Horan to shake things up for Roscommon clash

Fri, Jan 21, 2011

The visit of Connacht champions Roscommon to Ballyhaunis on Sunday gives James Horan another chance to have a look at the cast of hopefuls who are vying to nail down a place in his plans for the coming year. Horan opened up his inter-county management account last Saturday night in McHale Park, with a win over GMIT in the first floodlit game in the county ground. A healthy crowd of some 2,000 turned up for the game which, while it failed to light up the night on the field, was a good dry run for those involved in getting the ground ready for the visit of Down in the National Football League on February 5. However Horan was happy enough with how things went on the night in the most part. “It was a poor enough game, we came through it OK apart from Kevin Dolan who was very unfortunate. He was operated on Tuesday and hopefully he won’t be out for too long. It was good to get out there and see the guys in action on the field, it’s where you’ll learn what you are about and see mistakes that are being made and where you need to work on your game.”

Gaffney tournament success for Eoin Kennedy

Fri, Jan 21, 2011

Mayo was at the centre of the Irish handball world last weekend with not one but two major sporting events attracting large attendances and much to talk about. While the game’s top seniors did battle over two days at the second John Gaffney memorial tournament in Ballaghaderreen, girls of all ages had a weekend event all to themselves with the inaugural Go Handball Tournament at six Mayo venues on Saturday and Sunday.

Sixteen hopefuls went to post for the John Gaffney Memorial at Ballaghaderreen which got under way early on Saturday morning. The opening round saw wins for tops seed Eoin Kennedy over rising Galway minor, Martin Mulkerrins, Kerry’s Dominic Lynch accounted for Gavin Buggy from Wexford, and second seed Charly Shanks accounted for local youngster Stephen Cooney while Vinny Moran gave a fine account before losing out to Robbie McCarthy of Westmeath in two games. There was some cheer for the club as Dessie Keegan did just enough to see off the challenge of Tyrone’s Ruairi Kelly by a single ace in the tie-break third game and Joe McCann made it to the last eight with a fine win over Ricky McCann from Antrim.

Connacht prepare for final game in Amlin Challenge Cup

Fri, Jan 21, 2011

Eric Elwood’s Connacht side will bring the curtain down on their interest in the Amlin Challenge Cup for this season in the Sportsground on Saturday evening. Connacht will host Italian newcomers to the competition Cavalieri Prato in Galway and will be looking to pick up their second win in as many weeks in the competition. Last weekend Connacht travelled to France where they completed a double over French top 14 side Arivon Bayonnais in the competition, but it was too little to late to give the province a chance of progressing in a competition they got to the last four in last season. Connacht were also boosted this week with the news that Frank Murphy, Miah Nikora and Ronan Loughney had all signed two year extensions to their contracts which will boost Eric Elwood’s squad ahead of the start of next season.

There was further good news for Connacht with the news that three of the province’s players had been selected in Declan Kidney’s 32 man Ireland squad for the upcoming Six Nations. Fullback Gavin Duffy and hooker Sean Cronin will be joined in the Ireland squad for the first time by 29-year-old lock Mike McCarthy who has just made his 100th cap for the province last week. Connacht will take on Cavalieri Prato at 6pm on Saturday.

O'Connor lights up McHale Park

Sat, Jan 15, 2011

Mayo 2-8     GMIT 1-5
A improved second half performance from Mayo saw them get the James Horan era off to a winning start in McHale Park on Saturday night. Last year's minor captain Cillian O'Connor was the main man for Mayo scoring 1-6 on his debut, five of the points coming from placed balls along with a peach of a score in the second half. O'Connor's scoring display will see the Ballintubber teenagers reputation continue to rise in the game. However for another debutant it wasn't as good a night to remember with Tourmakeady's Kevin Dolan having to be carried off after only seven minutes.

Mayo clubs back in junior cup action

Fri, Jan 14, 2011

After the cold weather put paid to most football across the county since the middle of December eight Mayo sides will be back in action in round four of the FAI Junior Cup this Sunday. There are four games down for decision between eight Mayo teams. Super League champions Ballina Town, who after claiming to titles in a row will be looking to make a dent on the national stage, will make the trip to Carnenash to take on Iorras Aontaithe in what should be a tight encounter. While Ballina Town were deserving league champions the men from Erris pushed them all the way along with Westport United finishing only four point behind back in third place. When the sides met back in June Ballina won 4-1 in Belleek and the sides played out a seven goal thriller in Sunday’s venue in August with Brendan Kenny’s side coming out 4-3 winners en route to the title.

