A lot done, a lot more to do for Mayo

Fri, Dec 20, 2013

Now that 2013 has almost gone to the history books it is time to reflect on the year that nearly was. The Mayo senior team played their first game against Leitrim in the FBD league on January 13. Little did we know back then what the year was about to unfold. Mayo’s National League campaign was not of the consistent variety and after a convincing win at home to Kerry on February 3 we became expectant again. That was followed by four consecutive losses to Tyrone, Dublin, Down, and Kildare. The Tyrone game was a crushing defeat, Stephen O’Neill’s last gasp penalty winning for the red hand. Mayo were given a taste of Stephen Cluxton’s ability in the league game in Croke Park in March, the Dubs convincing winners; Bernard Brogan was unmarkable the same night. Worrying for Mayo were the losses to Down and Kildare, two games they should have won. Mayo were now in real danger of being relegated and had to beat All- Ireland Champions Donegal in Castlebar and then travel away to Cork to try to complete a miraculous escape. What was of great concern was the lack of goal chances and goals, Keith Higgins’ goal against Tyrone the only attempt to hit the net in five matches. Michael Conroy bettered that stat with a soccer-style finish against Donegal in a game in which Barry Moran was in superb form. Mayo well and truly ground out a result in Cork, winning by the slimmest of Margins 0-11 to 0-10 to achieve their goal of staying in division one of the league. It was a complete bonus that they sneaked into a league semi-final and had another big game in Croker against the Dubs. Confidence may not have been too high after Dublin easily won the league semi-final by 2-16 to 0-16. Bernard Brogan was untouchable in the first league encounter, Paul Mannion the star of the semi-final scoring 1-04. It really was amazing Mayo got to a league semi final despite losing four games on the spin while staring relegation in the face. Two goals in eight matches had to be a very worrying stat for James Horan and his management.

Hat-tricks for Knockmore/ Foxford and Achill clubs.

Fri, Dec 20, 2013

Ardnaree Boxing Club held the last tournament of 2013 last Friday night in the Hibernian Hall. The annual Dessie Beattie Memorial Trophy was won by Stephen Collins for the best Ardnaree boxer of the tournament. The event commenced with the final of the Boy 1, 39kg Mayo Novice final between Charlie Ward (Gurteen Sligo) and Thomas Donoghue (Champs Camp Galway) with the latter having his hand raised by a majority decision. In Boy 1, 31kg Diarmuid Brogan (Knockmore/Foxford Boxing Club (KFC)) boxed exceptionally well in his bout against Jason Butler (Ballinrobe). The KFC boxer was the first of three boys from the club winning a hat trick of contests, Brogan winning by a unanimous decision. Stephen Collins got the host club off to winning ways when he out-pointed Jack O’ Donoghue (Golden Gloves) by a unanimous decision. Shea Pye (KFC) looked impressive in the Boy 2, 33kg contest getting the nod from all three judges after the final bell. His club mate Cian Timlin did enough in the Boy 2, 36kg bout winning by a majority and obtaining a hat trick of wins for the KFC club. Achill boxing club also had a hat trick of victories winning their inaugural contest since the new club was founded last year. Adam Dempsey out pointed last season’s National finalist Owen Mc Donagh (St Anne’s) in the Boy 2, 54kg division. Dempsey had his large contingent of supporters in full voice throughout the three rounds and when Joe Hennigan MC announced that it was the first win for the club loud cheers could be heard all round the gym. Mark Reynolds was the second Ardnaree boxer to win in the Boy 4, 44kg class after he narrowly defeated Christy Bourke (Castlerea club). Achill maintained their winning ways in the Youth 1, 48kg grade as Matthew Whorriskey overcame Cian O’Dee in a close bout. Darragh Ferrick (Ballinrobe) and Luke Doherty battled it out in the Youth 1, 57kg and it was Ferrick who won 2/1 on this occasion. Jordan McCarthy (Castlerea) defeated the experienced Gavin Roche (Castlebar) in a hard hitting bout. Kieran Lally (Ardnaree) had his hands full with Aaron Daly (Castlebar) in the youth 2, 42kg bout, Daly winning on a 2/1 score. Contest of the night was the female bout between Ciara Sheedy (Aglish Club) and Kaleigh Mc Cormack (Kilfenora Club Clare). In a highly skilful three rounds of boxing the Mayo girl won by a majority decision, it was a tremendous victory for the Aglish boxer as the Clare girl is National Intermediate champion. Achill made it three wins out of three in the second last contest on the programme as Rory O’Sullivan got the better of John Ginty (Ardnaree club).

I admire them, but they do annoy me quite a bit

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

I have never hidden the fact that dubious refereeing and bad decisions by referees during games are pet hates of mine and make my blood boil. Before I attract the wrath of every ref in the county I must admit it is more so at a national level than within the county itself. There have not been many games I attended this year that I left thinking the man in the middle did a really good job.

Good scoring in winter competitions around Mayo

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

Balla
James Lavin was the winner of the gents’ stableford competition last weekend, with a score of 38pts. Bernie O’Connor finished in second place and James Waldron took third place. In the ladies’ competition, Geraldine O’Malley was the winner with a score of 33pts. She finished ahead of Louise McMahon in second and Patricia Larkin in third place.

Shock at the sudden death of Peter McCartan

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

It wasn’t the news I was expecting to hear in the foyer of Breaffy House last Sunday morning as I and a few colleagues mulled around waiting for the start of the Mayo GAA convention. But when the news was broken that Peter McCartan, The Demesne, Hollymount had died the night before, it took a few minutes to register what I’d just heard. Peter wasn’t a man I knew very well, but over the past few years he was someone I’d spent time with on the side of playing fields around the county reporting on games. He was always friendly, affable and good company to be around when covering a football game. He loved his sport and his knew it inside and out and was always on hand if you missed something going on in the game. He’ll be a terrible loss from the pitches and sports pages of the county and unquestionably more to his family and a loved ones. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

‘Let’s do it’ again Connacht

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

They do not come much bigger than this. The aristocrats of French rugby Toulouse take on Connacht in the Heineken Cup on Saturday in the Galway Sportsground (6pm) on a mission of revenge.

