Challenge Cup Connacht’s crunch cup tie with Montpellier could prove season defining

Fri, Jan 15, 2010

Connacht’s season could hinge on tonight’s big clash with French side Montpellier at the Galway Sportsground (7pm). A victory for either side would ensure a top pool position and a Quarter-Final in this year’s revamped Amlin Challenge Cup competition; a defeat for Connacht would consign them to their constant struggle at the bottom of the Magners League. To top the pool - the first time since 1998 - and bag a Quarter-Final spot would provide Connacht with a home fixture against one of the best Heineken Cup sides in Europe. It is a massive incentive and would also give them some much-needed momentum to take them through the next couple of months.

Ballina look to roll back the old cup magic

Fri, Jan 15, 2010

If you have an interest in basketball in Ireland, then Kieran Shannon’s magnificent opus on the history of the game Hanging from the Rafters would have been on your Christmas wish list. The award winning journalist’s trawl back through the glory days of Irish basketball is a must read for any sports fan, not only those who are fans of basketball. In the book Shannon dedicates a chapter to the boys from Ballina and their triumphs and tragedies, concentrating on the glory days around the early 1990s.

Duffy new minor manager

Fri, Jan 15, 2010

Ballintubber man Tony Duffy was handed the job of Mayo minor manager for 2010 at the county board meeting this week. County secretary Seán Feeney told the delegates at the meeting: “I would like to thank the other candidates for their interest in the position, it was a tough decision, but we feel that we have picked the strongest possible team for the job.” Feeney also confirmed that Duffy’s appointment was for an initial period of one year. The other candidates for the post were Louisburgh’s Pádraic Walsh, Donal Touhy from Bonniconlon, and Westport’s George Golden, to whom Feeney apologised to for finding out they did not get the job through the press, saying “it was supposed to be kept confidential.”

Big freeze sets back clubs

Fri, Jan 15, 2010

Ballina Golf Club
The AGM of Ballina Golf Club was held recently and was attended by a substantial body of members. Honorary secretary Sean Rowley reported a very satisfactory year for the club with a solid increase in membership and increases in income from subscriptions, competitions, sponsorship, and fundraising. He thanked the membership for their co-operation and their support for various club initiatives.

Westport 5k refixed for February

Fri, Jan 15, 2010

The ever popular Westport 5K which fell foul to the weather has been refixed for Sunday, February 7. The event which takes in the final round of the 2009 Mayo Athletic Club, Vodafone, C and C Cellular road race league will get under way at 2pm in the west Mayo town. The race will be held over a flat accurate course on the streets of the town. Entries for the race will be taken in the dressing rooms at the sports centre beside Westport Athletic Club’s track from 12.30pm on the day of the event. There will be refreshments served at Hotel Westport where the race finishes and the prize giving will take place there also from 3.30pm. There will be prizes in the men’s category for the first three finishers overall, first three over 40s, first three over 50s, and the first junior u19. In the women’s section of the road race league there will also be a prize for the first three overall finishers, first three over 35s, first three over 45s, and first junior. There will also be a prize for the best team from the four Mayo Fit4Life group on the race. Entry for the event costs €15, and there will also be a presentation of the Irish Runner most improved athlete award for 2009.

Western Lakes enrolment night

Fri, Jan 15, 2010

On Thursday January 21 anyone interested in taking up cycling from the south Mayo/north Galway area can come to the cycling centre on the Kilmaine Road, Ballinrobe, between 6.30pm and 8.30pm and sign up as Western Lakes cycling club members. A free polo shirt will be given to all members who enrol on the night.

Kenny’s men go after tribesmen

Fri, Jan 15, 2010

This was all supposed to be taken care of by now, but the weather set in and Mayo’s Oscar Traynor trip to Terryland was called, off then it was supposed to take place in Milebush and that had to be pulled too. That was before Christmas and now on Sunday, weather permitting, Brendan Kenny’s Mayo side will be able to try to book their place in the knock out stages of the Oscar Traynor Trophy. Mayo have been handed home advantage for the tie, due to the original postponement.

Connacht Junior Cup Junior cup weekend ahead weather permitting

Fri, Jan 15, 2010

So the snow and ice seems to have finally left us and depending on the weather over the weekend, the three remaining Mayo clubs left in the competition will go looking to make it past the first round proper. Ballinrobe, Ballyhaunis, and Westport all bowed out of the cup at the preliminary stage before Christmas. So Ballina, Castlebar, and border club Corrib are all left in the competition with a shout.

Mayo stages moves home for 2010

Fri, Jan 15, 2010

The Mayo and District Motorsport Club have announced that the Mayo Stages Rally will be based in Claremorris for 2010. It’s all new this year as the rally moves from it old base in Castlebar to the fabulous McWilliam Park Hotel. The McWilliam Park will be title sponsor and rally headquarters for this year’s event.

Iced off — Weather plays havoc with Connacht’s consistency

Fri, Jan 08, 2010

For the second time since the New Year, the weather is playing havoc with Connacht’s Magners League campaign. Having been forced to postpone their game against Leinster just two hours before kick-off on January 2, Connacht were on Wednesday hit with another postponement as the freezing conditions around the country remain relentless. The Newport Gwent Dragons were due to leave Wales on Thursday for tonights Sportsground game at 6.30pm. However before their departure a decision to postpone was taken based on the pitch’s suitability and on the conditions in which they would have to travel, according to Connacht’s chief executive officer Gerry Kelly.

“The covering we put on last week is, according to all the advice we had taken, workable up to minus four degrees. Unfortunately last week was in excess of that. At 12 noon on Saturday a number of people looked at the pitch and the feeling was that it was playable with a slight crust on top. However the sun went down behind the stand and basically that area started to refreeze so at 2pm it was not safe.”

Mayo derbies welcome back sides after holiday break

Fri, Jan 08, 2010

The New Year has come and with it the Connacht junior league enters its final furlong as the chase for a top four place and avoiding relegation intensifies. With the competition in hibernation since the middle of December, there will be a warm welcoming return to the fold for the Mayo sides in the competition this weekend in Division 1A with two Mayo derbies topping the billing for Mayo attention.

Cold snap sees games delayed

Fri, Jan 08, 2010

The cold snap that has taken over the country saw a number of games called off in Mayo soccer circles, going back as far as the Oscar Traynor Cup clash between Galway and Mayo at the tail end of December, that game has now been fixed for Sunday January 17 in Milebush Park.

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