Nowhere to Hyde on Sunday
Fri, Jul 15, 2011
With a sell out crowd of 30,000 expected to head to Hyde Park on Sunday, there will be nowhere to hide for Mayo as they aim to dethrone Fergal O’Donnell’s defending Connacht champions on their home patch. Ten years ago O’Donnell was the man who lifted the Nestor Cup in the same venue on a sweltering Sunday evening when a late, late Gerry Lohan goal had primrose and blue ribbons hanging from the old trophy for the year at the end of one of the games of the ages.
Read more ...Ted Webb competition has lots of action this weekend
Fri, Jul 15, 2011
The Connacht council promoted Ted Webb Connacht under-16 football tournament eagerly awaited by all involved in underage football in the province gets underway this coming Saturday in Tuam and Castlebar on a blitz system. Roscommon are the reigning champions having captured the crown in Ballyhaunis last August Bank holiday. This highly valued event is considered by many football pundits as a key indicator to the possible contenders for minor honours in the intervening two years,
Read more ...Captains and Presidents prizes take centre stage
Fri, Jul 15, 2011
Balla
It was Lady Captains Day in Balla last weekend and Kitty O’Connor was the winner of the prize. She finished four points ahead of Marie Flanagan in second place with Patricia Larkin taking third place. Carmel Costello was the winner of the gross prize with Mary B Prendergast taking the past captain prize pm the day. The first 18 was won by Mary Brett with Julie Loftus taking the second 18. In the mens competition ran over the weekend, Billy Gallagher claimed the glory with a score of 50, Martin Moylette came home in second and Noel Hoban third. The gross prize was won by James Lavin.
Confidence in Roscommon, but it’s Mayo for me
Fri, Jul 15, 2011
I have been chatting to a few of my Roscommon friends over recent days and they appear very confident about their team’s chances this Sunday. I can understand why they might feel that way. Former midfielder and current team manager Fergal O’ Donnell has his team putting in good performances these days. I have heard stories of training camps and twice daily sessions being conducted, so it would appear that no stone is being left unturned as he pushes and strives for success. They are extremely fit and well drilled and are a formidable side. In their two games played in this year’s championship they played superbly. OK, the quality of the opposition i.e. New York and Leitrim wouldn’t be ranked very highly in the current ratings of championship contenders, but other teams have struggled in New York and Leitrim have always proved to be formidable opposition in Carrick on Shannon.
Read more ...Balla 10K pushes road safety this year
Fri, Jul 15, 2011
It’s that time of year again plans are well in place for the 19th Annual Balla 10k which takes place this year on Saturday evening July 23 at 7pm. Over the years the Balla event has established itself as one of the “big ones” on the West of Ireland circuit and for the past number of months Race Director Brendan Conwell and his team have been busy to ensure that this years event will be the best to date.
Read more ...Coyle to challenge for world title in Castlebar
Mon, Jul 11, 2011
Henry 'The Western Warrior' Coyle will come home to Mayo next month to challenge for the WBF Light Middleweight championship in The Royal Theatre, Castlebar on Friday August 12. The Geesala native who has been based in Chicago since he turned professional will take on Italy's Elio Contena in The Royal Theatre as the main attraction on a card of great boxing on the night.
Read more ...Connacht Gold Cup action takes centre stage
Fri, Jul 08, 2011
Following on from Glenhest Rovers win in the McDonnell Cup final last weekend and round of action in the Super League which saw Castlebar Celtic keep staking their claim for the title, it is back to cup action for most of the sides in the Mayo League this weekend.
