed nature of the new league set up.

Kilmovee 10k kicks off new road race league season

Fri, Apr 22, 2011

Kilmovee is the place to be this next Saturday, April 23 for the first race in 2011 Mayo AC C and C Cellular Road League. This is the 13th year of the successful series, which covers various distances and venues around the county. The League will have a more compact structure this year, comprising eight races, and finishes with the Ballina 10k in September. Martin Conroy (Sligo AC) was the winner over this reputedly fast course last year in 32.41, closely followed by John Byrne. The women's winner was Angela O’Connor (Mayo AC) in 41,27. Angela won the over 45 category in the recent National 10k championships. The race starts at 1pm sharp. Registration is at GAA grounds in Kilmovee. Entry fee is €20 on-line at www.runireland.com or €25 on the day. Showers and refreshments available in Kilmovee community centre.

Bank holiday weekend promises big weekend of golf

Fri, Apr 22, 2011

Balla
Aodan McSuibhnie was the winner of the gents competition last weekend, with a score of 38pts, Oliver Moran finished in second place two points back with John O’Connor in third. In the ladies competition Breege Moran was the winner carding a score of 35pts, Sheila Coughlan came home in second one point behind, with Pat Dillon third. James Lavin hit a hole in one on the 17th hole.

Bad weekend for masters but ladies title for McManamon Sisters

Fri, Apr 22, 2011

It was not been the best of weekends for Connacht counties competing in all-Ireland finals with the tally of just one title won out of seven contested. That sole winner came to Mayo's Ciara and Clodagh McManamon who, as widely expected - claimed the All-Ireland Ladies Junior B doubles title at the expense of Kilkenny's Rachel Hogan and Maria Walsh on a 21-10, 21-10 scoreline at Crinkle on Saturday and a second title for Ciara McManamon who defeated Hogan in the singles final last weekend.

Ballinrobe Races commences its 90th anniversary

Fri, Apr 22, 2011

The white flag will be raised for the first race meeting of the year at Ballinrobe Racecourse on Wednesday next, April 27 as the Mayo track commences its 90th year of racing. The meeting gets underway at 5.30 p.m. with the all-national hunt card the first race meeting in the West of Ireland in 2011. The recent good weather has the ground riding good with manager John Flannelly remarking that the track is in super condition. And despite the recessionary times, Ballinrobe Racecourse hopes to continue to draw the crowds. Judging by the success of last year, the appeal of the Mayo track remains as strong as ever. “2010 went very well for us. We got great feedback on the developments we carried out. The pavilion has made a huge difference along with the new 160 seater restaurant. The betting last year was very good and our attendance was up by 15 per cent. We hope that we have another successful year in 2011. We will be celebrating 90 years of racing at Ballinrobe, which is a huge milestone,” commented John Flannelly.

A new addition this year is the photo gallery in the pavilion. The racecourse committee have put together a collection of pictures of horses that have won at Ballinrobe that were locally owned, trained or bred as well as including greats such as Doran’s Pride that won at the track.