Mayo do more than survive, unlike myself

Fri, Mar 07, 2014

First things first, The Battle of Bellaghy white collar boxing event between Charlestown GAA and Curry GAA held in the CBD complex in Charlestown was another phenomenal success and I am sure the coffers of both clubs are well boosted after it. I have played in many a big game down the years and would consider myself reasonably calm and in control given a particular situation, but boxing is a different animal. I had a week from hell in the lead up to the event, I could not sleep properly and was extremely anxious and nervous for pretty much the entire week, none the less, I took part, took my beating, and have very sore ribs to prove it. I would suggest for anyone who thinks I am off my trolley, to sign up for an event to see what I am on about, as every fighter on the night were pretty much petrified, even the good boxers. The box is ticked and at least I am alive to tell the tale. Note to self; you are never doing it again.

Newry calling for hurlers

Fri, Mar 07, 2014

The Mayo senior hurlers will pass the half-way mark of their league season on Sunday when they take on Down in Páirc Esler in Newry at 2pm. Christy Phillip’s side will be looking to bounce back from a five-point defeat at the hands of Meath in Trim last time. That defeat leaves Mayo with a notch in both the win and loss columns so far and has them locked in a four-way tie on two points each with Fingal, Wicklow, and Meath from the opening two rounds. Sunday’s opponents are sitting two of the division 2b table with two wins from two having seen off Wicklow and Armagh. Their win over the Orchard County in the first round was particularly impressive where they ran up 2-20 on their hosts in the Athletic Grounds.

Mayo work hard to secure their first points on the board

Sun, Mar 02, 2014

Mayo: 2-15
Kerry: 1-13

Take three on Sunday

Sun, Mar 02, 2014

Three things of note from Sunday's game.

Drive-shaft problems scuppers Duffy and Al-Kuwari

Fri, Feb 28, 2014

Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah is used to driving under pressure, but he and Italian co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini were pushed all the way to the finish of a thrilling Qatar International Rally, the opening round of the 2014 Middle East Rally Championships, by fellow countryman Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari and Mayo’s Killian Duffy on Friday and Saturday last. Separated by just 5.5 seconds at the start of the second day, Al-Attiyah pressed home a slight advantage once Al-Kuwari and Mayo navigator Killian Duffy suffered a drive shaft breakage. His winning margin was 30.1 seconds from Al-Kuwari and Duffy who finished in second place.

Testing conditions in cross country championship

Fri, Feb 28, 2014

Dunboyne Athletic Club hosted the national intermediate and masters cross country championships last Sunday. The Meath venue was given good test of its ability to hold up against the conditions as 800 juveniles took to the course in the morning before the main event to make sure the underfoot conditions were up to scratch.

Spring schedules swing into action

Fri, Feb 28, 2014

Balla
Lorcan Cribbin was the winner of the stableford competition last weekend with a score of 35pts. His back nine play held off Mick Mellett in second place and John Parsons finished a point further back in third place. In the ladies’ competition, Aine McSuibhne was the winner with Breege Moran second and Kitty O’Connor third.

Connacht boosted with trio’s return for Treviso visit

Fri, Feb 28, 2014

Connacht cannot afford to let slip a victory on Saturday (5pm) when they host Treviso in the Rabodirect Pro 12 at the Galway Sportsground. Having put together back-to-back wins over Edinburgh and Zebre, Connacht have a great opportunity to continue moving up the table and maintain their momentum before the break.

It’s a nice time to face the Kingdom

Fri, Feb 28, 2014

Although it is only round three of the National league on Sunday when Mayo take on Kerry, it literally is a league defining match (There will be more on rounds of a different kind later on). The winners of the game have a chance of making the semi-finals; the losers are staring relegation in the face. Mayo have had some good results against Kerry in the league in the last number of years and no question they will not fear them particularly with Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper sidelined for the year . It is sad for us as footballing fans that we will not see the eight-time All-Star in action this year however I am sure there are many a manager and defender quietly delighted they will not have to endure the full wrath of his skills in the summer of 2014. Cooper’s last championship game, last year’s All-Ireland semifinal against the Dubs, was arguably one of his best in a Kerry jersey. I was secretly hoping Kerry would win that game as I felt Mayo would have had a better chance against them in the final. Kerry are under transition at the moment and very regularly line out with players we have not really heard of just yet, so now is a good time to play them.

Moylette makes his way back

Fri, Feb 28, 2014

St Anne’s Ray Moylette will compete in the semi-finals of the National Elite Championships in the National Stadium in Dublin this evening. The former European and World junior champion saw off the challenge of Sean Montgomery (Canal BC) last Sunday in the same venue. The Islandeady boxer will be up against Portlaoise’s Michael Nevin who won two bouts last weekend to get to this stage of the competition. If Moylette picks up the win he’ll face the inner of Dean Walsh (St Joseph’s/St Ibars) and Rohan Date (St Paul’s).

The Kingdom come calling on Sunday

Fri, Feb 28, 2014

After the breakneck start to the year with five games in 31 days, the past fortnight would have come as a welcome respite for James Horan and his management team as they had two weeks to work with their panel without having to prepare for a game at the same time.