GAA The hunt for tickets is well under way
Fri, Sep 07, 2012
Once the final whistle blew on Jones Road last Sunday, the attentions of the more than 25,000 Mayo fans who made the trip east turned towards getting their hand on a ticket for the main event in 16 days time.
Read more ...One of those days never to be forgotten
Fri, Sep 07, 2012
Oh what an unforgettable day. It had everything. Great weather, huge numbers of good humoured supporters, great company for my journey up and down and, above all, an excellent game with the best outcome! This was a Gaelic football match that had everything you could hope for at the difficult business end of the season. Here we had a match that had many similarities with what we had witnessed the previous Sunday: brilliant scores, top drawer saves, magnificent fielding, and a dramatic finish. I listened to Eugene Magee being interviewed on Today FM as I travelled to Dublin on Sunday morning. You will be aware that Eugene is heading up the task force known as the ‘Football review committee’ to investigate areas where the game can be improved. He remarked that the “sky was the limit” in terms of the possible changes that could be made. Surely this group will now recognise that there is very little wrong with the game when it is played like it was last Sunday.
Read more ...Mayo footballers reach fifth All-Ireland final since 1996
Fri, Sep 07, 2012
Mayo were 10 points to the good on Sunday early in the second half, leading 0-17 to 0-7, and yet they were reduced to stumbling over the finish line to win by three. Had David Clarke not made a tremendous save in a one-on-one with Bernard Brogan near the finish, which would have levelled the game, it would probably be Dublin who would be facing Donegal in the All-Ireland final.
Read more ...Celtic women ready for sophomore year in national league
Fri, Sep 07, 2012
Castlebar Celtic were the odd side in seven last weekend when the Bus Eireann Women’s National League kicked off for its second ever season. Celtic, who were one of the original six sides in the league last year, had to watch from the wings as their opponents in this years league got the first round under way. On Sunday they will get back to action with a bang when the defending champions Peamount United make their way to Celtic Park for a 2pm kick off. The Dublin side have established as the marquee side in the country over the past few years and also have a lot of experience in UEFA competitions.
Read more ...Mongan wins Captain’s Prize in Castlebar
Fri, Sep 07, 2012
Balla
Last weekend’s competition sponsored by Fragile, Castlebar was won by Paraic Cuffe on 39pts, with Ray Mannion coming home in second place and Tim Evans in third. The ladies competition was won by Pat Dillon with Carmel Costello second and Breda Cleary third. The Broderick Cup was won by Seamus and Enda Holian, and James and Mary Lavin came second.
Premier A race is where the excitement is
Fri, Sep 07, 2012
With the Super League done and dusted for a while now, the race to make it into the top division next season is where all eyes will be this Sunday. With three games to go Conn Rangers are top on 24 points, with Ballyheane and Snugboro right behind them on 23 points. This weekend Conn Rangers will host Bangor Hibs in Mount Falcon, but in their final two games they will have to face both of the sides right behind them. They will have to travel to Quigley Park to face Ballyheane in their second last game, with Snugboro United coming to their patch on the final day.
Read more ...Connacht look to get first win of the season under their belts
Fri, Sep 07, 2012
Connacht Rugby head to Italy under pressure to gain a victory over RaboDirect Pro 12 newcomers Zebre this evening. After a disappointing 13- 9 opening day defeat to Cardiff Blues on Saturday at the Galway Sportsground, coach Eric Elwood admits Connacht have made it hard for themselves.
Read more ...Mayo athletes come to the fore at half marathon championships
Fri, Sep 07, 2012
There were great scenes of celebration at Athenry on Sunday as Mayo AC's National Half Marathon team had huge success winning medals in three team categories and eight individual medals. The club brought a record 31 runners to the race and 13 of them came home with medals - a great result. For once AAI came up with the results on the day and a delighted Michael McGrath was able to present most of the booty at the team's HQ.
Their success was brilliantly book-ended, from John Byrne claiming an eighth overall finish in a time of just over 71 minutes and claiming third in the o35 section, to Tom Waldron who reclaimed the o70 gold he won a few years ago in Ballybofey. John Byrne's run epitomised the day. He sat in with the pace in a group and when it thinned out towards the end he responded with a strong fast finish, inspiring TJ McHugh the second Mayo AC second finisher and Gerry Galvin who was just outside his PB, to team o35 bronze.
Read more ..."It's no good winning semi-final's, it's the final we want” - Conroy
Sun, Sep 02, 2012
He was one of the last to make his way from the dressing room and throw his bag under the bus, and only a couple of years ago he might have been one of the last people that you would have expected to have been part of a Mayo side booking their place in an All Ireland final. But in the last two years Michael Conroy has worked himself not only back into the minds of the Mayo football public but back into their hearts too. He's veteran of the 2004 (where he scored 1-1 from the bench) and 2006 All Ireland finals and an All Ireland u21 winner six years ago also, yet until this year he was off the Mayo radar for a couple of years. His form and drive in captaining Davitts to last years intermediate championship in Mayo, then Connacht and then on to the the All Ireland final itself gave the Ballindine man a way back into the Mayo set up and he hasn't really looked back since.
Read more ...O'Connor and O'Shea happy with their parts in the drama
Sun, Sep 02, 2012
It is sometimes hard to remember that Cillian O'Connor is only in his second year out of minor football. Last years national young footballer of the year, stepped up in front of the Hill on Sunday and slotted free's and 45's over the bar like he was just out practicing shooting by himself in his native Ballintubber. Right from the off, O'Connor showed no sign of nerves effecting him at all when he stood up to take his first effort at a 45 early on. “Yeah, they’re not ideal, they’re not as easy as 14 yard frees but if you don’t love kicking ‘45s into the Hill on a sunny day in Croker, you’re playing the wrong game. I was excited, I couldn’t wait to get out there, I suppose they were two difficult ones but you have to want to take them and thank God they went over. I suppose they set me up then for the rest of the game, gave me a bit of confidence”
That confidence carried through to the nail biting finish, where with it all on the line, he managed to compose himself and kick Mayo's first point in 20 minutes to keep the Dubs at least three points behind. ““Yeah, I didn’t realise it was as late in the game as it was. I suppose when you’re in the middle of it you don’t really think about how long is left or what the score is so I just didn’t really think about it, I just focused on the kick. Thankfully it went over, on another day it could have went wide and I could have been the villain but thank God it went over.”
Read more ...Connacht open season at home to Cardiff tomorrow
Fri, Aug 31, 2012
After a best place finish in last season’s RaboDirect Pro 12, greater expectation surrounds Connacht Rugby’s new campaign which opens at the Galway Sportsground on Saturday (5pm). The addition of four experienced campaigners in Dan Parks, Nathan White, Danie Poolman, and Willie Faloon, allied to some up-and-coming youngsters, has ensured Connacht boasts a bigger squad than previous seasons, and coach Eric Elwood believes Connacht are in a “good place”.
Read more ...