Mayo boxing board take part in child protection course

Fri, Jan 03, 2014

Mayo boxing board in conjunction with Mayo Sports Partnership organised a child protection course recently in Hotel Ballina. It is now compulsory to have completed the child protection course before applying for the level one coaching exam.

Cyclo-cross returns to Westport House

Fri, Jan 03, 2014

Thirty-two years ago Westport CC claimed to have organised the first cyclo-cross All Ireland Championships. Like everywhere else in the country cyclo-cross is becoming popular, the stormy weather that has blasted the west coast the past few weeks has made off road biking a little more endearing. The Westport House venue has huge scope for cyclo-cross with adjacent woodland and lush green fields with plenty of hills.

The course last weekend was a 1.35kms circuit with loads of little technical up and downs, sections through trees, and with a couple of narrow passages to be negotiated, riders were sure to be tired after completing the route 15 times.

Top class talent storms into Claremorris Duathlon

Fri, Jan 03, 2014

One of the best fields seen at a Connacht run/bike/run event assembled in Claremorris on Saturday December 28 for the annual Land of the Giants Duathlon. The wet stormy weather did not deter some 200 participants from taking part, for most it was a case of cabin fever and this event was the tonic to get out and about. On the day the weather gods were kind to the organisers, no wind or rain, just a nice calm overcast morning greeted the eager competitors.

Good turn out at Manulla FC four miler

Fri, Jan 03, 2014

A record 257 people finished the now annual Manualla FC four mile race held on St Stephen’s Day in the Mayo village. The popular event was organised by the soccer club with Tracy Durkan leading the organising committee. Mayo AC’s John Byrne was the winner in a time of 21.30 with Castlebar’s Peter Tuohy coming in behind him in a time of 23.27, and Anto Devaney of Mayo AC in third place with a time of 23.43. Fourth sport went to his clubmate Henry Hughes, with Ian Egan of Tuam AC finishing in fifth and Mayo AC’s Sean Murphy in sixth place. The women’s race was claimed by Colette Tuohy of Mayo AC in a time of 24.44, with her clubmates Paula Prendergast and Sarah Syron finishing behind her in second and third place respectively. Ennis track member Siobhan Lennon finished in four, with Angela O’Connor from Mayo AC in fifth spot and Michelle Needham of Westport AC in sixth.

New year and a new challenge for new u21 boss

Fri, Jan 03, 2014

As the first few days of the new year roll into life, the Mayo GAA season gets under way on Saturday with the Mayo u21s taking part in the Hastings Cup for the first time in a number of years. Mayo will be one of 12 teams taking part in the warm up competition for the 2014 u21 championship which will get under way in early spring. Mayo have been drawn in a group with Offaly, Longford, and Cavan, and will open their season on Saturday against Longford in Newtown Forbes at 1pm.

Forde’s Ballina Town ready for the Castleisland challenge

Fri, Jan 03, 2014

The first weekend of the new year is coming up and for the 2013 Super League champions, Ballina Town there is no rest in store for them as they make the long trip to Kerry to take on Castleisland Celtic in the fifth round of the FAI Junior Cup final. Ballina Town manager Fergal Forde has had to deal with a number of key players bowing out of action during 2013, but it has not dimmed his ambitions for his side. “We’ve also had to deal with a couple of retirements since the end of the Mayo league season with Philip Devers retiring and Keith Duffy moving on, also have goalkeeper Emmett Payton gone now too. We’ve a good squad, but will have a very young bench going down there, but they are all good lads coming up from the under 18s and they are the future of the club.”

The future is bright, but it is still going to be tough

Fri, Dec 27, 2013

Just over 12 hours after he addressed the nation in a live Sunday evening (December 16) broadcast on Ireland’s exit from the Troika bailout, An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, was back at his desk in his constituency office on Tucker Street in Castlebar. His familiar voice could be heard outside the door of the office as he chatted to old school friends and passers-by as he arrived to the door of the office, ready for another full day of engagements on his home turf. After 38 years in national politics, the Islandeady native is heading into his third Christmas as leader of the country and is very positive about the future for Ireland in the coming years.

Minor success a major achievement

Fri, Dec 27, 2013

The success of the Mayo minor hurlers in winning the All Ireland Minor C Championship was the major bright spot in the year for all involved with hurling in the county. The team led by manager Brian Finn and Johnny Regan defeated Monaghan in Ballinamore, Leitrim at the beginning of September. En route to the final, they saw off the challenge of Sligo and Cavan. It was a double minor celebration for Tooreen’s David Kenny who also picked up an All Ireland minor football winners medal a few weeks later.

