Roscommon to pose tough test ahead of league opener

Fri, Jan 29, 2010

The next two weekends of action for the Mayo senior footballers have a more challenging and appealing look to them than the previous two weekends fare against the students from Galway and Sligo. Games against Roscommon this Sunday, and Galway the following week, in the opening round of the national league is the early season competition for which Mayo supporters have been waiting.

Long road back to redemption for Kiltimagh

Fri, Jan 29, 2010

When the dust settled on Kiltimagh’s season in 2008 anyone who said that the east Mayo men would, in the not too distant future, be 60 minutes away from a day out in Croke Park would have been laughed at. But just 16 months on from Kiltimagh losing out to Mayo Gaels in an intermediate championship relegation play off that is where they are. It has been a strange couple of seasons for the men in blue an white, in 2007 they were only minutes away from making the break to the senior championship only to lose out to Ballintubber in the county final. The following year they could not buy a win, and a Sunday afternoon that August in Claremorris saw them drop down to the bottom tier of championship football in the county.

Club championship draw postponed as potential clashes identified

Fri, Jan 29, 2010

The draws for the Mayo Senior, Intermediate, and Junior championships which were supposed to take place in the Royal Theatre in Castlebar on Wednesday night were called off at short notice during the week. The sticking point on the draw came from the decisions by delegates at the county convention back in December to approve a motion to allow a divisional side from west Mayo enter the senior championship, upping the numbers in the competition to 17 for the year. The side which is proposed to be made up of players from Islandeady, Balla, Louisburgh, and Parke would be in the competition for one year only at present, and as they are not a club side they could not be relegated from the division. This would lead to the side finishing fourth in their group entering the relegation play off and could lead to possible legal difficulties, in relation to the rules of the championship. Also the county board has scheduled championship games in all grades to take place over a number of set weekends which would see players from the four junior clubs playing twice in a weekend or even on the same day.

Late leveler from Flaherty leaves honors even

Sun, Jan 24, 2010

Mayo 1-11
IT, Sligo 1-11

Lights out for Galway visit for NFL opener

Fri, Jan 22, 2010

Mayo’s highly anticipated first round game in division one of the national football league will now not go ahead as planned in McHale Park on Saturday night February 6. The game will now throw in the following day on Sunday, February 7 at 2.30pm rather than at 7.30pm under the new floodlights, at the multi million euro redeveloped county ground.

FAI Junior cup finally ready for action

Fri, Jan 22, 2010

Following on from the controversy that saw Mayo eliminated from the Oscar Traynor Cup last weekend at the hands of a controversial Galway League goal, it is back to the local scene for Mayo soccer this weekend with three games in the FAI Junior Cup and finally the end of the Elvery’s Sports Super League.

In round four of the FAI Junior Cup, Swinford, who made their way back up to the Super League for the coming season after coming second in the Premier Division, will host the current Super League champions Ballina Town on Sunday at 2pm. Ballina will be looking to make serious progress in this competition this year as they try to underline their place at the top of the tree in Mayo soccer. Brendan Kenny’s men will go into the game as firm favourites, but Swinford will be keen to test themselves early in the year as they prepare for life back in the top flight.

Geesala host night of top quality bouts

Fri, Jan 22, 2010

Geesala Boxing Club held their annual tournament in Erris House Hotel last Saturday night. As usual there was a full house and the audience was treated to a great night’s entertainment. Dylan Meenaghan provided the curtain raiser and also the first win of the night for the Geesala team. He was followed by fine performances from Peter Howard and Martin McDonnell. Martin’s brother Shane McDonnell also gave a good performance but did not get the nod from the judges. Liam Ginty, who hails from Inver, was desperately unlucky when he was the wrong side of a majority decision in a very close contest. It was the same story for Pearse Holmes. However James Coyle got the Geesala side back to winning ways and he was followed with another win by last year’s Irish champion, Shane McIntyre. Last time out Shane McAndrew thrilled the crowd in Glenamoy with a great knock out win but, despite a great battle, he failed to register a victory. Then newcomer Andrew Kelly gave a tremendous performance to snatch another victory for the home side. Just before the break the crowd were on their feet again and despite the lack of local interest they acknowledged the skill and determination of J Langan of Knockmore and D O'Reilly from Nielstown in Dublin.

But this year it was the girls who stole the show. First of all there was Jaqui Lynch, who won her first Irish title for Geesala last year. She thrilled the audience with her skill and speed and then showed great sportsmanship in warmly embracing her opponent. Then it was the turn of two-time Irish champion Louise Donaghue, and what a fight this turned out to be. Louise started slowly and it was into the second round before she warmed to the task. Her opponent, M Mongan from Ballinasloe (also a two time Irish champion), was not prepared to give an inch, but it was the Doohoma girl who turned on the style in the final round. She not only won the bout but also the fight of the night and became the first girl ever to do so in the club’s history.

Connacht travel strong for final pool fling

Fri, Jan 22, 2010

Connacht travel to Madrid this weekend looking to put the icing on the cake in their final Amlin Challenge Cup pool fixture. Unbeaten and having already qualified, Connacht are now looking at a bonus-winning result to ensure a home quarter-final. And depending on Wasps’ result in France last night, they could even be looking at gaining the top seed for the knock-out stages. Olympus Rugby XV Madrid should not present a banana skin to this current crop of Connacht players, who last week showed considerable focus and nouse in disposing of Montpellier’s efforts to grab the top qualifying spot in pool 2. And coach Michael Bradley is taking nothing for granted, “travelling strong” for this final group fixture.

Mayo success in Tuam, Ballinrobe event for your diary

Fri, Jan 22, 2010

The annual Tuam 8k road race which took place on Sunday was eagerly awaited by many athletes. Training has been frustrated and many races cancelled due to the weather. However, there was a good turn-out by Mayo AC among the 273 rusty and rested runners for the two lap race in Tuam. Gerry Ryan (GCH) retained the title with a clear victory in 25.02. a few seconds outside his 2009 winning time of 25.10. Paul Buckley (Ferbane AC) was second in 25.39 and Mayo AC’s John Byrne came home in third in 26.02. This was an excellent performance by the Straide man in his first race back after dislocating a shoulder in November.

Leagues at Mayo Leisure point

Fri, Jan 22, 2010

It is that time of year again when Mayo Roller Bowl runs the inter-business league. This league has been running for the past 17 years and has proved very successful with businesses all over Mayo competing. People are invited to enter a team of three players (and a 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 matter whether players have ever bowled before, because it is a handicap league with all players receiving a handicap to help them along.

Break in weather sees clubs get back into the swing

Fri, Jan 22, 2010

Ballina
After weeks of inactivity due to the severe weather the 2010 golf season finally got under way at Ballina Golf Club last Sunday. The course was still very damp underfoot after the recent snow and frost but was in surprisingly good condition despite everything. Temporary greens were in use but this only added to the enjoyment of all those who played. Gerry Tuffy and Stephen Langan battled it out for the top prize with Tuffy winning out on 25 points, the same score as Langan, but his better back six saw Tuffy take the win. The time sheet for this weekend’s competition has been placed on the notice board..