No Basque-ing in glory for frustrated Conancht as they head to Bayonne

Fri, Jan 14, 2011

The frustration continues for Connacht after last Thursday week’s one-point loss away to the Dragons. It was yet another tight game which slipped away from the Westerners, who haven’t won in the Magners League since September.

Inter Business League ready to get running

Fri, Jan 14, 2011

It is that time of year again when Mayo Roller Bowl runs the Inter Business League. This league has been running for the past 18 years and has proved very successful with businesses all over Mayo competing. People are invited to enter a team of three players and one sub to compete on a weekly basis against other businesses in the county. It is a very enjoyable league for both new bowlers and experienced bowlers. It does not

All-Ireland senior club joy for Ballaghaderreen

Fri, Jan 14, 2011

Last weekend’s handball action saw Mayo club Ballaghaderreen take an historic sixth All Ireland 40 x 20 inter-club title in a row, defeating Ballydesmond, Co Cork, in the final. An icy Christmas led to huge fixture congestion, warranting both postponed semi-finals and final of the senior club championship be played on the same day. Ballaghaderreen accounted for the up-and-coming Kells, Co Kilkenny, in their semi-final. Ballydesmond came through a tight encounter with Carrickmore, Co Tyrone, to claim their final spot.

Horan’s start put on hold

Fri, Jan 14, 2011

Those souls who made the trip to Ballyhaunis last Sunday were left sorely disappointed when the man in black, TJ Keaveney from Sligo, decided that there would be no action on display because of a frozen pitch. The game which was originally down for Ballinamore in Leitrim was changed only the day before because of a similar problem. But the game being called off only 20 minutes before throw-in time caused a major inconvenience not only for the teams — Mayo had been going through their warm up on the second pitch in Ballyhaunis when it was called off — but to the supporters who had paid in to the ground. Mayo will now get their season underway on Saturday night in McHale Park when they host GMIT under lights in what will be a test run for the county ground ahead of their National League division one opener with Down on February 5 in the same venue. No Mayo starting team has been announced for the game at the time of going to print, but it would be expected to be along the same lines as the one picked for the Leitrim game. However there was one planned change before the game was called off last Sunday, with Castlebar Mitchels’ defender Richie Feeney out of the side after he picked up a foot injury the day before the game. GMIT will have Mayo representation with former Mayo midfielder Pat Fallon in charge of the team and a number of players from Mayo clubs battling for inclusion in his side. Mayo’s game against Leitrim has been refixed by the Connacht Council for January 30 in the original venue in Ballinanmore. The re-fixed game will give Mayo manager James Horan one last chance to run the rule over his side before the opening of their National League opener with Down the next Saturday.

Conway wins Fields of Athenry

Fri, Jan 14, 2011

Mayo AC featured very strongly in the annual Fields of Athenry 10km. The race originally posted for St Stephen’s Day had to be postponed to Bank Holiday Monday January 3. Gerry Ryan (Craughwell AC) won the men’s event while Mayo AC top woman Catherine Conway finished in a magnificent 35:53 and a PB. TJ Mc Hugh was first man home for Mayo AC in fourth place overall in a time of 33:22

Mayo look to get off the mark at second time of asking

Fri, Jan 07, 2011

The ice and snow claimed many victims since before Christmas and with some more severe weather in the offing over the next few days, Mayo League manager Brendan Kenny is hoping that it will not claim his side’s Oscar Traynor Cup clash with the Roscommon and District League for a second time. “Hopefully it will go ahead this weekend, it’s been a long time coming now,” he said. “The weather is the weather and there’s nothing much you can do about it. But on the positive side it has given the lads a break that they would have needed. You have to have a break from the game for a while or lads will get burnt out or lose their appetitive for the game. I suppose you could also say that it has shown well for the Mayo League, with the amount of postponements, their decision to change to summer soccer a few years ago.”

Huge interest in Harlequin Adventure Duathlon

Fri, Jan 07, 2011

Castlebar has now got a unique event of its own its called the Harlequin Adventure Duathlon, it will be held on Saturday March 26 with a start time of 9am. This race is a mix of running, cycling, and mountain running, very much like the famous Gael Force event which has proven to be a big hit in the Leenane/Westport area. Now Castlebar can boast about an event of its own with equally stunning and challenging terrain.

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