Castlebar Mitchels pick up where they left off

Sun, May 11, 2014

Defending senior county champions Castlebar Mitchels got their league campaign off to a winning start on Saturday evening in Josie Munnelly Park with a 2-12 to 0-10 win over Charlestown Sarsfields. Mitchels place kicker Aidan Walsh was the top man on the scoreboard at the end of the day with seven points (two in the first half and five in the second) over the hour. Danny Kirby chipped in with two goals for Mitchels, one in either half, the second one from the penalty spot. Mitchels went in at the break leading by 1-6 to 0-5 with Colm Maye kicking five points for Charlestown in reply to Mitchels opening salvo which saw Richie Feeney kick two points in the first 30 minutes with Cian Costello and James Durcan also getting in on the act. Kirby's second half penalty killed off the challenge of the visitors who kept their scoreboard ticking over with scores from Gareth O'Donnell and Maye to keep the gap down to eight points at the end. Next up for the county champions is a short trip to Breaffy next Saturday evening for a repeat of last years county final.

Celtic dreams crushed from the penalty spot

Sun, May 11, 2014

After 110 minutes of hard work, sheer will and effort Castlebar Celtic saw their dreams of a tenth Connacht Junior Cup come cracking apart in the most heartbreaking of ways in a penalty shoot-out. The Hoops will feel hard done by, having made most of the running during a game played in wild and wet conditions in Milebush Stadium. But Ballinasloe were the ones to get their hands on the old trophy thanks to a 4-2 win from the spot kicks. Jason Hunt slammed home the first kick of the shoot-out for Celtic, with Ballinasloe Town captain Peter Keighery responding in kind. Both sides also converted their next kicks, with Ronan O'Boyle doing the necessary for the Castlebar men and Gary Egan for the Roscommon League side. Gerry Hunt tried to replicate his brothers effort with Celtic's third penalty, but his effort was scooped over Aidan Fallon's bar, Mark Duffy saw his effort just about get past Stephen Cafferkey to hand the advantage to Ballinasloe Town. Up next was Celtic full-back Stephen Walsh, who had been excellent all day. But when it came to the crunch his effort clipped the top of the bar and cleared the target, leaving David Cullen with the chance to win the cup. The Ballinasloe Town full back took the route one option and drove it down the middle of the goal and past Cafferkey to ensure his team retained the title they won last year.

Clynch clinches it at the death for Meath

Sat, May 10, 2014

Mayo will still go into the quarter-finals of the Christy Ring Cup in a few weeks despite their narrow defeat at the hands of Meath on Saturday afternoon in a blustery MacHale Park. A late free from Meath captain Stephen Clynch at the end of normal time was the difference between the two sides on the day. The Royals number six showed nerves of steel to stroke the ball right over the black spot under pressure to send Meath straight into the semi-finals of the competition. Mayo did have a chance right at the death, but Sean Regan was unable to direct his sideline cut from 21 meters out under the stand over the bar.

Hole-in-one for Sam Gillivan in Westport

Fri, May 09, 2014

There was plenty of golf action around the county last weekend, including a hole-in-one recorded by Sam Gillivan in Westport.

Here are some of the results of the competitions that were played.

Casey’s Call

Fri, May 09, 2014

It is 11 am, Wednesday morning, May 6, and I am just in the door from my five night New York adventure.

Mayo take a bite out of the Big Apple

Sun, May 04, 2014

Mayo did the heavy lifting in first half in their 2014 championship opener, when they ground down the New York challenge with the minimal of difficulty. James Horan will have learned nothing new about his side, but will have been pleased to have been able to give some game time to likes of Alan Dillon who returned to Mayo colours for the first time since the All Ireland final as a second half sub, while debutant Diarmuid O'Connor marked his first senior bow with a well taken goal right at the start of the second half. The game also saw a little bit of history with the three O'Shea brothers on the field at the same time, for the first time when Conor O'Shea made his championship debut as a second half sub.

‘New York State of Mind’

Fri, May 02, 2014

We will start this week back at last weeks column. I cannot believe a story written in my column last week got so much national attention. It was liked by almost one thousand people on hoganstand.com, it has been discussed on Newstalk I am told, and has been retweeted by several players including Colm Parkinson, the former Laois star. Lots of footballers were tagged to the article on Facebook as it reminded so many of players who would not take no for an answer when told they were not part of a panel. I did not see that coming.

Polkadot leisure cycle next weekend in Ballinrobe

Fri, May 02, 2014

The annual Polkadot Cycle Challenge, promoted by the Western Lakes Cycling Club, takes place on Saturday, May 10. This sport has become established as a major event in the leisure cycling calendar, and over the past number of years has attracted cyclists from every corner of the country. This year the club has revamped the routes to attract the ever growing numbers of newcomers taking to the roads, while enjoying the breathtaking scenery around the beautiful Lough Mask.

Big weekend of golf coming up over Bank Holiday weekend

Fri, May 02, 2014

Balla
Last weekend’s stableford competition which was sponsored by Bar One, was won by Fenton Barrett who scored 41pts, second place went to Eamonn Donnellan with 39pts and Seamus Holian came home in third with a score of 37pts. The ladies’ section was won by Mary B O’Donnell who finished with 38pts, Geraldine Kilgallon finished in second place on 36pts, and Gabriella Clesham in third one point behind.

Last weekend’s stableford competition which was sponsored by Bar One, was won by Fenton Barrett who scored 41pts, second place went to Eamonn Donnellan with 39pts and Seamus Holian came home in third with a score of 37pts. The ladies’ section was won by Mary B O’Donnell who finished with 38pts, Geraldine Kilgallon finished in second place on 36pts, and Gabriella Clesham in third one point behind.

Horan mixes things up for New York adventure

Fri, May 02, 2014

Mayo’s championship season will get underway on Sunday, thousands of miles away from home when they take on New York in the preliminary round of Connacht Senior Football Championship in Gaelic Park at 7.30pm Irish time.

Westport’s magnificent seven send them top

Fri, May 02, 2014

It’s not too often you see a team short of up to eight guys who could be considered starters run out five goal winners and score seven in a game, but then not many teams are Westport United. Last weekend there was no mercy shown by the Covies when they steamrolled Charlestown Athletic in the Sportspark, thanks to a four goal return from injury time in the first half until the ninth minute of the second half.

Locals saddened as herons killed in Belleek Woods

Fri, May 02, 2014

There have been strong calls to designate scenic Belleek Woods on the banks of the River Moy in Ballina a wildlife sanctuary after a number of young herons were killed this week during tree felling by Coillte.

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