Moment of truth for juniors

Fri, Aug 07, 2015

"Over the course of an hour we feel we can take on anyone at this level and there are only two horses left in this race," said Mayo junior manager Séan McLoughlin ahead of tomorrow's All Ireland Junior Football Championship final in Croke Park against Kerry. The Knockmore man has guided his charges through wins over Sligo and Galway in Connacht and then the novel semi-final against Kilkenny a few weeks ago. But he also knows his team will have to up their game from that semi-final win saying: "To win the All Ireland we will need to improve on the performance from the semi-final and that's a given, we have to. We'll be looking to do things and talk about stuff we didn't do so well, and try and get it as right as we can for August 8. If we can get a performance we're in with a shout."

Connelly calls for fair play for O'Shea

Fri, Jul 31, 2015

With just a week to go before Mayo head into the All Ireland quarter-final in Croke Park their opponents are still unknown until this weekend's round of action in the qualifiers is completed on Saturday evening. Speaking ahead of the game, joint Mayo manager Noel Connelly said he hoped that Aidan O'Shea gets "fair play" from officials in the upcoming contest and they do award him frees when he is fouled and not let the infractions slide by just because of his size.

Ladies look to stop Red Hand challenge

Fri, Jul 31, 2015

The Mayo senior ladies' football team will be looking to pick up the pieces of their heartbreaking loss to Galway in the Connacht final a couple of weeks ago when they take on Tyrone tomorrow in the All Ireland qualifiers series with a place up for grabs in the All Ireland quarter-finals.

Junior joy for Mayo

Fri, Jul 31, 2015

At least the GAA have done something right for us Mayo fans when combining the Junior All-Ireland final with our Senior quarter-final on August 8. It will be a long sitting in Croke Park however, for Mayo fans with the junior game throwing in at 2pm and the senior game expected to throw in  at 6pm. It is a great opportunity for the juniors and I am glad they are getting a run out on the hallowed turf. It may be a first and last experience for some of them as players so I am sure they will cherish it.

I find it slightly unbelievable that one week out Mayo don't know who they'll be playing in the senior quarter final. How do you prepare for a big game like that on one weeks notice! Here's what could happen after this weekends qualifier games. If Donegal and Sligo win, Mayo will play Donegal. If Donegal and Tyrone win Mayo will play Donegal. If Galway and Sligo win, Mayo will play Galway and finally if Galway and Tyrone win, Mayo will play Tyrone. Got that? Not that straight-forward is it? That's three very different teams you've to be prepared for.

Difficult to look past the favourites this weekend

Fri, Jul 31, 2015

With the Galway Races coming to an end this Sunday and the bookies' satchels either bulging, or their owners with long faces, after too many favourites coming home first - it is an opportune time to look ahead to the four big football games this weekend where all the favourites will be expected to jump the fences being put in front of them.

First up on Saturday at Croke Park (4pm) is Tyrone and Sligo and it is impossible to look past a win for Mickey Harte's men. The three time All-Ireland champions from 2003, 2005 and 2008 are on the back of a few nice wins in the qualifiers, and in the likes of Peter Harte, Mattie Donnelly, Darren McCurry, and Seán Cavanagh they should have the steel and class to break through  the Yeats' men.

Juniors get Croke Park date

Fri, Jul 31, 2015

The Mayo juniors will get their big day in the sun when they take on Kerry in the All Ireland junior final on Saturday week, after the GAA confirmed the showpiece in the grade will be on the under card of Mayo's senior All Ireland quarter-final in GAA headquarters. Mayo booked their place in the final of the competition last Saturday with a 1-12 to 0-8 win over Kilkenny in Tullamore, and sets up a repeat of the 2012 final meeting between the two sides.

Westport stay top after weekend of big results

Fri, Jul 31, 2015

When the league seasons comes to a conclusion last weekend's round of action in the Elverys Sports Super League could well be seen as one of the pivotal rounds of action. Champions Westport United were held to 0-0 draw by Ballyheane on Saturday night, that left Ballina Town knowing that if they could see off Castlebar Celtic at home the following day, they would move to within two points of the champions at the top of the table and still have a game in hand.

But that was not how things transpired in Belleek on Sunday afternoon when Castlebar Celtic somehow managed to turn a two goal deficit after half an hour into a 4-3 win. Celtic have been far from hitting top form for much of the season, but they have now moved themselves to within two points of both Ballyglass and Ballina Town who are currently sitting in second and third place respectively in the league.

Mayo go looking to skin the cats

Fri, Jul 24, 2015

While they are far better known for their small ball game, the black and amber Cats from Kilkenny are standing in Mayo's way of reaching the All Ireland Junior Football Championship final tomorrow afternoon in Tullamore. Kilkenny who only field a football team at junior level have progressed to this stage of the competition after winning the British junior crown, travelling over and back to Great Britain for all their games this summer so far. In the final of that championship they saw off the challenge of Scotland to book their final four spot.

Priests, party buses and some football

Fri, Jul 24, 2015

I’m not sure if it’s the wisest thing I have ever done but I joined up with the 'Charlestown party bus' after Mayo’s drive for five became a reality last Sunday in Hyde Park. I felt it was important to celebrate such a milestone and such an emphatic victory in the Connacht final. I did suffer for it on Monday.

Who can stop O'Shea?

Fri, Jul 24, 2015

On the field of play, last weekend provided further evidence that Mayo are one of the teams to beat this year. They have a better balance up front with Aidan O'Shea in at full-forward, and they carry much more penetration in their inside forward line with the Breaffy man in there. What county defender can stop the Breaffy man in one-on-one combat?

Ten minute blitz sees off Sligo

Fri, Jul 24, 2015

By the time Niall Murphy had put Sligo's first score on the board, just before the 10 minute mark, Mayo had their 46th Connacht title well under wraps, having scored 2-4 of their own. Mayo's frantic work rate and total domination of Sligo's own kick-out was the foundation to that start. They never gave Sligo an inch to breathe in the early exchanges and forced Aidan Devaney into a risky kick-out strategy that was ultimately fatal for the game. We take a look at where those scores came from below.

Rovers look to topple the town

Fri, Jul 24, 2015

It would be a brave man who would predict the outcome of the Tonra Cup on Sunday afternoon in Milebush Park. Both Achill Rovers and Ballyhaunis Town have only picked up one defeat all season and they remain in the hunt for promotion to Premier A. Off the field Achill Rovers have been creating headlines as they captured the prestigious FAI Club of the Year on Friday at the awards ceremony in the Clarion Hotel in  Sligo.

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