Mayo look to get back on winning ways

Fri, Apr 22, 2011

Fresh off the back of their defeat in the National Hurling League Division 3B final last weekend, the Mayo senior hurling team will be in action in the Christy Ring Cup on Saturday afternoon against Wicklow in McHale Park. Having won their first five games on the trot, Mayo lost their last two and it was a disappointing end to the league according to Mayo manager Murt Connolly. “It was a disappointing end of the league, we didn’t finish off as we would have liked to, maybe the wins we had early on built in some complacency no matter how hard we try to guard against it.”

Early season top of the table clash

Fri, Apr 22, 2011

This may only be the third weekend of the league season, but it offers an opportunity for a number of clubs to firmly state their intentions for the season. The big game of the weekend in the Super League is the meeting of Castlebar Celtic and Ballina Town on Sunday in Celtic Park. With both sides currently sitting in first and second place in the table respectively, a win for either could seriously damage the others chance to go on and win the league at the end of the season, due to the condensed nature of the new league set up.

Both sides have won one and drawn one of their opening games. The defending champions opened their season with a no score draw at home to Westport United and followed that up with a 4-2 win over Ballinrobe Town. While Celtic dismantled Manulla with ease on the opening day before being held by Swinford. Castlebar Celtic manager Declan Kilkelly knows it’s going to be a tough game on Sunday. “We’ve a big game now against Ballina Town, there a good side but we’ll be looking for the points. We had plenty of chances last week against Swinford, but we didn’t take them and they held us to the draw.”

Kilmovee 10k kicks off new road race league season

Fri, Apr 22, 2011

Kilmovee is the place to be this next Saturday, April 23 for the first race in 2011 Mayo AC C and C Cellular Road League. This is the 13th year of the successful series, which covers various distances and venues around the county. The League will have a more compact structure this year, comprising eight races, and finishes with the Ballina 10k in September. Martin Conroy (Sligo AC) was the winner over this reputedly fast course last year in 32.41, closely followed by John Byrne. The women's winner was Angela O’Connor (Mayo AC) in 41,27. Angela won the over 45 category in the recent National 10k championships. The race starts at 1pm sharp. Registration is at GAA grounds in Kilmovee. Entry fee is €20 on-line at www.runireland.com or €25 on the day. Showers and refreshments available in Kilmovee community centre.

Bank holiday weekend promises big weekend of golf

Fri, Apr 22, 2011

Balla
Aodan McSuibhnie was the winner of the gents competition last weekend, with a score of 38pts, Oliver Moran finished in second place two points back with John O’Connor in third. In the ladies competition Breege Moran was the winner carding a score of 35pts, Sheila Coughlan came home in second one point behind, with Pat Dillon third. James Lavin hit a hole in one on the 17th hole.

Bad weekend for masters but ladies title for McManamon Sisters

Fri, Apr 22, 2011

It was not been the best of weekends for Connacht counties competing in all-Ireland finals with the tally of just one title won out of seven contested. That sole winner came to Mayo's Ciara and Clodagh McManamon who, as widely expected - claimed the All-Ireland Ladies Junior B doubles title at the expense of Kilkenny's Rachel Hogan and Maria Walsh on a 21-10, 21-10 scoreline at Crinkle on Saturday and a second title for Ciara McManamon who defeated Hogan in the singles final last weekend.

Ballinrobe Races commences its 90th anniversary

Fri, Apr 22, 2011

The white flag will be raised for the first race meeting of the year at Ballinrobe Racecourse on Wednesday next, April 27 as the Mayo track commences its 90th year of racing. The meeting gets underway at 5.30 p.m. with the all-national hunt card the first race meeting in the West of Ireland in 2011. The recent good weather has the ground riding good with manager John Flannelly remarking that the track is in super condition. And despite the recessionary times, Ballinrobe Racecourse hopes to continue to draw the crowds. Judging by the success of last year, the appeal of the Mayo track remains as strong as ever. “2010 went very well for us. We got great feedback on the developments we carried out. The pavilion has made a huge difference along with the new 160 seater restaurant. The betting last year was very good and our attendance was up by 15 per cent. We hope that we have another successful year in 2011. We will be celebrating 90 years of racing at Ballinrobe, which is a huge milestone,” commented John Flannelly.

