Mayo AC celebrated 25th birthday in style

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

Mayo AC celebrated their 25th Anniversary in style at a party night in the Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar at the start of the month. A broad spectrum of members from the early days of the late '80s to the present time were among those enjoying the celebrations. It was a wonderful opportunity for old friends and rivals to meet again, run down memory lane, mix with the post millennium intake, and share training methods from the days of hand-written results sheets to today's racing menu where it's chips with everything. In tandem with the club's success, membership has grown from 30 odd in 1999 to over 140 in 2012.

End of winter competitions in sight for clubs

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

Balla
PJ Brett was the winner of the gents’ stableford competition last weekend with a score of 35pts, Bernie O’Connor came home in second place and Mick Mellett was third. The ladies’ competition was won by Geraldine O’Malley with Mary Brett finishing second and Mary Conlon third. The first round of the winter league will start this weekend and can be played from Friday to Sunday.

Another great gala for Ballina Dolphins

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

The most recent swimming gala took place in Ballina where several Ballina Dolphins swimmers not only took part, but achieved some great times and took home several medals. Amy McGowan had three amazing swims achieving an A time in all three, the 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 100m IM. Alex Patten also competed in two swims improving on her times and getting an A time in the 100m freestyle. Heather McGowan had a successful day achieving A times in both the 100m freestyle and the 200m IM.

Christmas Duathlon for Claremorris

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

Don’t worry about putting on extra pounds over the Christmas as The Land of The Giants Duathlon will help to burn them up. On December 29 at 10.30am the town of Claremorris will be a colour fest of runners and cyclist all aiming to complete the first ever Claremorris Duathlon.

O’Connor only change for Elwood’s men

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

Johnny O’Connor will team up with Andrew Browne and Eoin McKeon in Connacht’s back row in the only change to the starting 15 for this evening’s encounter with Biarritz from the side who defeated the same opponents on a historic night in the Sportsground seven days ago. O’Connor will replace the injured Willie Fallon, who was ruled out with a fractured eye socket he picked up in that win.

Mayo head north once again in Oscar Traynor Trophy

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

The Mayo League Oscar Traynor Trophy side will be making an almost 300 mile round trip from the home of the Mayo League in Milebush, Castlebar, to Buncrana this Sunday looking to book their place in the next round of the national interleague competition.

McStay and McHale are doing a great job

Fri, Nov 30, 2012

I sent a brief text to Liam McHale and Kevin McStay last Sunday evening congratulating them on guiding St Brigid’s of Roscommon to a Connacht title. These two lads were brought in by the Roscommon club to launch a serious bid for All-Ireland, an honour which, understandably, placed and places them under huge pressure. Had they not managed to at least achieve a provincial title, they would have been perceived as failures. On the evidence of last Sunday, I believe they have a fantastic chance of going all the way with this team.

Mayo AC athletes put in strong performances in Clarinbridge

Fri, Nov 30, 2012

It was another winning weekend for Mayo AC over the Galway border. The Clarinbridge Charity 10k had more than 300 finishers led home by Steve McKeigue from Ferbane AC in 33:17 on a demanding course which included some 3km of forest trail. Mayo AC's Paddy O'Toole was third in 34:59, and TJ McHugh fifth overall in 36:05. Catherine Conway was fourth overall and first woman in a brilliant personal best time of 36:03. This was just one second better than her 36:04 second place at the Athenry 10k in Jan 2010.

Ballina Winter League comes to a conclusion

Fri, Nov 30, 2012

Ballina
The final of round of the Rouse Jewellers Winter League saw the team of B Kilgallon, R Tighe, T Cronin, and S Sweeney come out as winners with a score of 44.1. The foursome of P Howley, G Forde, P McLoughlin, and P Devers came second. The plate competition was taken by the team of D Flaherty, P Cawley, PJ Melody, and G Tuffy, with N Dee, C McLoughlin, C Gilmartin, and K Desmond coming second. This Sunday sees the resumption of the four ball competitions with a shotgun start and the draw for tees taking place at 8.45am sharp. The club AGM will take place on Thursday, December 13.

The final of round of the Rouse Jewellers Winter League saw the team of B Kilgallon, R Tighe, T Cronin, and S Sweeney come out as winners with a score of 44.1. The foursome of P Howley, G Forde, P McLoughlin, and P Devers came second. The plate competition was taken by the team of D Flaherty, P Cawley, PJ Melody, and G Tuffy, with N Dee, C McLoughlin, C Gilmartin, and K Desmond coming second. This Sunday sees the resumption of the four ball competitions with a shotgun start and the draw for tees taking place at 8.45am sharp. The club AGM will take place on Thursday, December 13.

Carnacon look to defend their title

Fri, Nov 30, 2012

For five of the past six years, the All Ireland Ladies senior club championship has been taken home by one of this year’s finalists. And on Sunday it will be making it’s way to either Donaghmoyne from Monaghan for a third time or back west with green and red ribbons on its handles to Carnacon for the fourth time.

Fresh injuries cause Conncht selection headache

Fri, Nov 30, 2012

Connacht coach Eric Elwood faces another injury conundrum ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Edinburgh to the Galway Sportsground at 5pm. Having welcomed the return of Andrew Browne and captain Gavin Duffy in recent weeks, Elwood is now concerned with a new batch of injuries that include Ireland’s recent man of the match against South Africa Mike McCarthy, who is struggling with a back injury, props Ronan Loughney (knee), Rodney Ah You and Nathan White, and hooker Ethienne Reynecke (calf). Add in the longer term injuries to Eoin Griffin, John Muldoon and George Naoupu, and Elwood describes his latest injury woes as “not a pretty picture”.

Tributes paid to a man who gave his all to soccer in Mayo

Fri, Nov 23, 2012

The news of the tragic death of Jeremy Dee last Sunday shocked and stunned all who knew him. Anyone who was involved in soccer in any capacity in Mayo and even further afield could not but have encountered Jeremy on a number of occasions, and had to have been touched by his love for the game and his infectious attitude towards it. This writer on a couple of occasions was also on the end of a good natured ribbing from him when Jeremy thought more coverage was deserved to this or that team. Invariably he was right and more coverage was deserved to whomever he was on about. Jeremy was always very giving of his time whenever this writer had the pleasure to contact him about anything at all, and also in his role with Mid West Radio commentating on soccer games, a number of cramped press boxes were shared over the years with him. He will be sadly missed by all those in the press who worked with him.

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