Winter Leagues in full swing

Fri, Nov 28, 2014

It was a busy weekend on the courses around Mayo last Saturday and Sunday, with some great scoring in the various Winter League's and club competitions.

Connacht Cyclo Cross league round 2 Castlebar

Fri, Nov 28, 2014

Round two of the cyclo cross league was held at the grounds surrounding Lough Lannagh, Castlebar, the beautiful setting with Croagh Patrick as a backdrop was a hilly technical affair. Experience was the key and the results were dominated by riders from outside the province, with Tim O Regan, DID Dunboyne, and Peter O Farrel,l Wheelworx Dublin, having a fierce battle that was only sorted out on the penultimate lap. The 1.2k lap had to be negotiated 14 times with many riders taking a spill or two on the off camber sections.

Ballintubber come up short against classy Corofin

Sun, Nov 23, 2014

There were questions asked about Corofin and how good they really were going into Sunday's Connacht Club Senior Football Championship final, they had swatted aside with ease all that stood before them in Galway and the Leitrim champions Aughawillian hardly raised a glove against them. But make no mistake this current Corofin team are one serious outfit.

Westport United and Ballyhaunis Town book fifth round spots

Fri, Nov 21, 2014

In the end it was easier than expected, but Westport United are in the fifth round of the FAI Junior Cup alongside fellow Mayo teams, Iorras Aontaithe and Ballyhaunis Town, in three weeks’ time.

Westport United went to Ballinasloe Town last Sunday, and thanks to goals from Joe Lawless 20 minutes in and Dave Cameron on the hour mark they had themselves home and hosed well before Pat Fitzgerald made it 3-0 with six minutes left on the clock. Next up for the treble winners is a home tie with Wexford outfit New Ross Celtic in the fifth round in early December.

Celtic look to teach students a lesson

Fri, Nov 21, 2014

Castlebar Celtic made the long trip to Ferrycarrig Park last weekend to take on Wexford Youths, but Adrian Carberry’s side went down 3-1 to the league leaders, and their hunt for a third league win of the season will continue on until this weekend.

Mayo look to hunt down Banner men

Fri, Nov 21, 2014

On Sunday afternoon, the Mayo League Oscar Traynor Trophy team will go looking for their first win in this year’s competition when they host Clare in Milebush in the second round of the competition.

Connacht expect tough test against fighting Zebre

Fri, Nov 21, 2014

Connacht return to Guinness Pro 12 action against Zebre at the Sportsground this evening (7.35pm) with some key players giving province a boost. New Kiwi signings Mils Muliaini and Bundi Aki will both start with Muliani making his debut for the provience and Aki will be taking his home bow. Connacht’s latest recruit from Auckland Blues, Tom McCartney will take his place on the bench from the off. Although signed as a hooker, McCartney is also a prop and he could find himself at some stage helping to anchor the scrum with Connacht's front options once again taking an injury hit.

Sunday's Connacht club final set to be a cracker in Castlebar

Fri, Nov 21, 2014

The eagerly anticipated AIB Connacht senior Football Club Championship final between Corofin and Mayo champions Ballintubber takes place this Sunday (2pm) at MacHale Park, Castlebar.

Leading from the front

Fri, Nov 21, 2014

profile of the O’Connor brothers lining out for Ballintubber on Sunday, but Corofin would be foolish to think that Padraic O’Connor didn’t pose as much of a threat as his two younger brothers who will be joining him in their attack. In his last three championship games, the eldest of the four O’Connor brothers, who will start for Ballintubber on Sunday, has rattled in 3-5 from his corner forward position.

Are the Tubber up to the task?

Fri, Nov 21, 2014

I cannot wait for the Ballintubber and Corofin Connacht senior final on Sunday, it promises to be a real cracker. Corofin are massive favourites at 4/9 while Ballintubber are priced at a very generous 9/4. These odds simply don’t make sense. Ballintubber have beaten a team that played in an All-Ireland club final this year (Castlebar) and a team that won the All-Ireland the previous year (St Brigid’s), yet the bookmakers think it is not worth their while turning up. Corofin have shot the lights out against every team they have played winning every game by 10 points or more, their semi-final hammering of Aughawillan more embarrassing on Leitrim club football than complimentary of Galway’s status.

They have won their last three championship matches by a combined total of 77 points; maybe that is why they carry the favourites’ tag. A word of warning to Ballintubber, Corofin play better away from home as I found out to my own expense when they annihilated Charlestown in a Connacht club final in Charlestown in 2009. Ballintubber have a chance against any team with their powerful midfield and much feared forward line. They have come through two tough games and are battle hardened. Will Corofin have the stomach for the fight if the game is tight going into the last 10 minute is the big question? It is up to Ballintubber to get that question answered. Cillian O’Connor is looking a little battle weary of late but his presence strikes fear into his opponents and makes space for his team mates. This could be a memorable year in Ballintubber’s history; they will have to play out of their skins.

Tubber are ready to take home the title

Fri, Nov 21, 2014

Ballintubber go into their first senior provincial final as underdogs with the bookies, but the men from Clogher will be having no doubts in their own minds that they are up to the task on Sunday.

Westport grab draw at the death

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

This weekend sees a break from the action in the Connacht Junior League after eight hectic rounds of action. In the top division, Westport remain as the main men from Mayo, currently sitting in fourth place in the table behind the Galway trio of Connemara, Monivea, and Corinthians, and they will be well buoyed by the last second draw they got against league leaders Connemara in Monastery Field. The Bulls trailed by 14 points at the turn around. Westport did narrow the gap back to three points midway through the second half, but Connemara scored a break-away converted try to push their lead out to 24-10, but with a few minutes left Mike Cronin touched down for Westport, with Séan Tobin converting the try and then kicking a late, late, penalty to grab a draw for Danny O’Toole and JP Walshe’s charges. Next up for the Bulls is sixth place Ballinasloe in Carrowholly on Sunday week. When the team met in round two in September, Ballinasloe emerged two point winners against Westport condemning the Bulls to their second defeat of the season, but they have been on a steady upward trajectory since then, with their only blip a loss to Corinthians a fortnight ago.

The other Mayo side in the top division, Ballina, went down by nine points on the road to previously mentioned Ballinasloe last weekend. That was the north Mayo men’s second defeat on the trot after being beaten 28-12 by Connemara in the previous round, and their fifth loss of the season in the league. Ballina lost out on a score of 12-3 in east Galway, with the hosts kicking four penalties to Ballina’s single response from Kevin McCarron’s boot. Next up for Ballina is a home tie against second placed Monivea on Sunday week in Heffernan Park. In the side’s previous meeting, Monivea ran out 34-13 winners in September.

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