Kiltimagh look to run Westport ragged

Fri, Oct 28, 2016

If they are going to do it tomorrow evening, then Westport are going to do it the hard way by winning their third game in seven days when they take on Kiltimagh in the Mayo Intermediate Championship final. Damien Loftus' men needed two attempts to get past Shrule-Glencorrib in the semi-final, with Wendesday night's reply win not looking like it was even a possibility with 15 minutes gone.

Two tribes go to war, again

Fri, Oct 28, 2016

The grand old local rivals of the small ball game could not be separated in Tooreen last Sunday and they will have to do it all over again this Sunday in Ballyhanuis with the Mayo Senior Hurling Championship title still up for grabs. Tooreen will feel that they should have won this game leading by seven with less than a quarter of the game to go last Sunday, but it was not to be as a three-in-a-row chasing Ballyhaunis battled back to grab a draw at the death.

Saturday Night Lights

Fri, Oct 28, 2016

Most of us bar those from the 'Parish of the Backs' were expecting a repeat of last year's county final tomorrow evening in MacHale Park. But Knockmore showed no regard for preconceptions as they tore into Breaffy from the get go and were deserved two point winners to book their place in the senior final for the first time in seven years.

Knockmore tears up the script

Fri, Oct 28, 2016

And then there were two. Knockmore qualified for their first county final since 2009 after a pulsating and dramatic game against hotly fancied Breaffy in the semifinal last Sunday. The final whistle brought on some ugly scenes as a lot of players from both sides got involved in skirmishes while supporters were on the field. It was an unsightly end to a compelling game with fisticuffs occurring between players while there were children in the vicinity, it was not a great advertisement for our sport.

A major feature of both semifinals last Sunday was the off the ball pulling and dragging that made for a very messy spectacle for the supporters. If the referees were strict on the black card rule up to 12 players could have been issued with black cards last Sunday. Pulling and dragging a player to the ground off the ball is the same as deliberate obstruction which was one of the reasons the black card was introduced. Such instances occurred every two minutes of both games. Sometimes you were better off not even watching the ball as the side shows going on all over the field made for better viewing. It is an impossible task for referees to monitor on their own and when linesmen and umpires are unable or unwilling to help out, anarchy reigns. The black card debate will go on forever. I personally think it was a good idea to introduce it to stop cynical fouling but when referees have different opinions on the fouls for which the card was introduced that creates annoyance and frustration among players and supporters.

Castlebar and Knockmore to face off in senior final

Sun, Oct 23, 2016

Castlebar Mitchels moved a step closer to defending their Mayo senior championship on Sunday, seeing off Ballintubber by 1-11 to 1-5 in MacHale Park. Declan O’Reilly’s men were the better side throughout the contest, but it wasn’t until late in the day they managed to shake off the challenge of their arch rivals from not to far away.

A real super Sunday is in store in MacHale Park

Fri, Oct 21, 2016

Reigning champions Castlebar Mitchels qualified for a mouthwatering semifinal clash against neighbours Ballintubber, having had to pull out all the stops against a stubborn and well drilled Ballaghadeereen side in the quarter final of the Mayo Senior Football Championship last weekend. It was a thoroughly enjoyable game with some excellent scores from both teams despite the unfavourable heavy underfoot conditions.

Final four showdown on Sunday

Fri, Oct 21, 2016

Breaffy v Knockmore
Sunday October 23 at 2pm

Intermediate final spots up for grabs

Fri, Oct 21, 2016

Kiltimagh v Burrishoole
Saturday October 22 at 4pm

The most local of rivalries gets another outing

Fri, Oct 21, 2016

There are derby days in all sports all over the globe, but there are very few that are as intimate as what has become the now annual shoot-out for the Mayo senior hurling championship between Ballyhaunis and Tooreen. On Sunday afternoon in the east Mayo village of Tooreen, that rivalry will have another showdown for local pride and county honours.

Carnacon hunting for more glory

Fri, Oct 21, 2016

On Sunday at 12.30pm in Charlestown, Carnacon go looking to claim their 15th provincial title in 18 years, what they have achieved over almost two decades is phenomenal and if they manage to make it win number 15 it will be another chapter in their glorious history.

Breaffy and Knockmore set up semi-final date

Sun, Oct 16, 2016

Last years beaten finalists Breaffy made it to their third Mayo senior semi-finals in four years on Saturday afternoon after a hard fought win over Crossmolina Deel Rovers in MacHale Park. Peter Ford and Shane Conway’s side were pushed right to the wire by a battling brave Deel Rovers side, with the displays by the likes of Fionan Duffy, Conor Loftus and Cathal Carolan pointing towards a very bright future for the north Mayo men. There were also very good showings for the beaten side by goalkeeper Patrick Loftus and veteran Peader Gardiner who almost caused a major surprise against a much fancied Breaffy side.

O'Connor hammers home the point for Ballintubber

Sun, Oct 16, 2016

They didn’t quite hit the net as many times as they did against Knockmore in the semi-final two years ago, but Ballintubber laid down a serious marker of intent in MacHale Park on Sunday afternoon, hammering Garrymore by 6-14 to 1-8 to set up a mouthwatering semi-final showdown against Castlebar Mitchels next weekend.

E-paper

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