London calls and Mayo will answer

Fri, May 27, 2016

The Mayo senior team travel to London tomorrow from Ireland West Airport for the start of their 2016 championship and kickstart their bid for an unprecedented six Nestor cups in a row. The 100/1 on Connacht champions will have little or no trouble in disposing of the exiles no matter what way we try to butter it up.

Mayo have a slight injury dilemma but will still be far too well prepared for London, no matter what team they line out. There is of course a strong Mayo link with this year’s London team, and I’m sure it will be unusual for former club mates squaring up to each other in the white heat of the Connacht Championship. The last time the two teams met in Ruislip was a very nervous affair. It was James Horan’s first championship match in charge when his team needed extra time to see off London. Had Mayo lost that day, which they most certainly could have, it would probably have been the beginning of the end for Horan as Mayo manager, instead the football gods smiled on him and his team got the job done in extra time. I have no doubt Horan will cite that day as the most important of his managerial career, he is now one of the most respected managers in the game, we all need a break or a slice of luck I suppose.

Rochford names his London warriors

Thu, May 26, 2016

Stephen Rochford has named his first championship starting team for Mayo this lunch time, Rochford has handed Ballina Stephenites attacker Evan Regan his championship debut in this game and has named nine of the side who started Mayo's All Ireland semi-final replay defeat to Dublin in the starting 15. The players coming into the side who didn't start that day are Brendan Harrision, Kevin Keane, Patrick Durcan, Jason Gibbons, Evan Regan and Conor O'Shea. Dropping to the bench from that clash are Seamus O'Shea, while Ger Cafferkey, Donal Vaughan, Chris Barrett, Barry Moran and Diarmuid O'Connor aren't part of the match-day 26. There had been doubts of the fittness of O'Connor, Barrett, Moran and Ger Cafferkey ahead of the game.

Coen points Mayo to victory

Sun, May 22, 2016

A moment of quality in this contest saw Mayo claim their second Connacht junior title in as many years in Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday afternoon. After a slow paced first half where Mayo went in leading by 0-5 to 0-4 thanks to the accuracy from Darren Coen’s placed balls, the second half had more excitement for the crowds who made their way to the Leitrim capital.

Mayo book Croke Park date with Armagh

Sat, May 21, 2016

The Mayo senior hurlers are going back to Croke Park for the first time since 2004, when they lost an All Ireland senior B championship final to Kildare in GAA HQ. This time they will be taking on Armagh in the Nicky Rackard Cup final after a hard fought victory over Donegal in Letterkenny on Saturday afternoon.

Mayo on the road to redemption

Fri, May 20, 2016

Getting relegated out of the second tier of the senior inter-county hurling championship would never have been part of the plan for Mayo, but that was what happened last year when a disappointing season ended with them dropping down into the third tier competition for the first time since the new championship gradings were introduced back in 2005. Up until this demotion Mayo had operated in the Christy Ring Cup and held their own for the most part with the sides in that competition.

McLoughlin's Mayo look to double up

Fri, May 20, 2016

In an often forgotten grade, Mayo are looking to pick up their second Connacht title in a row on Sunday in Pairc Seán Mac Diarmada, the ground named after the Leitrim native and Irish revolutionary who was executed 100 years and eight days ago for his part in the Easter Rising.

Mitchels lay down a marker

Fri, May 20, 2016

The Mayo football championship kicked into life in sweltering Mediterranean like conditions last weekend. Defending champions Castlebar Mitchels showed no ill effects from their All-Ireland final nightmare two months ago when they easily accounted for Crossmolina Deel Rovers despite fielding just over half of the team that started in that All Ireland final.

Sporting success is all about history and geography

Fri, May 20, 2016

If you are ever fortunate enough to bump into a good solid and really decent Galway man called Pat Comer – take some time out of your busy schedule to have a conversation with him. You will be well rewarded for doing so. Pat is one of those rare and special individuals that you always feel better for having been in their company.

Connacht intent on making history

Fri, May 20, 2016

Connacht coach Pat Lam is preparing his players for the fight of their lives when they host Glasgow in the biggest game in the province's history on Saturday (6.30pm). Lam says Connacht will need to channel all the hunger, excitement and energy which they possessed in bucketloads in their victory over Gregor Townsend's side two weeks ago if they are to advance to a first Guinness Pro 12 final.

Four of the best in the Super League

Fri, May 20, 2016

Ballyhane v Glenhest Rovers
Saturday May 21 at 7pm

Championship Points #1

Fri, May 20, 2016

This week sees the launch of the new www.advertiser.ie Championship Points podcast which will run throughout the GAA Championship football season.

Higgins lines out for hurlers while u21s come into junior side

Fri, May 20, 2016

Mayo dual star Keith Higgins has been named in Mayo hurling manager JP Coen’s starting 15 for Saturday’s Nicky Rackard Cup semi-final against Donegal in Letterkenny at 3.30pm. The Ballyhaunis native will line out for the Mayo hurling side just eight days before the senior footballers get their championship season underway in London next weekend.

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