Hard work and graft get Mayo over the line

Fri, Apr 01, 2016

I have no doubt Stephen Rochford slept soundly last Sunday night after his team finally put 70 minutes together that all his hard work merited. This was a big game which attracted all the national media, Roscommon against Mayo in the 2016 national league was the main event on the GAA calender. It’s a long time since that was said about two Connacht counties going head to head in a league game, the last time probably the 2001 league final between Mayo and Galway.

The game in Hyde Park was in jeopardy right up until throw in. I arrived very early and the pitch looked fine however after a serious deluge you could see the mass of water lodging on the surface. It didn’t look too bad from the height of the press box, it was atrocious at ground level. I never remember it been so bad. Both Mayo mid-fielders found the going tough with the underfoot conditions, Seamie O’Shea’s legs wrecked after slogging his way through the mud, Tom Parson’s said it was the worst pitch he ever played on in his life, at club or county level. With The Rossies likely to be in division one for the foreseeable future they need to get their playing surface sorted out. They have no other venue capable of holding a crowd like they had last Sunday. It was almost of championship proportions. Hindsight is a great thing though, I’m glad the game went ahead now. Don’t be in any doubt I would have complained profusely had the result been different.

All on the line for Mayo on Sunday

Fri, Apr 01, 2016

Sunday will be the last time the public get to see Mayo in action on their home patch until June 18 at the earliest, when their Connacht semi-final against Galway is scheduled to take place, providing of course that Mayo get over London in Ruislip at the tail end of May. The last time a new Mayo manager faced into a game against London on their own patch it nearly derailed the James Horan project before it even got going.

Mayo back to winning ways after Hyde Park showdown

Sun, Mar 27, 2016

A piece of individual brilliance by two minutes into the second half by Evan Regan kickstarted Mayo’s drive towards their second league win of the season. Regan was picked out by Tom Parsons in the right hand corner of the pitch, the Ballina sharpshooter looked to be in trouble on more than one occasion, but he managed to create enough space for himself to beat two men and fire the ball low past Geoffrey Claffey and put Mayo into a six point lead.

Rochford happy to pick up second win

Sun, Mar 27, 2016

It was a must win game for Mayo and Stephen Rochford was a contented figure not long after the final whistle was blown in Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon. Rochford’s Mayo side had just seen off Roscommon with an impressive display and he was also able to welcome back to action one very key man whose form will be a big factor in Mayo’s chances of success this summer.

Mayo team for Roscommon clashed named

Sat, Mar 26, 2016

Mayo manager Stephen Rochford named his starting 15 for Sunday’s league showdown with Roscommon on Sunday afternoon on Friday night. The team named from one to 15 shows three changes from the side that started against Kerry a fortnight ago with Chris Barrett, Evan Regan and Conor Loftus coming into the side with Donal Vaughan, Kevin McLoughlin and Cathal Carolan making way.

Mayo entering must win territory this Sunday

Fri, Mar 25, 2016

Over the past few years, Mayo haven’t really faced a must-win game until summer had really kicked in and summer holidays were in full swing. But this Sunday in the middle of the Easter break, Mayo are staring down the barrel of a must-win game of football or Division Two next year is becoming a very real possability.

It's time for Mayo to stand up and be counted

Fri, Mar 25, 2016

In any other league campaign Roscommon defeating Mayo wouldn't bother me. We could use the usual excuses like Mayo were tired after a long campaign last season, Mayo tried out new tactics and tried to blood players while trying others in different positions. We could all tell ourselves that the game was Roscommon's All- Ireland, why wouldn't they be up for it?

New season kicks off this weekend in the Mayo League

Fri, Mar 25, 2016

The new Mayo League season kicks off this weekend with the now traditional Liam McEntee Charity Shield between Super League champions Westport United and cup winners Manulla on Saturday evening at 5pm in Milebush Park.

All Mayo decider to find junior cup winners

Fri, Mar 25, 2016

Come full time on Sunday afternoon in the Sportsground in Galway one thing for sure will happen — the Connacht Junior Cup will be heading north to summer in Mayo. Will it be swinging left in Partry and heading to Westport to sit alongside a glittering array of silverware that the Bulls have picked up this year, most recently the Cawley Cup to go with the Connacht Junior League 1A title. Or will it keep heading north and be welcomed home to Heffernan Park to give some glory to what has been a great season by Ballina.

Tuohy takes home win at Castlebar Duathlon

Fri, Mar 25, 2016

Local knowledge pays dividends when local Castlebar man Peter Tuohy of the J2P Team took a comprehensive win at the fifth and last round of the hugely successful Ireland West Duathlon series. Tuohy laid the foundation for his success with a storming bike leg that gave him 60seconds advantage and some breathing space over the hard chasing Brendan Conway Westport Tri, who is a renowned runner. The final 5k run on the out and back new Turlough Greenway turned into a sprint between the two leaders with Tuohy holding Conway off for a brilliant win. Third on the day was the ever consistent Jonathon Rowland from Liquid motion Tri club Ballina.

In the ladies section Lorraine Carey Ballina pulled no punches with a knockout performance to place in the top 5 overall showing her versatility with fastest times on all three stages to take the win. Paula Prendergast Claremorris and of Mayo AC was second and the evergreen Colette Sweeney of Multisport Westport rounding of the podium.

Connacht 'buzzing' ahead of top-of-table-clash with Leinster

Fri, Mar 25, 2016

An interprovincial that is also top of the table - it does not come much bigger or better for Connacht Rugby. With just five Guinness Pro 12 fixtures remaining, Connacht face Leinster in the Galway Sportsground on Saturday (5.15pm) in front of a capacity 7,300 crowd, live on both TG4 and Sky Sport, and with the world's top referee Nigel Owens in charge.