The third round of the Connacht Gold Cup, the premier knock out tournament of the Mayo league, will get under way at 2.30pm on Sunday with 16 teams looking for a last eight spot. Manulla who find themselves one place off the relegation zone in the Super League will travel to Foxford to take on a Straide and Foxford United side who are pushing well for promotion back to the top level of Mayo football from the Premier A division this season. Castlebar Celtic, who are five points clear at the top of Super League, will host a Conn Rangers B side who are struggling in the basement tier of the divisions with only two wins so far this season in the league. It should be a comfortable win for Declan Kilkelly’s side on Sunday. Clew Bay United, who are sitting in fourth place in the Premier A table, will make the trip to Partry Athletic to take on a Partry side who are currently staring relegation to the fourth tier of Mayo football in the face, unless they can get a few wins under their belt in their last five league games. Ballina Town, who sit in third place in the Super League table and held Castlebar Celtic to a 2-2 draw last weekend at home, will be strong favourites to see off the challenge of Kiltimagh/Knock United at home on Sunday afternoon. Fahy Rovers who sit top of the Premier A table at the moment will face a tricky afternoon when they have to travel to face Charlestown Athletic. The east Mayo men are currently in third place in League One and in striking distance of promotion, but Fahy who look odds on to be promoted back to the Super League this season should have enough to get themselves a spot in the last eight.
Read more ...Byrne to captain Irish team in IAU Trail World Championships
Fri, Jul 08, 2011
The IAU Trail World Championships will take place in Connemara tomorrow Saturday July 9. The event will be operated in the area of Connemara National Park and its environs, starting at the world famous Kylemore Abbey and finishing in the nearby village of Letterfrack.
Read more ...Large crowds expected to arrive in Kiltimagh for Race2Glory
Fri, Jul 08, 2011
The time has finally arrived and competitors from across the country will flock to Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, on Saturday week July 16 to take part in the inaugural 40km Race2Glory multi-adventure race. Sign on for Race2Glory will take place in The Cill Aodain Court Hotel, on Friday July 15 between 6.30pm and 9pm and again on the Saturday between 9am and 11.30am. It is important that all competitors present themselves at registration as this is where they will receive their race number, map, and a Race2Glory Cooltex T-shirt. The race will commence at 1pm at Kiltimagh GAA Park.
Read more ...This is no minor matter
Fri, Jul 08, 2011
I got a call last Thursday from a friend wondering if I could meet him for lunch. Upon arrival at the chosen venue I could see said friend was extremely agitated and frustrated and it became apparent he needed a sounding board to launch a tirade regarding a minor match fixture. Friend happens to be the manager of the minor team in question that had made it through to the county league semi final. It transpired that his annoyance and frustration concerned a break down in communication regarding the fixture. He had received an email the previous night (Wednesday) saying that the fixture was scheduled for the following Friday evening (48 hours notice). He told me that he had been informed on the Monday night that the game would definitely not be played during that week and the best information he got suggested that it would be a couple of weeks before it would take place. Consequently the club did not fulfil the fixture and the match was awarded to the opposition on a walk over. The county final at this particular grade is fixed for this weekend. Some of you may be aware that the Oxegen concert also takes place this weekend when thousands of youngsters of this particular age group travel to the music festival.
Mindful of the fact that this county needs to start producing players soon in a terrain where the GAA is being challenged by other codes, we need to hold tightly onto what we have. Not alone do we need to increase the participation of 10 – to 18-year-olds playing our games; we also need to keep them interested and, above all, provide lots of games for them. What happened my friend and his team (a scenario repeated on numerous occasions around the county and at most levels) last week does nothing to improve the lot of the GAA and certainly does nothing to encourage our young players to continue to play the game. Somewhere along the communication line there is a serious issue that requires addressing. And furthermore I would suggest that a fixtures committee does not blindly populate a fixture list without taking cognisance of the fact that there are graduation functions and other such attractions on at this time of the year. Let us not turn away our future generation by poor fixture listings. Give them every opportunity to carry on the torch and ensure that we can compete with the big boys some day soon.
Read more ...Mayo athletes return home with haul of medals
Fri, Jul 08, 2011
The four Mayo athletes who were competing in Athens in the Special Olympics Word Summer Games returned home to heroes welcomes with a huge haul of medals you. The four strong contingent of Mayo athletes Deirdre Gannon. Deirdre Garvin, Paul Kavanagh and Mary McDermott came back to Mayo with six medals among them. The athletes from Claremorris, Swinford, Castlebar and Westport were part of a 126 strong team who brought back 107 medals from the games.
Read more ...