Mayo novice and underage championships under way

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

The 2013 Mayo Novice championship and underage tournament commenced last Saturday in the Peter Callaghan Centre Westport.

A good entry of underage and novice boxers weighed in for the competitions and two full days of boxing was required to complete the programme. Most of the boxers were stepping into the ring for the first time in competition, and in front of a packed gym it was a daunting experience for some of the competitors. There were 16 underage contests on the Saturday and weights that had three boxers involved, the best boxer of the bout went on to box the third boxer in that weight on the Sunday to give every entrant a contest. The Boy 1, 39kg is always a popular division and there were two quarter final contests on the programme Saturday.

Westport girls claim national title

Fri, Dec 06, 2013

The curtain finally came down on the FAI Post Primary Schools First Year Futsal finals on Wednesday last (December 4) in Franciscan College, Gormanston. The girls from Sacred Heart School in Westport put in some awesome performances throughout the day to claim their respective titles in fine style. This year’s format saw the participating schools play 15 minute games with schools playing each other twice, resulting in a total of six games each. Thus ensuring that top of the leader board status would guarantee the prestigious title. Some pulsating ties ensued as it was all to play for in the opening battles The girls’ section had a clear cut winner with the Westport girls proving decisive in front of goal. Seamas MacEachmharcaigh’s crew won all six games, scored 17 goals, and only conceded three times to claim top spot on the leader board with 12 points generated.

Mayo season starts with three games in ten days

Fri, Dec 06, 2013

Mayo will get the 2014 season under way five days later than initially announced, with the announcement on the county board Twitter feed on Wednesday evening that the FBD League game against NUIG would now take place on Friday January 10 in Elvery’s MacHale Park. Mayo will be in action again two days later against IT Sligo and then face Roscommon away the following Sunday, January 19. With Mayo on their well deserved team holiday at the start of the month, the fixture change was inevitable. The change will see Mayo GAA fans get to see the senior side in action twice in three days at the start of the month, and the county’s u21 side in action on the Saturday sandwiched between when they play in the Hastings Cup at home to Cavan on January 11. Mayo are hosting a fundraising banquet in the Knockranny House Hotel on Sunday December 22 to raise funds for the team holiday with tickets costing €100 per adult and €10 per child. To book your place contact Elverys MacHale Park on 094 9250487 or contact 087 6680115

Twin internationals for Mayo female boxers

Fri, Dec 06, 2013

Three Mayo female boxers will represent Ireland against Poland in historic twin boxing internationals this weekend. The St Brigid’s BC in Edenderry, Co Offaly, which is are celebrating their 80th anniversary this year, will host its first women’s boxing international in Ireland at the Hamlet Court Hotel in Kildare on Sunday December 8. Forty eight hours before the Kildare clash, a Belfast International Select goes head-to-head with the Poles at the Whiterock Leisure Centre in Belfast. Castlebar’s Grainne Gavin will compete at the 54kg weight at both events with Geesala boxer Ciara Ginty, the current AIBA World Junior champion and AIBA World Female Junior boxer of 2013, who will be between the ropes in Kildare alongside her, and Lycia Heneghan from the Aglish boxing club.

Connacht need to front up to test Toulouse again

Fri, Dec 06, 2013

It has been a tough week for Connacht Rugby. After an “embarrassing” away defeat to Edinburgh in the Pro 12, Connacht now head to France to face one of Europe’s most decorated clubs, Toulouse, in the Heineken Cup.

Crokes, lights, and the antics of Curran

Fri, Dec 06, 2013

As we expected Dr Crokes of Kerry won the Munster club title to set up an All-Ireland semi final with Castlebar Mitchels to be played next February. An old team mate of mine who now plays his club football in Clare told me last week that Cratloe had a fine team and were in no uncertain terms just going to make up the numbers. He advised me to have a bet on Cratloe using the handicap, as I was told there was no chance of them shipping a hiding, he was right and I didn’t listen. Cratloe, who boast seven of the Clare senior hurling team, threw the bookmakers’ odds out the window and went agonisingly close to causing an enormous upset. Any team with a backbone like that will be tough and in physically brilliant shape. I could only imagine the tension and excitement in the Castlebar camp as Cratloe took the lead with four minutes to go. Castlebar should not and will not fear anyone, but they would have loved to see Crokes who were going for a three in a row in Munster beaten. Crokes have an unbelievable team and I am sure they are thinking this is their best chance to win that elusive Andy Merrigan cup. I am sure they took their eye off the ball last Sunday and they got the fright they needed. I was very anxious to hear about Colm Cooper’s red card, to see if he was going to be suspended for the semi final against the Mitchels, thankfully it was just a second yellow. Part of me wanted him suspended (Castlebar would have a much better chance) but the football brain came into action and the most part of me wanted him available to see how he copes against a very good Castlebar defence. If Barry Moran appeals his red card (which he should) I hope it gets overturned as I fully believe his tackle on Karl Mannion merited a yellow card at worst. It would be better for football followers all over the country to see both teams going at it with a full panel to pick from. Dr Crokes players are household names at this stage, more well known than a lot of county players from outside division one. They have three current Kerry players in the Gooch, Kieran O’Leary, and Eoin Brosnan, and two other brilliant forwards in Brian Looney and Daithi Casey. It will be fascinating to see a brilliant forward line going up against a well oiled and organised backline next February, something has to give.

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