Louisburgh, ready to rock

Fri, Nov 18, 2016

Louisburgh are just 60 minutes away from claiming their first provincial title as they take on Roscommon junior champions Creggs in the Connacht Junior Club Football Championship final deep in enemy territory this Sunday.

It is more than 150km each way from Louisburgh to Kiltoom in the far eastern reaches of Roscommon, and if you throw in a boat trip from Clare Island over and back for a few supporters and players, they face one hell of a journey in two days' time. But with a chance to pick up another piece of silverware at the end of what had been a brilliant season for John Kelly’s men, the black and amber faithful from the west coast will be out in force to cheer on their men.

All Ireland glory beckons for the ‘Masters’ of the game

Fri, Nov 11, 2016

Names like Aidan Higgins, Kenneth Mortimer, and Declan Sweeney may seem like a throwback to the recent past when it comes to talking about inter-county football, but they are just three still doing their stuff in the Gaelic Masters Association for Mayo, and on Saturday in Clonberne they go looking for All Ireland glory in the All Ireland Masters final.

Take two for Ballyhaunis and Ahascragh-Fohenagh

Fri, Nov 11, 2016

It was never going to be easy for Ballyahunis to become the first Mayo side to claim the Connacht Intermediate Hurling Championship and when Keith Higgins found the back of the net for their second goal two minutes into injury time they almost did it. But an equalizer from Stephen Kelly who scored two points from midfield sent the game into extra time on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-16.

Corofin know how tough beating Castlebar will be on Sunday

Fri, Nov 11, 2016

Corofin senior footballers have been practically untouchable over the last four years in the Galway club championship, and some of their players have never tasted defeat, even once, in the county championship in the four seasons they have played senior football.

However, things have been very different in the Connacht club championship - two defeats under former manager Stephen Rochford to Castlebar Mitchels. They lost out to the Mayo men in the 2013 Connacht final (2-08 to 1-10), and this time last year in the semi-final, when they went down by 2-10 to 0-11.

Mitchels and Corofin to renew their rivalry

Fri, Nov 11, 2016

This is the one that neutrals and supporters alike have been looking forward to since each side won its respective county title. The sides have met twice in the last three years, with Castlebar Mitchels gaining the upper hand on both of those occasions and going all the way to the All Ireland final. In the year they did not meet, Corofin saw off the best Mayo could offer, made it as far as St Patrick's Day, and brought the Andy Merrigan Cup home for the second time in their history.

Douglas does it again for Mitchels

Sat, Nov 05, 2016

A rainbow split the sky before throw in Sligo on Saturday afternoon and Castlebar Mitchels followed it to the end to find their way into a home Connacht semi-final against Corofin next Sunday in MacHale Park.

Mitchels look to topple Tourlestrane tomorrow

Fri, Nov 04, 2016

There is no let up for Mayo kingpins Castlebar Mitchels who have another seven day turnaround this week before they take on Sligo champions Tourlestrane in Markieviciz Park in the Connacht Senior Club Championship quarter-final tomorrow at 2pm. Declan O'Reilly's men were in scintillating form in last Saturday night's Mayo senior final when they ran out 3-13 to 0-10 winners over a valiant Knockmore side who ran out of gas in the second half when Mitchels really put the foot down.

Westport back in the big time and now looking for more

Fri, Nov 04, 2016

Westport made light work of having to play three championship games in seven days last Saturday night when they cruised home to a six point win over Kiltimagh in the Mayo Intermediate Championship final in MacHale Park. On Sunday, they will be back in Mayo GAA HQ where they take on Galway champions Monivea-Abbey for a place in the final of the Connacht Club Intermediate Championship.

On the same weekend that Westport were drawing their semifinal with Shrule-Glenncorrib, their opponents on Sunday were putting a beating on Kilmore from Roscommon in the Connacht quarter final, running out 1-16 to 0-9 in Tuam Stadium. The Galway side were taking on a Roscommon side who had won their home championship a day earlier in a game that went to extra time and saw two of their men sent to the line on straight red cards. But the Galway men went about their business in a professional manner leading that game at half time by 0-9 to 0-4, with Cathal Coleman, Cillian McDaid, and Brian Flaherty all kicking two scores in that 30 minutes, and Caelom Mulry, Craig Kennedy, and Eoin Roche chipping in with one apiece. Their goal came midway through the second half with midfielder Trevor Mullins rattling the net to seal the win.

Louisburgh ready to take on all comers

Fri, Nov 04, 2016

They have been playing football on the shores of Clew Bay in Louisburgh for well over 100 years, but in 1929 the club was officially formed and in the 87 years in between they have given their supporters some great days, winning an intermediate title in 2003 to go with junior titles 1950, 1987, and 1994 and most recently four weeks ago when they saw off Balla right at the death, thanks to a Kevin Gibbons belter of an effort when the game was moving into injury time.

It has been a long road back for Louisburgh to get out of the junior ranks this year, and with that taken care of they have had plenty of time to concentrate on what is coming up, and the potential to follow in the footsteps of Ardnaree last year and claim the Connacht crown at this level. The intermediate crown they won 13 years ago is a long time now, but they have a trio of survivors from those heady days with full back Marcus O'Malley, wing back Alan Moran, and Austin O'Malley still doing their stuff in the starting 15 for them today.

Ballyhaunis back in the Connacht final

Fri, Nov 04, 2016

It has been a busy few weeks for the Ballyhaunis hurlers and it is about to get busier again. On Sunday, they face into their fourth game in 14 days, having draw the Mayo Senior Hurling Championship final with Tooreen last Sunday week, before they eventually got the better of them in another Titanic encounter in Ballyhaunis last Sunday by just three points. They followed that up on Wednesday evening with a 1-12 to 0-9 win over Roscommon champions Oran in the semifinal of the Connacht Intermediate Championship in the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence and now on this coming Sunday, they face Galway champions Ahascragh-Fohenagh in the final of that competition at 2pm in Athleague.

McDonagh kicks Westport to glory

Sat, Oct 29, 2016

The 72 hour turn around from their semi-final win over Shurle-Glenncorrib did Westport no harm in MacHale Park on Saturday night as they booked their return to the senior ranks for next year with a comprehensive win over Kiltimagh by six points.

Mighty Mitchels make it two in a row

Sat, Oct 29, 2016

A storming second half display from Castlebar saw them claim their 30th Mayo senior title in MacHale Park on Saturday night, thanks to an inspirational display by Paddy Durcan and Neil Douglas. The county town men led by two points at the interval but ran out 12 point winners at the end where they outscored Knockmore by 3-7 to 0-6.

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