Other big personal achievements for Mayo hurlers saw Derek McDonnell (Belmullet) being selected for the Christy Ring Cup team of the year, and dual senior player Keith Higgins picking up his second football All Star. In the senior ranks, Christy Phillips took over as the manager of the senior team this year with Ciaran Hynes and Austin Kenny as his selectors. Mayo managed to maintain their league status thanks to a win over Armagh and a draw with Roscommon, while they succumbed to losses to Meath, London and Down. In the Christy Ring Cup, Mayo weren’t able to make the progress they hoped losing to Kildare in Newbridge, before losing Wicklow in the second round and exiting the competition. The Mayo u21s lost out to Roscommon in the Connacht u21 B final in Castlebar by a brace of points following a tough battle. On the club scene Tooreen regained the Mayo senior hurling championship after a long absence with a devastating display against Ballyhaunis. They went on to come up just short in the Connacht intermediate final.

Ballina Town claim Super League title after super season

Fri, Dec 27, 2013

The 2013 Elvery’s Sports Super League title headed to north Mayo after a titanic battle that stretched right until the very last day of the season. Ballina Town wrapped it up with a 1-0 win away to Castlebar Celtic, while Ballyheane were held to a 2-2 draw by Westport United at home. Although the title deservedly went to Ballina Town, Ballyheane had a impressive return to the Super League finishing in second place and going the whole 14 game season unbeaten in the league, finishing up with seven wins and seven draws.

2014 Mayo Stages Rally back to Ballina for second year

Fri, Dec 27, 2013

After a very successful 2013 event, the Mayo Stages Rally is back in Ballina for a second year. The rally got a great response from local businesses and community, and equally was very highly regarded by visiting competitors and spectators. Hotel Ballina is once again rally headquarters and co-sponsor for the 2014 Mayo Stages Rally. Mayo and District Motorsport Club wishes to thank Hotel Ballina’s executive director Róisín Buckley and senior manager Jason Moyles and their team for their continued support and enthusiasm in ensuring this is another event to remember. The club also wishes to express thanks to Kennedy Motors of Ballina and Belmullet who also co-sponsor the event. Without the help of our co-sponsors and associate sponsors it would not be possible to run this event. Clerk of the course Padraic Roche and his hard working team are currently busy preparing for this ever popular event which takes place on Sunday March 9 2014. The rally will once again be run over a similar but not identical route to 2013; it consists of a very compact route with short road sections and three good quality, testing, stages, repeated three times. Mayo & District Motorsport Club would like to acknowledge that there would be no Mayo Stages Rally without the support and goodwill of residents and businesses along the rally route and surrounding area. The 2014 Hotel Ballina/Kennedy Motors Mayo Stages Rally will be the opening round of the 2014 Dunlop National Championship and the 2014 Sligo Pallets Border Championship.

Minors make it a year to remember

Fri, Dec 27, 2013

The senior season may have ended up in disappointment against Dublin, however, our minors had a truly remarkable year but it could have been so different. Back on June 22 we first set eyes on Stephen Coen, Tommy “Goals” Conroy, and co. They had an easy victory over Leitrim winning by 1-15 to 1-05 in McHale Park. The old saying that “no one game will make a season”, could not be further from the truth after Mayo’s clash with Galway on June 30 (the same day London shocked Leitrim). This was a remarkable game, Mayo were within inches of going out, (and remember there is no back door safety net for minors at semi-final stage) sheer persistence got them over the line in extra time on a final score 5-08 to 2-11. The Connacht final against Roscommon was a great spectacle. Brilliant goals, superb defending, and skill levels to match. Mayo sauntered into a big lead but Roscommon clawed their way back and came agonisingly close to snatching a draw in the dying seconds, it would have been robbery had Mayo not won it. A Connacht minor final is not to be sniffed at. Mayo then gave Westmeath a right tanking in the quarter final in Tullamore winning by 2-13 to 0-8 points, the rest of the country were beginning to take note. A real test awaited in the semi final against Monaghan, many bookmakers’ favourites for the title. This was no question the performance of the year from the minors. They blitzed their northern opponents, scoring a whopping three goals and 19 points in the process. Talking to Barney Rock during and after this game, he was very impressed. The only negative from this game was the unfortunate injury to Cian Hanley who would agonisingly miss the final. The final pitted Mayo against more Ulster opponents in Tyrone, who were very lucky to beat Roscommon in their semi-final. Mayo played some brilliant football, urged on by the huge Mayo support. The full forward line of Darragh Doherty, Liam Irwin, and Tommy Conroy scored 2-09 of the 2-13 total. We were given the scare of our lives when Tyrone pulled a goal back in the dying moments but the Tommy Markham Cup was won for the first time since 1985. The celebrations in Croke Park after the final whistle will be something I will never forget.

Claremorris Christmas Duathlon

Fri, Dec 27, 2013

The Land of The Giants Christmas Duathlon will help sport enthusiasts burn up the treats that get devoured over Christmas, with a run, bike, and run event held on Saturday December 28 in Claremorris. Even though the event is an excuse to get out and about and do something sporting over the festive season, there are always the more serious competitors who will be out to test their fitness and hope none of their form has been lost due to overindulgence.

Some of the country’s leading athletes are set to take part in Claremorris, race organisers have already signed up some of the biggest names in this sport and it is a great chance for locals to pick the brains of these super athletes in a social environment.

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