Roscommon midfield class ends Mayo ambitions

Sun, Apr 17, 2011

Roscommon 0-17
Mayo 1-12

Busy weekend for Ballina AC athletes

Fri, Apr 15, 2011

While Hugh Armstrong was busy winning a silver medal in the All-Ireland youths’ mountain running championships in scenic Glendalough, the senior athletes of Ballina AC were also busy at a variety of races around the country. The evergreen Michael Courell made his annual trip to Kilnaboy, Co Clare for a tough 10 mile road race where he finished the race in 1:17:57. Running under eight minute mile pace all the way is no mean achievement for the course. Both Bernard Barrett and William Heverin made the trip to Dublin for the Great Ireland Run in the Phoenix Park. Both should be very happy with their times of 38:56 and 44:46 respectively. Both will use these times to set lower time targets for the remainder of the season.

Yet another Ballina AC contingent made the trip to Connemara and there was representation in all three marathon races run on the day – the 13.1 mile half marathon, the 26.2 mile full marathon, and the 39.3 mile ultra marathon. Ballina AC’s first athlete home in the half marathon was Gerry Gallagher in a personal best time of 1:33:57. Ann Egan was next home in 1:44:54. Michelle and Robbie Reynolds completed the Ballina group in the race with times of 1:47:45 and 1:48:03 respectively. Niall Cawley was rewarded with a personal best time of 3:21:32 over the marathon course. Finn O’Mara competed in the ultra marathon – 39.3 miles and finished in 6:45:18.

Get your teams in for the GOAL golf classic in Claremorris

Fri, Apr 15, 2011

Balla
In last weekend’s competition sponsored by Rocky’s Bar, Castlebar, Declan Nally was the winner of the gents’ section with a score of 54, Fenton Barrett took second place with Paraic Cuffe third. The gross prize was won by Junior Prendergast. The ladies was won by Aine McDonald, with Kitty O’Connor second and Breege Moran third. In the scramble competition sponsored by Heiton Buckley, Aodan MacSuibhne, Sean Canny and Tom Rumbly were the winning team. Second place went to Mary Conlon, Seamus Holian and Matthew Sloyan. The winners’ circle was rounded out by the trio of Don Dillon, Dick Heraty and Enda Holian.

St Gerald’s fail to clear final hurdle

Fri, Apr 15, 2011

A 64th minute goal from Jack Reid undid St Gerald's College, Castlebar, ambitions of an FAI Schools Minor Boys All-Ireland title at Athlone Town FC on Tuesday. St Gerard's had beaten Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair by a single goal from James McGinty in their All-Ireland semi-final encounter, and once again a lone goal provided the difference, but Tom Byrne's charges were not on the right side of the result this time around. It was a a double heartbreak for the Castlebar outfit, who were denied an All-Ireland Junior Cup final berth last month, after losing to Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana, in the penultimate round.

Murt’s Mayo go looking for silverware

Fri, Apr 15, 2011

“You can’t take anything from that game against Roscommon on the first day of the league. It was a long time ago, everyone’s first game, and there were a few lads sent off for what were really nothing challenges,” Mayo manager Murt Connolly said this week when asked about his side’s previous encounter with Roscommon having any bearing on the outcome of this Sunday’s National Hurling League Division 3b final.

Big names get the chop, but the door is still open

Fri, Apr 15, 2011

Five players were let go from the Mayo senior football panel this week, but Mayo manager James Horan was keen to stress that the door is still open for all who were let go. “We let some of the lads go this week, five in total,” he said. “They were Tom Parsons, Aidan Kilcoyne, Mark Ronaldson, Barry Moran, and Brian Benson. We’re aiming to have a solid 30-man panel but it is by no means closed off. There are six rounds of club games before we play London and we’ll be at all those games and we’ll be watching all the guys and they can come back into consideration.” Horan also confirmed that both Donal Vaughan and Trevor Howley, neither of whom has featured yet this year as they work their way back from injury, will continue to be involved with the panel.

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