McDonagh kicks Westport to glory

Sat, Oct 29, 2016

The 72 hour turn around from their semi-final win over Shurle-Glenncorrib did Westport no harm in MacHale Park on Saturday night as they booked their return to the senior ranks for next year with a comprehensive win over Kiltimagh by six points.

Mighty Mitchels make it two in a row

Sat, Oct 29, 2016

A storming second half display from Castlebar saw them claim their 30th Mayo senior title in MacHale Park on Saturday night, thanks to an inspirational display by Paddy Durcan and Neil Douglas. The county town men led by two points at the interval but ran out 12 point winners at the end where they outscored Knockmore by 3-7 to 0-6.

Westport one step from the title

Fri, Oct 28, 2016

Last weekend they celebrated the opening of their new home with a comfortable 4-0 over Glenhest Rovers in the FAI Junior Cup third round, and this Sunday Westport United will be hoping to have some more celebrations as they look to claim a three-in-a-row of Super League titles.

Ballina stay top with five from five

Fri, Oct 28, 2016

The Connacht Junior League mostly has this weekend off, and after five games Ballina are out on top of the table with five wins from five games. Last weekend they picked up a bonus point win on the road against NUIG heading home 48-13 winners against the students who are sitting bottom of the table without a victory to their name so far.

Kiltimagh look to run Westport ragged

Fri, Oct 28, 2016

If they are going to do it tomorrow evening, then Westport are going to do it the hard way by winning their third game in seven days when they take on Kiltimagh in the Mayo Intermediate Championship final. Damien Loftus' men needed two attempts to get past Shrule-Glencorrib in the semi-final, with Wendesday night's reply win not looking like it was even a possibility with 15 minutes gone.

Ann Lennon shines in senior provincial cross country

Fri, Oct 28, 2016

Sligo racecourse at Cleveragh has hosted a number of cross country events over recent years. The racecourse itself is one lap of almost eight furlongs – a mile circuit and there is a wonderful vista across the town to blue ridge hills and beyond to Ben Bulben. As well as an interior grass track alongside the tarmac strip for ambulances during race meetings, there are a number of grassy tracks up and down the slopes. It recently hosted the Connacht senior, masters, and novices championships.

Two tribes go to war, again

Fri, Oct 28, 2016

The grand old local rivals of the small ball game could not be separated in Tooreen last Sunday and they will have to do it all over again this Sunday in Ballyhanuis with the Mayo Senior Hurling Championship title still up for grabs. Tooreen will feel that they should have won this game leading by seven with less than a quarter of the game to go last Sunday, but it was not to be as a three-in-a-row chasing Ballyhaunis battled back to grab a draw at the death.

Saturday Night Lights

Fri, Oct 28, 2016

Most of us bar those from the 'Parish of the Backs' were expecting a repeat of last year's county final tomorrow evening in MacHale Park. But Knockmore showed no regard for preconceptions as they tore into Breaffy from the get go and were deserved two point winners to book their place in the senior final for the first time in seven years.

Knockmore tears up the script

Fri, Oct 28, 2016

And then there were two. Knockmore qualified for their first county final since 2009 after a pulsating and dramatic game against hotly fancied Breaffy in the semifinal last Sunday. The final whistle brought on some ugly scenes as a lot of players from both sides got involved in skirmishes while supporters were on the field. It was an unsightly end to a compelling game with fisticuffs occurring between players while there were children in the vicinity, it was not a great advertisement for our sport.

A major feature of both semifinals last Sunday was the off the ball pulling and dragging that made for a very messy spectacle for the supporters. If the referees were strict on the black card rule up to 12 players could have been issued with black cards last Sunday. Pulling and dragging a player to the ground off the ball is the same as deliberate obstruction which was one of the reasons the black card was introduced. Such instances occurred every two minutes of both games. Sometimes you were better off not even watching the ball as the side shows going on all over the field made for better viewing. It is an impossible task for referees to monitor on their own and when linesmen and umpires are unable or unwilling to help out, anarchy reigns. The black card debate will go on forever. I personally think it was a good idea to introduce it to stop cynical fouling but when referees have different opinions on the fouls for which the card was introduced that creates annoyance and frustration among players and supporters.

Castlebar and Knockmore to face off in senior final

Sun, Oct 23, 2016

Castlebar Mitchels moved a step closer to defending their Mayo senior championship on Sunday, seeing off Ballintubber by 1-11 to 1-5 in MacHale Park. Declan O’Reilly’s men were the better side throughout the contest, but it wasn’t until late in the day they managed to shake off the challenge of their arch rivals from not to far away.

A real super Sunday is in store in MacHale Park

Fri, Oct 21, 2016

Reigning champions Castlebar Mitchels qualified for a mouthwatering semifinal clash against neighbours Ballintubber, having had to pull out all the stops against a stubborn and well drilled Ballaghadeereen side in the quarter final of the Mayo Senior Football Championship last weekend. It was a thoroughly enjoyable game with some excellent scores from both teams despite the unfavourable heavy underfoot conditions.