Davitts on the doorstep of destiny

Fri, Feb 10, 2012

It is a normally a once in a lifetime thing for most people, some get a second chance at it, but for the vast majority it is a one shot deal. Getting to an All Ireland Club final is the most special occasion for anyone involved in a club. It is the pure essence of what the GAA is about, the smallest unit of the organisation, making it all the way to the greatest stage that it possibly can. While the All Ireland senior club championships have been one of the highlights of the GAA calendar for decades now, the introduction of the All Ireland championship at junior and intermediate level has brought the ability to achieve the ultimate to every club in the country which has a rutted field, a run down club house, and puts out a team into championship action every year, against the odds of modern life, the depopulation of rural Ireland, and the mass youth emigration that is currently happening across the isle.

The Dubs to test Mayo’s metal on Saturday night

Fri, Feb 10, 2012

A crowd of some 10,000 people are expected to descend on McHale Park on Saturday evening, when the All Ireland champions Dublin come to town for the second round of the Allianz Football League. Tomorrow night’s game will throw in at the earlier time of 6.30pm from the rest of Mayo’s Saturday night league schedule to avoid a clash with Ireland’s RBS Six Nations game with France in Paris which gets under way at 8pm. But the attraction of a Saturday night game and the box office attraction of last year’s All Ireland champions is expected to swell the attendance in McHale Park.

Ladies look to build on good start

Fri, Feb 10, 2012

The Mayo ladies’ senior side will look to build on their good start to the National Football League when they welcome Clare on Sunday at 2pm. New Mayo manager Fr Mike Murphy and his charges got off to a perfect start when they saw off the challenge of local rivals Galway on a scoreline of 3-14 to 1-7 in Tuam Stadium on Sunday. Cora Staunton was once again the go to person bagging 2-9 of Mayo’s total over the 60 minutes of action. Staunton grabbed her first goal just before the interval and converted her second from the penalty spot after Yvonne Byrne was fouled in the aftermath of a good move involving Staunton, Kathryn Sullivan, and Sinead Murphy. Mayo’s third goal came from the boot of Martha Carter who drove home her major with a snap shot from the 30 metre line.

Other Mayo players to get on the scoreboard included Fiona McHale who chipped in with two points and Deirdre Doherty who scored three points. With Clare coming up this weekend it represents a good chance for Mayo to make it two wins out of two, especially if Staunton can keep up her good scoring form in front of the posts.

Mayo pick up the points with strong second half display

Sat, Feb 04, 2012

Mayo 1-11
Laois 0-8

Kilkelly back in charge of Celtic

Fri, Feb 03, 2012

Castlebar Celtic has re-appointed Declan Kilkelly as manager of the club’s Super League side in a surprising turn of events over the past week. Kilkelly had been in charge of the side up to the end of last year’s Super League campaign when he led the hoops to a well deserved league title. Kilkelly had also been in charge of Celtic during their time in the League of Ireland A League and coached the youths’ side to a win in the FAI Youths Cup in 2007. Kilkelly still lined out for Celtic on a number of occasions in goal in recent years when injuries necessitated. He had recently also transferred his player registration to Achill Rovers where he was playing with the side in the masters league.

Syron takes win at Kilbride 10k

Fri, Feb 03, 2012

The inaugural Kilbride 10k took place on Sunday and attracted an excellent field of some 400 runners and walkers. Conditions were calm, but persistent rain overnight carried on until the race start. The one-lap course had frequent splash-through pools and roadside streams over the first 8k and then two tough hills made it a demanding finish over the final 2k. Mark Doyle (Runworx) was first across the line in 35.04. Performance of the day was by women's race winner Sarah Syron (Mayo AC), whose gritty finish enabled her to win by nine seconds in 40.56.

Sarah smashed her 2011 Balla 10k personal best time by over two minutes on a tough day. This is a great example of hard work paying off and it surely won't be long before she does a sub 40 minute time. Anto Devanney was first Mayo AC man home in sixth place in a time of 37.21, followed in ninth by Dwayne Flynn in a time of 38.44, who won the fastest footballer challenge. Dwayne plays his football for Parke. Category winners included Tom Hunt M60 in 40.55, Billy Gallagher M55 in 41.50, and Pauline Moran F55 in 46.10. Other finishers included PJ Hall, Chris O'Connell, and Jimmy Donnelly (6k walk).

Spring leagues sees good scoring around the county

Fri, Feb 03, 2012

Ballina
In the ladies’ competition last week, the Thursday nine hole stableford competition was won by Ann White with a score of 13pts. Ann went on to show Thursday’s performance was no flash in the pan and also won the Sunday nine hole stableford competition on a score of 16pts.

Castlebar three-day darts challenge

Fri, Feb 03, 2012

The Harlequin Hotel, Castlebar will present a fabulous three-day darts challenge over the weekend of Friday March 30 to Sunday April 1 with £2,400 prize money up for grabs. All entries are accepted on a first come, first served, basis with a full payment of €100. It is only open to 32 players. Each player is entered into three individual dart tournaments. To register log onto www.rballsports.com

Muredach’s bow out to Sligo men

Fri, Feb 03, 2012

St Muredach’s College interest in this year’s Connacht Colleges Senior A Championship came to a crashing end in Cloonacool on Wednesday afternoon. The Ballina men looked to be well on their way to defeat at the break when they trailed by 1-8 to 1-2 after being thoroughly outplayed for the first 30 minutes. However a spirited fightback saw them get within four points of the Sligo men with 10 minutes left. However when sub Stephen Kearns drove the ball to the back of the net from close range for Summerhill’s second goal, the Ballina rebellion was quenched.

Provincial title claimed by McCann

Fri, Feb 03, 2012

Handball took centre stage in Roscommon town last weekend with St Coman’s handball club hosting the Connacht senior handball finals. It was an all Ballaghaderreen affair, with established star Joe McCann and up-and-coming Stephen Cooney playing for the spoils.

Mayo’s look to make their mark at Galway International Rally

Fri, Feb 03, 2012

The 2012 Irish Motorsport season kicks off in earnest this weekend with the running of the opening round of the Irish Tarmac Championship, the Safety Direct Galway International Rally. In a new departure for the traditional two-day event, the 2012 rally will take place over one day only, with 10 stages scheduled for Sunday February 5. A special spectator stage on the Dyke Road in Galway city will open proceedings, with competitors then heading north to the Headford region for three additional tests, each run three times, before returning to Galway for the finish in Eyre Square on Sunday evening.

The new format has certainly proved popular with competitors, with a capacity entry list featuring one of the most competitive line-ups of recent years. Much interest is certain to focus on former multiple Tarmac Champion, Eugene Donnelly. After a few years out of the sport, the Derry man is tackling the championship in one of the latest generation World Rally Cars, a MINI John Cooper Works WRC. He will be up against the reigning Tarmac and National Rally champion Tim McNulty in his familiar Subaru, while two other former champions will also be challenging for victory - Dubliner Gareth MacHale and Antrim’s Derek McGarrity, both competing in Focus World Rally Cars. The likes of Subaru drivers Daragh O’Riordan and Darren Gass cannot be discounted for victory either, while equally competitive entries in the Group N and modified categories will ensure plenty of action throughout the field.

A new reality dawns for Mayo ladies

Fri, Feb 03, 2012

On Sunday at 2pm the Mayo ladies’ senior team will take on a familiar enemy in familiar setting, but it will be at a level that Mayo ladies’ football has not been used to for quite a long time.

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