New season, new faces, new challengers?
Fri, Apr 19, 2013
April showers and summer soccer have been familiar friends over the past two decades in Mayo since the Mayo League introduced summer soccer for the junior sides in the league. This weekend will see the 20th instalment of summer football kicking off across the now five divisions from Super League down to League Two. The top division features the names you would expect with Westport United once again leading the pack as defending champions, with Castlebar Celtic, Ballina Town, Iorras Aontaithe, Manulla, and Claremorris all chasing after them like last season. Making the step up from the Premier A from last year are champions Ballyheane and runners up Snugboro United. Both sides have had plenty of experience in the top division over recent years, but will be severely put to the pin of their collars this season to remain in the top division. But with two other sides in the division which can be considered local derbies, there are plenty of games where form can be put aside for a while.
Read more ...Best finish still the target as Elwood’s men head to Murrayfield
Fri, Apr 12, 2013
After an unexpected three week break from action, Connacht head to Edinburgh for a crucial clash in their bid to finish this season’s campaign on a high. Both sides are neck and neck on championship points, and if Connacht want to maintain their ambition for a highest finish in the league, a victory at Murrayfield is essential.
Read more ...Another trio of titles for St Anne’s at the national championships
Fri, Apr 12, 2013
It was the renowned St Anne’s club that stood head and shoulders above other clubs at the national championships for male boxers age 11, 12, and 13 years last weekend in the National Stadium. Three additional titles for the club in addition to the previous three secured two weeks ago in the Boy 4/Youth 1 division showed the strength of the club throughout all age groups.
Read more ...Spring competitions bring out the best around Mayo
Fri, Apr 12, 2013
Balla
In last weekend’s stroke play which also doubled up as a Golfer of the Year competition Mick Mellett was the winner with a score of 49, Pat Kilgallon finished in second place on 51, Richie Murphy came home in third with 54, and James Lavin won the gross prize. The ladies’ section was headed home by Patricia Conwell, with Mary B O’Donnell in second place, Breda Cleary finished in third place, and Marie Flanagan won the gross prize. The current golfer of the year table has Aodan McSuibhnie out in front in the gents’ table on 15pts and Patricia Conwell tops the ladies’ table. The club Wednesday evening scramble started this week and will continue on each Wednesday afternoon from 4.30pm onwards.
New Mayo season kicks off with Charity Shield
Fri, Apr 12, 2013
The Mayo League season will kick off on Sunday with the now traditional Charity Shield clash in Milebush Park. This year’s Charity Shield will see last season’s quadruple winners Westport United (Super League, Connacht Junior Cup, Connacht Gold Cup and FCS Cup) take on Castlebar Celtic in Milebush on Sunday at 2pm. This year’s chosen charity is CF West and all funds raised from Sunday’s game will be donated to CF West towards its building fund to try to build a CF day unit on the grounds of Mayo General Hospital. The shield itself is in honour of the late Liam McEntee who was a referee in the Mayo League for a number of years.
Read more ...Belcarra 8k this Sunday
Fri, Apr 12, 2013
The Belcarra 8k fun run and walk takes place this Sunday April 14 at 12.30pm. The mainly flat course around Belcarra is AAI measured and has an AAI permit granted through Mayo AC.
Read more ...An Post Tour of Sligo proving a popular choice
Fri, Apr 12, 2013
The An Post Tour of Sligo 2013 hits the roads of Sligo on the May Bank Holiday weekend and so far interest level suggests that the event will have a record entry. To date close on 1,000 cyclists have registered, and with numbers capped at 2,000 those wishing to cycle in scenic Sligo on Sunday. May 5 are advised to register early to avoid disappointment. Individuals new to the sport and more seasoned cyclists are signing up for the various events with the choice of routes including the 60km Lough Gill Circuit, the 100km Innisfree Tour, and the 160km Ox Mountain Challenge.
Read more ...Mayo secure semi-final spot with win over Dubs
Fri, Apr 12, 2013
Mayo overcame Dublin in a tense encounter at Naomh Mearnog last Sunday to book their place in the league semi-final. Mayo were the quickest to settle and they had two points on the board before Dublin were able to get any sustained possession thanks to good scores from Aileen Gilroy and Niamh Kelly who benefited from great work by Claire Egan. Dublin’s first score came from Lindsey Davey who struck a good point on the run but again Mayo replied well with a great score from corner back Kathryn Sullivan. However Dublin settled thanks to the growing influence of Noelle Healy in the Dublin midfield. Healy scored two points herself as Denise McKenna added two points from frees, and Leah McCaffrey added a fine score after turning over Mayo in their own half back line. However Mayo replied well with the half time whistle fast approaching, scoring the last two points of the half, one from Aileen Gilroy and another from Deirdre Doherty to leave the scores at half time Dublin 0-6 to Mayo’s 0-5.
Mayo came out in the second half with a stiff breeze at their backs and they quickly started to take advantage of the elements as Cora Staunton grabbed her first two scores of the day with both coming from play. The industrious Fiona McHale got the score that her hard work deserved but it could have been more as she collected the ball after a fantastic run and strike off the post from Aileen Gilroy. Cora Staunton added her third score before the decisive moment of the match. Staunton stood over a free some 45 yards out from goal and her lofted free carried in the breeze and was saved by Dublin keeper Cliodhna O’Connor, who failed to see the rebound fall to Niamh Kelly who swept the ball into the Dublin net.
Read more ...Capital challenge for Mayo in final four showdown
Fri, Apr 12, 2013
The league is a bit of a curate’s egg of a competition for a lot of teams, and for Mayo it’s no different. A necessity to get out of the way ahead of the proper stuff come summer time, but then an opportunity to blood new players and to get some momentum built up ahead of that self same summer of championship action. For Mayo the league so far has had those essential elements of the aforementioned curate’s egg of being partially bad and partially good. The good has been in the last two games, beating Donegal and Cork, to not only maintain their division one status but to book a unexpected place in the last four of the competition and a semi-final on Sunday against Dublin. The bad has been the defeats to Tyrone, Down, Dublin, and Kildare in the middle four games of the competition, and not taking advantage of situations such as having a man advantage against Dublin in Croke Park.
Read more ...Westport and Iorras in Connacht Cup action
Fri, Apr 05, 2013
Mayo will have plenty of involvement in the Connacht Cup and Shield this Sunday with five Mayo teams in action across the quarter-finals and semi-finals of both competitions.
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