A win but I couldn’t help feeling miserable
Fri, Jul 10, 2009
I drove away from Ballina last Sunday afternoon feeling pretty miserable if I am to be totally honest. Yes, Crossmolina had won the championship encounter against their near neighbours Ballina Stephenites, but the game had attracted much attention for all the wrong reasons. There was an ugliness and a nasty undercurrent from start to finish throughout this encounter. Two players were sent off during the game and, as we now know, Ronan McGarrity suffered a serious injury that may possibly jeopardise his participation in the Connacht final on Sunday week. I am conscious of not elaborating on the issue to any great extent, as I am led to believe that there is to be an investigation into the game and a number of incidents that took place during it. I fully endorse and welcome this investigation and if any player from either club is found to have broken the rules, then there is a mechanism in place to deal with those issues. I sincerely hope McGarrity is fit to play against Galway as I fully recognise his importance to the Mayo football team. Needless to say his loss would be significant as Mayo do not have another midfield player of comparable ability to replace him. I wish him well and sincerely hope he recovers sufficiently to take his place in Pearse Stadium.
Read more ...Off the ball incidents sully our games
Fri, Jul 10, 2009
News filtered through to Pearse Stadium in Galway early last Sunday evening that Mayo’s midfielder Ronan McGarrity had suffered a nasty broken jaw in a high profile club game between Crossmolina and Ballina. Initial reports suggested that it was an accidental clash of heads, however that canard was quickly rejected for a more plausible and yet much more disappointing scéal that he had been struck off the ball.Too often in the GAA we hear of broken jaws and on far too many occasions it is a raised fist or a deliberately flailing elbow that does the damage.
Read more ...Cycling - Western Lakes
Fri, Jul 10, 2009
With only one week to go now is your chance to sign up. Online entry is available now, see westernlakescc.com. There are three distances to choose from with the longest and toughest being the 180k event with over 3,000m of climbing packed into the distance. Anyone who is not cycling if you could give a hand on the day, contact Fergal.
Read more ...Show jumping
Fri, Jul 10, 2009
Carl Hanley remains top of the standings in Connaught Grand Prix league after Saturday’s second place finish in Tubber just outside Gort. Hanley tops the standings with his horse Kalipso du Marais thanks to his consistent form in the previous five rounds, finishing in the top four in four out of five events. The Peter Glynn owned horse has now accumulated 28 points for the Claremorrris rider.
Read more ...Show jumping
Fri, Jul 10, 2009
Carl Hanley remains top of the standings in Connaught Grand Prix league after Saturday’s second place finish in Tubber just outside Gort. Hanley tops the standings with his horse Kalipso du Marais thanks to his consistent form in the previous five rounds, finishing in the top four in four out of five events. The Peter Glynn owned horse has now accumulated 28 points for the Claremorrris rider.
Eight points behind in second place is Saturday’s Grand Prix winner Damien Griffin with Lissyegan Clover Diamond. The Ballinasloe native had failed to record any points with his strongest horse in the previous two rounds but more than made up for that on Saturday and is very much back in the hunt for the overall title. Leading young rider Michael Duffy performed brilliantly at the south Galway venue on Saturday to finish third on Dusky Clover and move to the top of the young rider rankings. Overall the only other likely challenge to Hanley seems to be Oliver Clarke who is in third on 16 points with The Butlers Pantry Paradise G. Meanwhile in Holland on Friday Alex Duffy jumped for Ireland in the Young Rider European Team Championships recording four faults in the first round and five in the second as Ireland secured joint fourth overall.
Read more ...Shrule-Glencorrib send Breaffy packing
Sun, Jul 05, 2009
Shrule-Glencorrib 0-12
Breaffy 0-9
Castlebar do enough in first half flurry
Sun, Jul 05, 2009
Castlebar 1-15
Aghamore 2-8
Aghamore 2-8
Read more ...Mayo will not be fearful of Galway in Connacht final
Fri, Jul 03, 2009
Sometimes there can be no hiding from hard facts. And here are two: Firstly, the Galway senior football team have not won an All-Ireland quarter final since 2001. Secondly, they have not won a single game in Croke Park in the past eight years and on the clear evidence provided last Sunday against Sligo, even if they did beat Mayo in two weeks time, which is a big if, that statistic is unlikely to change.
Read more ...Moving day in intermediate championship
Fri, Jul 03, 2009
The weekend could see things sorted out in section A if Killala and Kilmaine are able to pick up the points on the road leaving both sides to battle it out for top spot in the table on the final day. Last year’s beaten finalists gave Tourmakeady a 10-point trimming in the first round, while Killala had enough to hold of Hollymount by two points in their first game. This weekend sees Killala make their way to Tourmakeady for a do or die battle for the Gaeltacht men. Tourmakeady would have fancied their chances of coming out of Kilmaine with some points on the board last time out and came home with their tail between their legs, so they will be all guns blazing on Saturday to take the points. Despite having a win in the bag already, Tourmakeady should take this one.
Read more ...Win at all costs is doing nothing for our game
Fri, Jul 03, 2009
Gaelic football, played at its brilliant best, excites me. It is a game that provides heroes and role models, moments of glory, and great sporting occasions, with the potential to lift the spirits of whole communities and providing a focus for local loyalty and a real sense of community. Unfortunately this year’s championship hasn’t yet done any of that and has provided only one game of real quality so far, that of Cork v Kerry.
Read more ...